Humidors

What is a humidor ?

A humidor is not just a case, it is a piece of Art.
A humidor is a case or enclosure, that comes in different sizes, in which the air is kept properly humidified in a controlled box or room used primarily for storing cigars. Its primary function is to protect its contents from physical damage and deterioration from sunlight and maintain a certain level of humidity that would provide a desirable moisture level for the cigars. This storage container should ideally maintain the internal humidity between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In an airtight moisturized container, cigars are likely to become mouldy. For that reason, it’s better to have air circulating between the cigars in your humidor than it is to squish them in too tightly.

Left out in a heated or air-conditioned room, a cigar can dry out and die in less than an hour. In a properly maintained humidor, cigars can be kept for years. No matter what a thermometer or hygrometer says, the true measure of your humidor’s performance will be the condition of the cigars inside. If the cigars are soft and exuding a little oil, the conditions are perfect. If they seem too dry, you add more water.

Some aficionados, who cherish a blissful smoking experience, keep different humidors for different brands of cigars since the scent from one type of cigar if mingled can alter the taste of another when stored adjacent to very different ones. Smaller portable humidors, used for travel, that hold a day or two’s supply is very common among aficionados.

Humidors are available in different wood finishes like walnut, mahogany, dark cherry, and more. If you want a humidor that fits in your living room or office space, buy one that is not only functional but can also serve as a piece of furniture.

Investing in a humidor is a big decision. Good humidors aren’t cheap, but there’s no point in having a bad humidor. A humidor that does not maintain a constant desired level of humidity, no matter how pretty it is, is a waste of money and cigars. Consider how wine lovers store their wine. They’re protecting an investment. Your cigars are equally valuable and deserve a similar level of care. The rule of thumb is to always buy a humidor that is larger than the number of cigars you are planning to store in it.

Pay particular attention to the rim and the lid, and how they fit together. The lid should shut tightly. For the record, a humidor lid should not “seal” completely; it should allow a minute amount of air to circulate in and out of the box.

What is an Hygrometer ?

This tool is a temperature readout that measures properly the relative humidity inside the humidor. It is a key component of the humidor. The ideal temperature range in a humidor is between 70-75°F.

How to Calibrate an Hygrometer ?

Place a teaspoon of salt in a small cup and soak it with a few drops of water (without dissolving it).
Carefully place the wet salt and the hygrometer inside a see-through container and close tightly. You can use a zip lock bag provided it seals well with some air inside.
Let it sit for at least 6 hours and note the reading on the hygrometer without opening the container. The hygrometer should read 75%, if your hygrometer reads 70% during the salt method test this means that to obtain the real humidity level you should add 5 points.
If you have an analogue hygrometer, you can correct the reading. You will need to adjust the needle to the 75% mark by turning the screw on the back using a small screwdriver.
Your hygrometer is now ready to be placed inside your humidor.

What is a Humidifier ?

A humidifier is what keeps inside the humidor the moisture properly and the humidity well-modulated. Once the humidor has been properly seasoned, the humidifier that contains distilled water can be adjusted to reach the desirable temperature that would provide adequate moisture for the humidor and for the cigars.

How does a Humidor work ?

Most of the cigars come from tropical regions where the heat is high, and the humidity is quite strong. Cigars tend to last longer in such appropriate environment but will get easily dry out if they are left in a wrong one; In an entirely moist condition however the cigar can become too damp and then become quite difficult to smoke.

It takes time to get a new humidor ready to hold cigars and to recreate the ideal tropical environment where most cigars are made. This process requires patience, and some know how. Putting cigars into a dry humidor can ruin good smokes.

Humidors must have its lid or door shut and periodically add distilled water to the humidifying device. By using regular tap water, the minerals in it are likely to collect on the humidifier and diminish its ability to emit and absorb moisture.

Most humidors have an interior made of untreated Spanish cedar, the preferred wood for humidifying and aging premium cigars. Cedar absorbs and holds more moisture than most woods in a way that helps the tobaccos that are blended into a fine cigar to age and mature. It also offers many advantages and provides the ideal insulation and protection against tobacco beetles and insects.

How to season your Humidor ?

The wood needs to be humidified, or seasoned, before the box is ready to hold cigars.

To start a new unscented sponge or white cloth must be soaked in distilled water, then all the exposed wood must be wiped down, including any trays and dividers, as well as the interior lid.

After this process the sponge or cloth needs to be squirt with more distilled water then placed inside the humidor on a plastic container, to avoid direct contact with the wood. The lid will have to be closed and left overnight. The next day, the same process must be repeated, then the hygrometer must be filled with distilled water and flipped upside down for half an hour before being installed. The humidor will sit another night. The day after, the sponge and the plastic container must be removed; the walls of the humidor must have by now absorbed all the water it needs. Cigars can safely be stored at this stage, and it is recommended to keep a close eye on the humidity inside the lid for few days; should the humidity fall less than 68°F then some water should be added to the humidifier, if on the contrary the humidity exceeds 70-75°F then the humidifier should be removed for a short period of time for the excess water to evaporate.