Expert: James Yee - 12/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: I'm not sure where to go with this. I found little mold spores on my Romeo y Julietta tubed cigar. I check the rest of my stash but nothing was showing any problems. I use a device that is jst a simple humidor, but I used the sponge that came with the box and a wet pillow thing. I suppose it was too much moisture...now I'm concerned. A few days before I smoked an exposed cigar, a camacho, green wrapper, candella, and it was horrible. It was really strong and bitter, but I wasn't sure if THAT was mold. What is the probabltiy that the tubed cigar was just an isolated incident?? Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Kevin,

Mold is usually white, off-white, blue, green or bluish-green in colour.  It forms in random patterns and can spread very quickly within a few days.  Cigar mold is fuzzy in texture/appearance and resembles mold that you would find on spoiled food.  If you wipe mold off a cigar, it will leave a discolorated stain that cannot be removed.

If however, the substance is grey, thin and dust-like, it is most likely plume (aka: bloom) and not mold.  Plume is the crystallization of the oils in a cigar’s tobacco leaves.  This is a good sign that the cigar is aging very well.  Plume is also harmless and leaves no stains on the cigar so simply brush it off when you are about to smoke a cigar.

If the Romeo y Julieta cigar has mold, isolate it immediately from your humidor and other cigars.  If it has plume, everything is fine.

Next, you should check your hygrometer for a humidity reading.  (If you don’t have a hygrometer, you should buy one as it will tell you if you have too much humidity in your humidor or not.  You can buy a hygrometer at most tobacconists/cigar shops and electronic stores such as Radio Shack/The Source, Best Buy, Sharper Image, etc.)

The safe humidity range for your cigars is 67-74% humidity so check your hygrometer.  If the hygrometer indicates that you have more than 75% humidity in your humidor, you definitely have too much humidity and need to lower it immediately.  (When the humidity is greater than 75%, mold can form.)  If the hygrometer says you have less than 67%, you need to add more distilled water.  (Too little humidity can cause dry, brittle cigars.)  If the humidity level is 70%, your humidity is perfect.

If your humidor has more than 75% humidity, add a 50/50 mixture of Propylene Glycol (PG) and distilled water to the humidification sponge and this will stabilize the humidity at 70%.  PG can last a long time (on average 2 years) in your humidor so you only need to add it just once.  After the 50/50 mixture, simply add distilled water to the humidification devices when needed.

If the Romeo y Julieta cigar does have mold but your other cigars are fine, then it is an isolated incident.  The candela Camacho doesn’t sound like it’s mold-related.  It also sounds like you don’t have a proper humidor and humidification unit so you should consider investing in one or store your cigars in a humi-pouch (also available at most tobacconists) as they are more reliable.

Hopes 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


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I appreciate all your help from the previous question. That same day I smoked the Romeo and I was very pleased. All others are okay.

I purchased an electronic hydrometer and I calibrated it to with the packet they gave me. The problem I seem to be having is my humidity inside of my mini humidor is on from 55-60%. I know you can save them if they are a little dry but I do not want to keep my level of humidity at that level. I am using three wet pillows dipped in distilled water, or whatever they are called, but no luck. I am considering purchasing a more expensive device. What should I do?

Answer
Hi Kevin,

If the packet you used to calibrate your humidifier contains Propylene Glycol, what you should do is give your humidor at least 1 week so that the humidity can stabilize.  Propylene Glycol is commonly added to humidification devices because it will stable the humidity perfectly at 70% in problematic humidors.  However, once added, the humidity will need some time to stabilize and during this time, can and will dip and peak wildly.

Fortunately, Propylene Glycol (PG) can last a long time in a humidor environment (on average 2 years) so you would only need to add PG just once.  After this, simply add distilled water to your humidification device(s) when needed.  If you didn't calibrate your humidifier with Propylene Glycol, you can do so now by adding a 50/50 mixture of Propylene Glycol and distilled water.

If you haven't used any PG, have you seasoned your humidor yet?  Seasoning your humidor prepares the interior wood so that it can more effectively absorb and regulate humidity at a more proper level.

If you haven't seasoned your humidor, this is what you'll need:

1 clean (sterilized and non-scented) sponge
1 sheet of plastic foodwrap or a clear sandwich baggie
1 clean (sterilized) spray bottle
1 fully charged humidification device
1 properly calibrated hygrometer (either analog or digital)
1 large bottle of 100% distilled water

First, take the spray bottle and spray the entire interior of your humidor with distilled water.  Don't flood the humidor but spray enough so that the interior is well coated with water.  Be sure to spray the trays, drawers and dividers if your humidor has them.  Allow the humidor to then sit for a few minutes so that the wood can thoroughly absorb the water.  Wipe up all the excess water (if any) with the clean sponge and then allow the humidor to sit overnight with the fully charge humidification unit, hygrometer and the sponge soaked in distilled water.  Place the sponge on top of a sheet of plastic so that it doesn't come in direct contact with the wood.

After 24 hours, check the humidor's humidity level.  If the sponge and humidification device has lost a lot of moisten, repeat the seasoning process and allow the humidor to sit for another 24 hours.  Only when the humidor can sit overnight and not lose moisture in the sponge and humidification device is the humidor ready to be used. (If after the seasoning process is complete and the humidity is much greater than 70% (ie: 75%+), Propylene Glycol will correct it to 70%.)

Hope this answers your question.

Regards,
James