Expert: James Yee - 7/9/2011

Question
James

Thank you for offering this service.

I have a pack of hand made JAMAVANA Cigars - No 6-5-H-40 which likely dates back to before May 1983.

Is there any point to trying to restore/preserve them?

Blessings
Pat

Answer
Hi Pat,

All old or dried out cigars can be restored so that they can be smoked again.  Restoring very old or dry cigars will not bring back the cigars' original flavours (restored cigars usually have a bland, mild flavour) but it will make them smokeable and increase the value of the cigars.  Collectors always prefer to buy properly humidified cigars instead of dried out cigars.

Before you rehydrate your cigars, you will need to examine the cigars closely for signs of mold.  If your cigars have mold, it's best to throw them away.  Mold looks like mold that you would find on spoiled food: it's thick and fuzzy in appearance and quickly grows in random patches.  Cigar mold is usually white, green, grey, brown or even orange in colour.

If your cigars has a thin, "dust-like" substance that evenly covers the cigars, this is not mold.  This substance is the aged crystallization of the cigar's natural oils and is not harmful to your cigars.  

If caught early, moldy cigars can be treated and saved but if mold have been growing on these cigars for years, you should throw them away.  If your cigars are heavily damaged (to the point where they CAN'T be repaired), it may be best to throw them away.  If your cigars have small holes along the body, throw them away.  These holes are caused by tobacco beetles that have chewed through the cigars.  This permanently ruins your cigars and if smoked, can make you sick.

If your cigars appears fine, it's time to restore them.  To restore your cigars, carefully place them in a cigar humidor and let them sit in there (at 70% humidity) for as long as possible.  Be sure to rotate the cigars once every 2-4 weeks and this will help them absorb humidity evenly.  If you are not in a rush to smoke these cigars, letting them sit in your humidor for as long as possible is best.  If you would like to smoke these cigars, be sure to let them sit in your humidor for at least 3-4 months before you attempt to smoke them.  This will allow the cigars to thoroughly absorb the humidity.  (If you smoke a very dry cigar, it will burn and taste poorly.)

If you do not have a humidor, you can store your cigars in a humi-pouch.  These are plastic bags that have a humidified lining built into the plastic.  Humi-pouches are intended for short-term cigar storage and travel and can properly maintain your cigars at 70% humidity for up to 3 months.  After 3 months, you will need to replace the bag.  Humi-pouches are available in a variety of sizes and can be purchased at most cigar stores.

As I mentioned, your cigars may have a mild or bland flavour when restored.  This is due to the cigars' age as the natural oils in the cigars have all dried up.  The good news is that the cigars can be smoked when restored and their value will be increase.

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

Regards,
James