Don't buy cigars from the guy who has a cousin who works at the cigar factory and will sell them cheaper to you. It's possible that some people have connections, but you're unlikely to find a legit one.
If you're going to buy cigars, buy them from La Casa del Habano directly. They will still sell "fake" Cubans in Cuba. Meaning, there are cigars that might have some Cuban tobacco but aren't made or planned by the Habanos companies. I've bought fake cigars and they had long leaf tobacco, like normal, and were smoked but probably weren't actually Cuban in origin—although, others have bought fakes with floor debris, trash, dirt, wood shavings, and other things you do not want to smoke in them so be careful.
Don't buy cigars from the guy who has a cousin who works at the cigar factory and will sell them cheaper to you. It's possible that some people have connections, but you're unlikely to find a legit one.
If you're going to buy cigars, buy them from La Casa del Habano directly. They will still sell "fake" Cubans in Cuba. Meaning, there are cigars that might have some Cuban tobacco but aren't made or planned by the Habanos companies. I've bought fake cigars and they had long leaf tobacco, like normal, and were smoked but probably weren't actually Cuban in origin—although, others have bought fakes with floor debris, trash, dirt, wood shavings, and other things you do not want to smoke in them so be careful.