How to store cigars at home

Tourists who prefer tobacco products often buy real cigars in their homeland. But not all people know how to store such products. Over the years, the public has developed the belief that genuine Cuban cigars are considered a luxury gift. A person with a high status is simply obliged to have such a present, despite the fact that he may not have bad habits.

Features of cigar storage

If you follow all the nuances and storage conditions, cigars will lie for a rather long time. Tobacco products can be stored for 10-15 years without any problems. Yet there is a flip side to the coin. There is an opinion that cigars restrain their true qualities for the first 2-3 years after their manufacture. Also do not forget about storage conditions. If the product is properly maintained, you will get a tart taste and aroma.

Factor number 1. Humidity

1. First of all, you need to consider the origin of the product. The humidity indicator varies between 65-73%. For example, cigars produced in Cuba need to be stored at a minimum rate.
2. Tobacco products made in other countries should be kept at a moisture content of not more than 69%. If the indicator falls below 57%, the cigars are too dried, and with a coefficient of up to 78% the product begins to whip, becomes covered with white coating, mold.

Factor number 2. Temperature

1. With the temperature regime, things are much simpler, it is enough to store cigars in the room (17-22 degrees). If the house is no more than 25 degrees, do not worry about storing the product. At the highest mark of the maximum allowable temperature, the product will become unusable.
2. Regardless of the time of year, it is best to have a separate room for storing products. You don’t have to rush in the summer to look for a room with suitable conditions for keeping cigars. Heat can adversely affect tobacco products.

Factor number 3. Storage

1. In order not to bother with choosing a special place with the proper microclimate, you can purchase a cigar storage box - a humidor. You can also create it yourself.
2. Follow all storage conditions for tobacco products as recommended by experienced people. With a sharp decrease in temperature and humidity in the room, these factors will lead cigars to rupture the shell.

Humidor Design

Housing

1. The price of the device depends on the high cost of the material from which it is made. Humidor is made from valuable wood or high-quality plastic. Partitions inside an expensive box are made of Spanish cedar.
2. The wood of this breed has a unique absorbent property. Partitions of cedar absorb moisture and, if necessary, give it to cigars. Wood should not be polished or polished.
3. To check the quality of the humidor, close the lid. When the box is abruptly closed, it will emit a characteristic muffled sound. A good bonus is the bottom, trimmed with velvet. This way you won’t scratch the surface of the shelf on which the tobacco container will stand.
4. You can also check how tightly the lid of the humidor fits with the album sheet. Put paper in a drawer, slam it. Next, pull the paper toward you. If the humidor is well-made, the sheet cannot be pulled out.

Humidifer

1. In other words, this is the name of the humidifier, which is a small box with holes. A sponge moistened with distilled water is placed in the cavity.
2. An attribute needs to be periodically nourished; sometimes look at its state.If we consider the more expensive humidors, they are equipped with a digital humidifier with helium liquid.
3. You need to refuel the device once every six months with a special composition. It is recommended to use just such an attribute, because it prevents the formation of mold.

Hygrometer

1. The device allows you to measure the humidity of the microclimate in a container with tobacco products. An important factor is that the hygrometer should be inside the box.
2. An external meter is much harder to set up. It is recommended that you purchase a humidor with a digital hygrometer. Other devices with an indicator of humidity give an error.

Preparing cigars for storage

1. To store cigars, a humidor needs to be prepared. Moisten the sponge with distilled water, soak the partitions and container walls with it.
2. Next, line the bottom of the humidor with cellophane, place a wet sponge on it. Close the drawer, wait about 22 hours, focus on the hygrometer indicator, the microclimate humidity should be 80%.
3. Remove the sponge, close the container again for several hours. The ongoing manipulation will help to fully saturate the walls of the humidor with moisture. After that, place the cigars in the box.
4. Tobacco products also absorb the necessary amount of moisture. According to the hygrometer, you will see that the microclimate is normalizing to the desired level.

Rules for storing cigars in a humidor

1. Store cigars according to the simple recommendations of professionals. Keep tobacco products of one type separate from another.
2. If the cigar in a piece is contained in the original packaging, do not rush to get it. Separate different types of tobacco products with partitions.
3. It is recommended to store cigars in one tier, periodically change their places. Remember to maintain the recommended humidity.
4. Periodically look at tobacco products; they should not have bugs, mold and plaque on them. Also, cigars should not be dried out, otherwise the shell will burst.

Drying and moisturizing cigars

1. You can restore cigars if stored improperly, but the process will be complicated, and you won’t be able to restore your former taste.
2. The product deteriorates if elementary storage rules are not observed. This can be temperature changes or changes in air humidity. Cigars can dry out and crack or, conversely, become moldy.
3. If you still decide to restore the tobacco product, the time required for the procedure will be exactly the same as the cigar lay under inappropriate conditions.
4. To do this, you need to gradually restore the humidity of the microclimate and temperature. The process may drag on for more than one year. Therefore, it is worth considering immediately all the nuances of the proper content of tobacco products.
5. If the cigar has dried, just wrap it in cellophane and put it in the humidor for several days. After that, dispose of the bag and keep the product in the container for about 1 month. The manipulation should return the basic qualities.
6. If the cigar was oversaturated with moisture, but did not have time to become moldy, it should be put on a shelf in a room at room temperature. Wait about 7 hours, then send the product to the humidor for 1 month. Try to avoid sudden changes in temperature.

Cigar diseases

White coating

1. A similar disease appears under unsatisfactory cigar storage conditions. It is not prohibited to smoke a product; only a presentable appearance suffers from plaque.
2. To get rid of the disease is quite simple, to do this, moisten the sponge and remove the plaque. Next, send the cigar to the humidor to restore it.

Mold

1. A characteristic appearance of the fungus is elevated temperature and humidity. It is worth getting rid of such a product.
2. If the cigars begin to deteriorate, some of them have a chance to be saved. Disinfect the storage location of products, further optimize the microclimate.

Lazioderma

1. A common occurrence is that finished cigars are sold with eggs of a tobacco beetle. Therefore, storing products at temperatures above 23 degrees, they begin to hatch and destroy the product.
2. You can smoke cigars, but the product will not contain the proper strength and aroma. You can also check the product. Put the cigar in an upright position and lightly tap it if you see tobacco dust, the product is suitable for consumption.

For proper storage of cigars, you need to allocate a separate room. It is necessary to hang a measuring instrument for air humidity in it and to control the indicator to the desired level using a humidifier or dehumidifier. You can also purchase a humidor.

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