Cigars/Tobacco beetle
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Question
Should I wipe clean the humidor box with alcohol or just a moist towel to cleanse the unit as I freeze the cigars for 48 hrs as you recommend?
Is there a chance the beetle can reappear after cleaning?
Hi Steve,
You don't need to use alcohol to clean your humidor if you have tobacco beetles. You only need to use alcohol when your humidor has mold. For tobacco beetles, freeze your cigars and thoroughly brush out and vacuum your humidor. Use a soft-bristle vacuum attachment so you don't scratch the cedar interior. If your humidor has dried out while you were cleaning it, you will need to re-season it by re-wiping the interior with distilled water. (For detailed seasoning instructions, please search my question archive or just ask me and I will be happy to re-post it for you.)
After freezing your cigars for 48 hours, your cigars are ready to be returned to your humidor. Freezing your cigars will kill off any tobacco beetles eggs inside your cigars but any new cigars that you add to your humidor may contain beetle eggs as well. To further prevent tobacco beetles from appearing, be sure to keep your humidor temperature less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal).
Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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