Everyone knows they should keep their cigars in a humidor. But why?
It all comes down to humidity; the average house’s humidity fluctuates with the season. Since many smokers store cigars for more than two weeks, humidors give cigars the stable humidity they need to maintain their flavor, aroma and overall quality.
A humidor maintains a consistent humidity level, typically between 65% and 75%, helping ensure consistent aging. As cigars dry out, they become brittle and lose their flavor. However, too much humidity can spoil cigars and result in mold growth.
It begs another question: Should smokers remove cigars from their wrappers before placing them in a humidor? Not necessarily.
Craig Vanderslice, the owner/editor of CigarCraig.com, who has been blogging about cigars and the tobacco industry for 15 years, said
“There is no reason to remove cigars from cellophane sleeves,” Vanderslice told Sightseers’ Delight. “Cellophane is permeable; humidity can pass through it.
“The way I see it, people who have made cigars their entire lives think it’s ok to put cellophane on cigars; who am I to second guess them,” Vanderslice added. “Of course, they are your cigars; if you like the look of uncellophaned cigars, that’s fine; you just have to be more careful with them!”
Now, with that in mind, smoke ’em if you got ’em.
