Cigars/Tobacco Mites?
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Question
Hi James,
I read some earlier posts that kind of spoke to my situation but had to ask again. I've noticed some super small white critters, moving around on the cigars in my humidor. I believe them to be tobacco mites and I have used a damp rag to clean them off the cigars I have smoked.
My questions are, how should I go about doing a thorough cleaning of my cigars and humidor? Is the vaacum my only option or can I use some type of water/alcohol solution? What are the chances of them re-appearing? and how did I get them in the first place?
Thanks,
DS
Hi DS,
Tobacco mites are completely harmless. They usually enter your humidor by hitching a ride on cigars from cigar stores or other humidors. Your only effective method for removing them from your humidor is by vacuuming your humidor interior with a soft-bristle attachment. When you buy new cigars, be sure to also throughly inspect them before putting them in your humidor. An alchol/water solution is not effective for preventing tobacco mites from re-appearing because they can always be transferred to your humidor from new cigars that you add in. (Note: An alcohol/water solution is only effective for treating cigar mold, not bugs.) These mites do not even live inside the cigars so freezing your cigars is not necessary.
Just periodically keep your humidor neat and tidy and the mite presence will be kept at a minimum.
Hopes this helps. As always, 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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