Cigars FAQ
Here you’ll find questions and answers about cigars.
Storing cigars at home
It is important to check first that the hygrometer is working correctly. Measuring humidity is not straightforward, and hygrometers – even digital ones – can become miscalibrated quickly and easily. We recommend using the Boveda calibration kit.
Humidity too low
There can be various reasons for humidity levels being too low. First, you should check whether the humidor is airtight. If no damage can be found on the humidor and it is airtight, then the humidifier must be checked.Cigar humidifiers have a limited lifespan. They need to be replaced from time to time when they no longer perform as required. This becomes apparent when the target humidity of 72% relative humidity is no longer achieved in a plastic container.
If the humidor is being used for the first time, or if it is filled with cigars and the humidity is too low, the humidifier needs a little help. For the humidity in the humidor to rise, the humidity in the cigars and in the wood of the humidor must also rise. This is a slow process and requires more liquid than when the humidity simply needs to be maintained. The best way to do this is to place a small glass of plain water in the humidor until the target humidity is reached. This may take a few days.
A cigar smokes best when approximately 13 per cent of its weight is water. This is achieved when it is stored at a relative humidity of (*) 65 - 75% and a temperature between 18° - 28°C (64° - 82°F).
A constant relative humidity of 70 - 72% and a temperature of 18° - 21°C (64° - 70°F) are ideal for cigars.
An ideal moisture level ensures that a cigar burns evenly. Dry cigars become brittle and burn faster, whilst damp cigars burn unevenly and take on a sour taste.
Problems with cigars
You need to act quickly! In principle, this shouldn’t happen if the cigars were purchased from an official specialist retailer in Switzerland. When imported, all cigars are frozen to kill any tobacco worms or larvae. The problem often arises when cigars are brought back from holidays. If you find tobacco worms in your humidor, the cigars should be frozen as quickly as possible for a few days at a temperature below 20° Celsius. The humidor should be thoroughly cleaned during this time.
As a rule, white or yellowish deposits on a cigar are known as ‘cigar bloom’ or ‘plume’. These are harmless and do not affect the cigar’s flavour, but should be wiped off before lighting the cigar.
Cigar mold only appears at a relative humidity of over 80% and for this to happen, the cigar must be exposed to this level of humidity for several weeks.
Here’s how to deal with deposits/ efflorescence: Take a brush and gently wipe the affected areas on the cigar. If it is cigar bloom, the efflorescence can be removed without discolouring the tobacco leaf underneath. If, however, it is mold, the tobacco leaf will be damaged when it is removed and will be noticeably discolored.
In our humidor, the relative humidity is set between 69 and 72% relative humidity. This is recorded and monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can find a detailed description here: Our Cigar Storage.
In summary, it can be said that:
- In almost all cases, this is not mould, but harmless cigar bloom.
- Cigar bloom can simply be wiped off.
- If the cigar bloom is wiped off before smoking, it has no effect on the flavour.
- Mould develops at over 80% relative humidity over several weeks.
- Causes of spots: Green spots on the cigar wrapper. Green spots usually appear over a wide area. These are mostly caused by chlorophyll.
- Yellow spots: Yellow spots on the cigar wrapper. Yellow or black spots occur when the humidity is too low or too high during the drying process in the tobacco barn.