Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 6/7/2008

Question
I understand the importance of humidors is to keep a constant temperature and humidity, because they are grown in that climate and need to stay as such. So my first question is do native smokers (living in Latin America) generally need humidors?

Second, if they don’t, and your climate is especially well, do you need one?

I live in Oregon where it can rain for weeks straight with 80% humidity inside; then clear up and hold 20% humidity in the same room. This can happen unexpectedly two and fro all year.
   What I have figured out is the use of Tupperware. I place a few boxes in the tub, and a gently steaming cup of water inside with the boxes cracked. The box inhales the humidity and the “house” inside the box stays around 70%.
  So I would just like to know what up sides or downsides you might predict in this situation. One worthy point to mention is I tend to keep about 5-7 boxes plus some singles in a plastic bag, maybe 150-200 total. The biggest problem I’ve scene is not everything can fit without getting 10 sizes of giant Tupperware.

  To that, can you give a few words about humidity packets in terms of placing them in the original boxes to be placed on an open table?


Answer
Andrew,

The reason cigars need to be stored at a constant relative humidity is to keep them from becoming dry or too wet. It seems that your method allows for a lot of variance in both directions. When cigars become dry they can crack easily as you smoke them, burn too fast and get hot, and can even lose some flavor. Conversely when they become too wet they can wrinkle, split, and burn poorly.

Humidity packets work ok short term for transporting boxes of cigars, but don't have enough volume for long term storage.

I suggest you get a large cabinet type humidor and use an electronic humidifier like the Cigar Oasis. You have a lot of money invested in 150-200 cigars and you don't want to take chances with them by not keeping them properly humidified.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Bill