Cigars/black spots on cigar
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Question
hi,
)
i've been keeping <20 cigars in 2 habanos humidity pouches (holds 10 each) for about 2 months now ...
noticed that my cigars have had burn & draw issues lately ... so i bought some tupperware to move them into a drier place with more room ...
noticed that 2 of them are covered in tiny black dots, and a few others are on their way to going from questionable to similar in appearance ...
is it mold??? ... been looking, but can't seem to find a pic of black mold on cigars ... toss them? ... smoke them? ...
about 50% of the black "marks" i can attribute to rubbing, but the remaining spots are not on parts of the cigars that protrude at all ...
sorry this is so long ... it's the worst on 2 & another 6 are borderline questionable ...
thanks!
Hi Tae,
Don't worry, that is not cigar mold. These black spots are a natural occurence as cigars age. They can occur in all types of cigars (both Cuban and non-Cuban) but are more visible on cigars with lighter-shade wrapper leaves. These black spots are not harmful to your cigars and will not effect the way they burn or taste.
Cigar mold will look just like mold you would find on spoiled food; it's thick and fuzzy in appearance and grows quickly in random patches. Under a microscope or magnifying glass, cigar mold will have long tubular bodies and mushroom-like heads. Mold will form when the humidity exceeds 75% so as long as you keep your Tupperdor near 70% humidity, your cigars are fine.
If you encounter cigar mold, delicately wipe the mold off with a paper towel moistened with distilled water. Next, wipe the entire cigar with Isopropyl Alcohol (don't use too much alcohol, use just enough to lightly moisten them) and then re-wipe with distilled water to dilute the alcohol. Your cigars are now clean and can return to your humidor. Because you are using a Tupperware container, leave the lid closed but do not seal it tight. Let the lid rest loose as the container will need to naturally vent the excess humidity that builds up.
You should consider upgrading to a humidor as it is a better storage option if you plan to age your cigars long-term.
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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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | thanks for the quick & thorough reply! ... it's a relief to hear that it's not mold ... i do have a humidor & plan to set it up soon ... i've found that the habanos humidity bags are too humid for me ... thanks a lot ... i always appreciate reading your responses on this board ... have a great week ... ;) | ||
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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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