Expert: James Yee - 12/31/2009

Question
I have reduced my cigar smoking over the years and I have noticed a white powder like residue on some of My cigars. I have seen this in times past on cigars in some retail humidors. Is this mold, and if so are the cigars ruined? Also what caused this and what can I do to prevent/fix the problem.

Sincerely,

Tim Sherlock

Answer
Hi Tim,

If the white substance is thick and fuzzy in appearance and forms in random patches, it is mold.  Cigar mold often appears when the humidity inside your humidor is greater than 75%.  When the humidity remains above 75% for long periods of time, the heavily moist environment can cause mold to form.  Like mold that you would find on spoiled food, cigar mold is fuzzy and thick in texture and rapidly grows in random patches.  These moldy patches will also grow outwards and spread over the cigar(s).  Cigar mold can be white, grey, blue, green, orange or even brown in appearance (it can also be a combination of these colours).  When wiped away, cigar mold can leave a discolorated stain on the cigars.  Cigar mold can also appear from handling your cigars with contaminated hands so it's important to wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you handle your humidor and cigars.

When viewed through a microscope, mold particles will have a long tubular body and a mushroom cap-like head.  

If caught early, cigar mold can be treated and your cigars can be saved.  To save your cigars from a mold attack, remove all your cigars from your humidor and thoroughly vacuum your entire humidor interior and then wipe with a paper towel (or clean sponge) moistened with Isopropyl Alcohol.  You do not need to heavily saturate the humidor interior, just use enough rubbing alcohol to lightly moisten the wood and this will kill all the mold particles that remain.  Next, re-wipe your humidor interior with 100% distilled water to dilute the residual alcohol.  Re-season your humidor (if necessary) and your humidor should be clean now.  If mold re-appears, simply repeat the cleaning process.  

For your cigars, take a paper towel moistened with distilled water and wipe down all your cigars to remove any visible mold.  Do not use too much water or wipe the cigars too hard as this could damage the cigars.  Next, take another paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol and delicately wipe down every cigar.  Again, be delicate with this process so that you do not damage your cigars.  Like your humidor, you do not need to soak the cigars with alcohol.  Just use enough to lightly moisten them.  Re-wipe the cigars with distilled water to dilute the residual alcohol.  

Now, place all your cigars in a clean Tupperware container (w/lid) and place them in your refrigerator.  Let the cigars sit for one week and monitor them closely during this time.  If any mold reappears, repeat the cleaning process.  (Storing cigars in your refrigerator will slow down the mold growth but still allow it to appear if present.  This step is necessary in assuring that your cigars are finally clean.)

If the white substance is thin, greyish in colour and dust-like in appearance, it is cigar plume (also known as cigar "bloom").  Cigar plume is the crystallization of a cigar's natural oils and is a good sign that the cigar(s) are well aged.  As a cigar ages, the natural oils in the tobacco leaves will slowly extrude and crystallize.  Cigar plume is harmless to your cigars and all you need to do is brush it off when you are going to smoke the cigar.  An occasional cleaning of your humidor to remove the excess buildup of plume dust is also recommended.

Another substance that can appear in your humidor is mineral trace (water scale) and this is the result of using hard water in your humidification device.  Water such as tap, bottled drinking, boiled and even filtered water can still contain mineral particulates.  As the humidity in your humidor circulate and evaporate, the mineral deposits will remain; leaving a chalky buildup of water scale on your humidification device as well as a white powdery buildup on your cigars or humidor interior.  Like cigar mold, this powdery buildup is white and fluffy in texture but does not rapidly spread like mold.  A periodic cleaning of your humidor and switching to 100% distilled water (or bidest water) will eliminate mineral trace.

Hopes this helps.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Have a Happy New Year!

Regards,
James