Expert: James Yee - 9/13/2007

Question
One of my cigars appears to have developed a grayish-green substance to the foot of the cigar (the part where you light it) - and extends for some 2-5cm from that point on. I had this a month ago, and consulted my local dealer and they told me its probably just bloom. But the specific location of it confuses me, shouldn't bloom appear "all over" the cigar, not just the foot?

The cigars that were affected a month ago, of which a few still remain, haven't shown signs of this re-appearing. But this one individual cigar on the bottom box of my humidor, had this stuff once more, in the exact same spot. No other cigars, even the ones under this one, are effected currently.

Is it still possible this is just bloom, or should I become concerned with mold in my humidor?

Answer
Hi V.,

Bloom/plume is typically dust-like in appearance.  It’s often off-white or grey in colour, very light in texture and brushes off easily, just like dust.  Mold on the other hand, is often thick and fuzzy and appears in patches.  It can be brushed off with your fingers but will leave a discoloured stain on your cigar.  Mold is either white, grey, green, blue or teal in colour.

A grayish-green substance forming on your cigar(s) is most definitely mold.  Remove it from your humidor immediately and make sure the other cigars and your humidity level is ok.  If the mold has not spread to the face of the foot (where all the layers of filler tobacco is visible) then the cigar can still be saved with a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol.

If the mold has spread to the face of the foot, the cigar can not be saved.  Mold can spread quickly and it is very hard to purge all the mold from between the many layers of filler tobacco.

Hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I’ll be happy to help.

Regards,
James