Why Habana and Not Havana?

Cigars that are made in Cuba or come from Cuba have Habana on the band. Why not Havana?

Posted: March 12, 2012

Habana is the Spanish name for Cuba's capital city.

Havana is the Anglicized version of the word Habana, just as Rome is the Anglicized version of the Italian word Roma. In Cuba, cigars are known as Habanos, and the capital city is known as Havana.

If you ever see a Cuban cigar with the word "Havana" on the label instead of "Habana," it's a clear indication of a fake.

On some boxes of Cuban cigars, particularly older cigars, you will see the word "Habana" on the cigar label but the phrase "Made in Havana, Cuba" elsewhere on the box.

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Comments 1 comment(s)

Kevin Feteira — Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, — March 13, 2012 1:20pm ET

What does it mean when you see Habanos?

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