Expert: James Yee - 2/4/2008

Question
If you have molded cigars and they are the exspensive ones can they be salvaged and what happens if you smoke one that is molded.  Thanks

Answer
Hi Bill,

If you discover the mold growth early, there is a chance for your cigars to be saved.  The first thing you should do is immediately and delicately remove all your moldy cigars from your humidor and keep them away from the cigars that does not have any mold yet.  Thoroughly inspect all your cigars and relocate your mold-infected cigars to a plastic container (such as a brand new Tupperware container).

Remember, genuine cigar mold is thick and fuzzy in appearance and grows in random patches.  Mold is usually blue, green, bluish-green or white in colour.  If your cigars have a grey dust-like substance all over the cigars, then it is most likely plume/bloom which is harmless.  When wiped away, mold will also leave a stain on the cigars. Bloom/plume will not.

Next, carefully remove the mold by wiping it away with a damp paper towel.  Once the mold has been removed, gently wipe the cigar(s) with a tiny bit of Isopropyl alcohol.  This will kill all microscopic mold particles that remain.  After you have wiped the cigar(s) with alcohol, rewipe with a paper towel moistened with distilled water.  This will dilute the alcohol so that it does not damage your cigar(s).

Once the mold from all your mold-infected cigars have been removed, place the cigars in a plastic container (with a sealable lid) and let it sit in your refrigerator for 1 week.  It is important that you store your cigars in the refrigerator during this time as the cold air will slow down mold growth but still allow it to appear if any residual mold spores remain.  If after 1 week, no new mold has appeared on the cigars, they are safe to be returned to your humidor.  If mold reappears, repeat the cleaning process.

If mold forms in your humidor's interior wood, carefully remove the mold by thoroughly vacuuming the ENTIRE humidor interior.  Be sure to use a soft-bristle attachment so that the vacuum does not scratch or damage the wood.  After the wood has been vacuumed and the visible mold is removed, gently wipe down the interior wood with a bit of Isopropyl alcohol and then with distilled water.  Don't use too much alcohol as it can strip the natural oils from the cedar wood.  Use just enough to glisten the wood, wait a few seconds, and then re-apply distilled water to dilute it.

After everything has been cleaned, return the cigars to the humidor and carefully monitor both the cigars and the humidor for the next week.  If any mold re-appears, repeat the cleaning process.

Hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.

Regards,
James