Expert: James Yee - 9/4/2009

Question
Hi James,
Have you ever experienced mould growing inside cigar body without being noticeable during routine check?
The reason I ask this question is that recently I purchased a cigar (San Cristobal Oficios)which was perfectly fine from outside - construction and  density were quite ok (a bit spongy but not critically) , wrapper seemed to have no visible defects at least to my view, smell seemed to be ok too.
From the first moment of smoking the cigar demonstrated steady and distinctive mouldy taste as if the entire filler was infested , this was increasing with each draw so the cigar was discarded.
The questions are:
- what do you think about possible causes of such unpleasant taste?
- have you experience mould growth inside the cigar without affecting the wrapper?
- what would be your recommendations on early detection of potential problems?
Thanks a lot in advance
All the best
Vladimir.
-

Answer
Hi Vladimir,

Yes, it's very possible for mold to form inside a cigar.  Mold is caused by a buildup of residual moisture.  If there is a prolonged buildup of moisture in the gaps and spaces of the filler tobacco, mold can form and cause a stale and moldy taste in the cigar.  Mold is also a respiratory irritant so smoking a moldy cigar can make a person very sick.  All a cigar needs is a microscopic amount of mold to start and the mold will eventually grow and spread if left unnoticed.  Mold is also more common to appear on the exterior of the cigar and can spread to the cigar foot and embed itself between the multiple layers of visible filler tobacco.

When choosing cigars at your local cigar store, avoid cigars that are extremely soft/spongy.  This is a sign that the cigar is over-saturated with humidity which can lead to mold problems.  Extremely soft/mushy cigars can also mean that the cigar is underfilled with filler tobacco and contains numerous gaps and spaces in the filler tobacco for moisture to build up.  Be sure to also examine the foot of the cigar.  Look for any signs of mold and smell the cigar foot.  If the cigar foot has a strong moldy/musty smell, it may have mold inside the filler tobacco.

Choosing firm yet slightly spongy cigars are fine but extremely spongy cigars are bad.

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