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How to understand, read and authentify a Cuban Cigar Box ?

12th February 2000


You may have noticed some letters and numbers under your favorite cuban box. Well those particular letters and numbers were a mystery some years ago. But with the help of cuban officials and cigar lovers we now have a clear picture of the famous secret cuban code. Today I have added the latest codes and factories used in Cuba.

1 - Signs of authenticity on the box itself.

In the newest box you should see in the center of the seal a hidden logo seen only under UV light. It's another shield image as the one on the left of the Republica de Cuba seal. This image will change from time to time later.

On the bottom center you can see a blank space where a serial N° will be written. This number will be used to identify each and every box of cigars.

The seal of the Cuban government has to be printed in a medium green color on a white background (no gray). This seal has been affixed to all genuine Havanas since July 16, 1912.

There should be inscriptions engraved or burnt (never printed) on the bottom of the box. The intensity of color is fluctuating from clear gray to dark black.

At the bottom of the box you should see a major inscription with three lines written. First line is the Company name, second line is "Hecho en Cuba" and the third line is how cigar was made. Here are the different inscription you may find on a cuban box :

It is important to notice that recently Habanos S.A. has decided to use undifferently the "Hecho totalmente a mano" for all cigars produced in Cuba including machine bunched and hand finished cigars. I came personally to few boxes in that case.

The last important thing to check is the color of the bottom where code date is printed. It should be very similar to the rest of the box. A kind of light brown wood but it should never be white. I have seen boxes of Hoyo with white silky bottom that where obviously fake.

Upon opening you should find a little note from Habanos S.A. written in four languages : Spanish, English, French and German. This message tells you how to store your cubans.

Some countries like Spain will not apply the sticker and some other will have to re-stick their existing stock. For instance, the Habanos importer in Mexico started applying stickers in May 98. Even then, not ALL of the boxes carried sticker. Apparently, they were affixing the stickers to NEW stock that ARRIVED in May. So today, a retailer may get some boxes with stickers, and some without.

I will certainly add few tips in the coming weeks. This page will become a reference for identifying true Havanas.

2 - Factories and date codes.

I have just received some info on new date codes. All my checks proove they are 100% reliable, so here are the secret data :
Cuban officials have announced new codes in 1997. So here are the new ones first.

New factory code :

Old factory code :
You may see a number after the factory code like VC-3, in that case it means Villa Clara production unit No. 3.

The new NETAGIDOCU code :

                        N E T A G     I D O C U

                        1 2 3 4 5     6 7 8 9 0

The famous Nivel Acuso code :

                        N I V E L     A C U S O

                        1 2 3 4 5     6 7 8 9 0
For example if you see TLP-NNSC, you will understand Tabacos Lazaro Pena in November (11) 1997 (97).

In newer codes the O is almost never used. This can reduce the code to 3 letters instead of 4. Factory code could be place after the date. But if you use this rule you will always be able to read a cuban code.

At first knowing the place and date of fabrication don't seem so important but in fact it is capital for the following reasons :

- If you see a date with numbers just leave and save your money.
- If you are about to buy a box produced in 03-98 in February 98 then don't buy it.
- If you are buying a box too old from hand to hand then chances that cigars are damaged are high.
- And finally if you become a true amateur you should consider smoking well aged cigars (not too old but certainly not too young).

If you have some information to share or a particular question please feel free to write.

Flo,


cigares@altavista.net


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Florian Seroussi