Factory codes of Cuban cigar factories

Habano

Cuban cigars are as well-known and famous as they are popular all around the world. Original Habanos are a special treasure for almost every aficionado and much more than just a luxury item. Of course, quality comes at a price. Because of this general appreciation, there are unfortunately many cheap imitations and even detailed counterfeits. Especially tourists and inexperienced cigar smokers sometimes fall victim to these deceptions and end up paying good money for less-than-good products.

The Seals of Original Cuban Cigars

Important for the identification of Habanos are various seals, marks, and codes on the packaging. In most cases, Cuban cigars are packaged in a wooden box. Some so-called box-pressed Habanos may even have a slightly angular shape. What really matters, however, is the seal on the packaging of all tobacco products. The current Cuban guarantee seal has existed since 1912. Since 1999, it also includes a red serial number and an emblem visible under UV light.

By the way, "Habanos" is a globally protected term that applies exclusively to the famous Havana cigars. Since 1994, every Cuban cigar box bears an appropriate seal.

Additionally, when it comes to Cuban cigars, the bottom of the wooden box should be examined. Since 1960, the inscription "Hecho en Cuba" (Made in Cuba) has been burned onto all boxes, and since 1994, it also includes "Habanos s.a." Furthermore, to emphasize the handmade nature of the Cuban cigars, the box is stamped with "Totalmente a Mano" – also as a brand or stamp. This should not be confused with "Hecho al Mano," which refers to partially handmade cigars.

Finally, you will often find the terms "Tripa Larga" or "Tripa Corta," which indicate long-leaf or short-leaf filler tobacco.

Ink Stamps as Date and Manufacturing Codes

Since the early 2000s, the Cubans, meaning the state-owned trading company Habanos S.A., have simplified the encryption of manufacturing dates on the underside of their cigar boxes. Therefore, with the monthly codes and the last two digits of the respective year, the age of every Cuban cigar box can now be easily determined (e.g., OCT01 for October 2001). The previous methods were cracked quickly and spread over the internet, making the effort no longer worthwhile.

Two digits indicate the year of production – for example, 02 for 2002. Preceding these digits, three letters indicate the month in which a box of Cuban cigars was fully stocked.

Factory Codes for the Origin of Habanos

Also, as an ink stamp, a factory code can be found on the underside of every cigar box from Cuba. This code, consisting of a sequence of letters above the date marking, shows in which factory the Habanos were produced.

The codes are sorted by region and then alphabetically by their respective code. The name that the factory had before the revolution is listed in parentheses. For El Laguito, the producer of the world-famous Cohiba, of course, this is missing – the factory has only existed since the 1960s.