Spring is here again, which means there are a slew of spring-cleaning tasks on the docket. And if you’re a cigar lover, consider adding one more to the list: maintaining your humidor.
At its best, a humidor keeps cigars tasting great nearly indefinitely. It controls the ambient moisture, shielding your fine cigars from humidity fluctuations that can diminish their quality and introduce unwanted critters.
However, a humidor is like any other home feature. It requires some light maintenance and monitoring to ensure it’s doing its job smoothly and efficiently. In this article, explore why you should maintain your humidor, and learn the basic processes for keeping cigar humidor humidity in peak working order.
With summer right around the corner – a popular season for enjoying stogies – it’s best to tackle the maintenance immediately.
Why Maintain Your Humidor?
As mentioned, a humidor is your last defense against common cigar problems. Especially if you’re holding on to premium or aged cigars, maintaining an effective humidor makes a world of difference. To expand on that point, let’s cover the three main reasons for (semi) regular upkeep:
- Preserving the freshness and flavor of cigars: This is the big one. A well-kept humidor (along with a necessary Boveda pack) preserves the texture and flavor of cigars, ensuring that they never get too dry or dull, even as you age them over long periods.
- Preventing mold and pests: Cigars aren’t the only thing that want to live in your humidor’s little micro-environment; tobacco beetles (AKA cigar beetles) like to feed on tobacco leaves, and mold spores find an ideal environment in a too-moist humidor. Ensuring a proper seal and dialling in relative humidity prevents these unwanted guests from crashing the party.
- Extending the lifespan of the humidor: In part, maintaining a humidor is about getting the most out of your investment. A quality humidor isn’t cheap; you want it to serve you for years, hopefully decades.
If you’re a passionate cigar lover, chances are you already know all of these points. Still, it’s nice to receive an occasional reminder about the importance of humidor upkeep.
Essential Maintenance Tasks For A Healthy Humidor
Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive right in. Below, explore five essential tasks that ensure your humidor is a) efficient, b) well-stocked, c) clean and d) organized. If you ever feel like it’s too much work, remember what you’re doing this for: Flavorful, rich, nuanced cigars!
1. Seasoning A New Humidor
If you only recently bought your humidor, you will need to season it. Likewise, as Boveda points out, “If you stay in a cravy climate or experience seasonal dryness, we suggest re-seasoning a wooden humidor one to two times a year.” In other words, if you’re coming out of a dry winter, it’s best to give your humidor a spring season season!
Essentially, seasoning raises the wood’s moisture level to reach equilibrium with your cigars so the wood doesn’t sap them of moisture. It also creates a more effective seal on the lid. Season by placing 84% Boveda packs in an empty humidor (one pack per 25-cigar capacity) and leave for two weeks.
2. Hygrometer Monitoring And Maintenance
Hygrometers are essential for tracking the relative humidity in a humidor, but they can occasionally fall out of adjustment. Therefore, spring is the perfect time to recalibrate your hygrometer, ensuring it accurately monitors internal RH.
Holt’s, an authority on all things cigars, recommends placing your hygrometer in a sealed zip-top bag with a capful of salt water paste. After eight hours, the hygrometer should read 75%. If it deviates from this reading, adjust the hygrometer until it reads 75%. You can read more about the method here.
4. Monitoring And Replacing 2-Way Humidity Control Packs
As you monitor your hygrometer and humidor, take this opportunity to check your Boveda 2-way humidity control packs. Boveda packs last around two to six months (depending on a variety of factors). As a rule of thumb, they should be changed when they feel hard to the touch.
If you aren’t currently using humidity control packs, consider adopting the practice. These little packs are powerhouses at dialling in the internal RH of a humidor. All the best tobacconists and cigar connoisseurs use them—and so should you.
5. Dusting And Cleaning
Using a microfiber cloth dipped in a little isopropyl alcohol, gently work the sides and corners of the humidor until no dust or residue remains. Alcohol is the top choice since it evaporates quickly, killing any unseen mold spores lurking in the humidor.
Still, if you don’t trust isopropyl alcohol with your fine wooden humidor, you may use distilled water in a pinch.
6. Organizing Cigars
Once you’ve seasoned your humidor, calibrated your hygrometer, changed the Boveda pack and cleansed the box’s interior, you can turn your attention to the cigars themselves.
Consider this a spring organizational task. Rearrange your cigars to maximize airflow (leaving room between each stogie). Separate distinct flavors to reduce cross-contamination. Group your cigars logically according to brand, size or type. And further organize the cigars by enacting an “age rotation” system, with the oldest cigars up front.
With all that hard work done, it’s now time to rest. And what better way to relax than to kick back, pour a glass of something nice, and enjoy a flavorful cigar from your refreshed humidor?
Benefits Of Maintaining Humidor
You should know about several benefits of maintaining the humidor. Ensure that you know the complete process from your counterpart. Keep things in proper shape while reaching your goals with ease.
1. Preserves Flavor & Aroma
There are several factors that you must be well aware of while reaching your requirements with ease. Cigars are hygroscopic as they absorb and release moisture from the Cigars. Humidor maintains consistent levels of humidity.
It mimics the behavior where the cigars are aged and cured. As it preserves delicate balance of flavors and aromas, the Cigar that are made as intended. Dry cigars can become crack and brittle. You must be well aware of this fact. This will help you to understand why humidor maintenance can become a source of relief for you.
2. Ensures Consistent Burns
Proper humidity regulation usually prevents the wrapper from splitting or cracking. This can cause the Cigar to burn unevenly and quickly. The humidor usually allows you to slow and even burn to deliver you the smoking enjoyment.
You should be well aware of the scenario that can guide you in achieving your requirements with ease. Ensure that you keep the process in perfect parity with each other while meeting your needs with ease.
3. Prevents Mold Growth
Molds grow quite easily in humid environments. You should be well aware of this while reaching your objectives with complete ease. Without knowing the reasons, you cannot make things happen in your favor.
A humidor kept in properly regulated humid levels creates inhospitable and humid environments. For all the mold spores that can protect your Cigars. You should not make your choices in the incorrect end while meeting your requirements with complete ease.
4. Prevents Pest Infestation
Dry cigars become vulnerable to tobacco insects and different bugs. The controlled climate of a humidor deters these critters from moving to your stogie assortment. You must be well aware of the facts that can assist you in reaching your goals with complete ease.
Pest infestation can be reduced with pest infestation. You should be well aware of it. Without knowing the facts you cannot be able to reach any kind of correct conclusion. Ensure that you follow the correct process from your end. Share your experiences as well in this regard with us.
5. Ensures Long Term Storage
You can ensure long-term storage and well-maintained humidors ensure long-lasting age. Ensure that you do not make your selection and choices on the incorrect end. Keep the process in perfect parity with one another.
This is especially true for specialized or premium Cigarettes. You should ensure that you know the complete process from your end points. Here, effective maintenance can help you reach your goals with complete ease. Keep the processes in perfect parity with one another. Ensure that you follow the best solutions in this regard.
Final Take Away
Hence, if you want to keep your Cigar humidor in perfect condition, things can become easier for you in the long run. Try to maintain the perfect solution in this regard. Keep the process in perfect order while meeting your goals with ease.
You can share your views and opinions in our comment box. This will help us to know your take on this matter with complete ease.
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