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Proper cigar storage is crucial. If you do not store your cigars properly you may encounter some of the following problems: uneven or too rapid burn, harsh or bitter taste, broken wrapper, difficulty lighting or keeping the cigar lit, mold, and tiny holes in your cigars, a sign of tobacco beetle infestation.
The humidor, in its simplest form, is just a storage medium for cigars. Cigars are perishable products. If not stored properly, cigars will dry out, become brittle, and lose their ability to provide their wonderful smoking pleasure. Cigars could not simply be stored in a box, because to keep them at their peak freshness and flavor, they require a critical element: humidity. It is commonly agreed that a 70% humidity factor is the norm.
Almost all humidors have three features in common:
- Spanish Cedar: This type of cedar is considered the finest. It will not absorb the flavor of the cigars, nor will it act as a "sponge" and remove the moisture.
- Humidification Unit: A humidification unit is a device attached to the inner lid of the humidor that includes a housing and a substance to hold the moisture. The most common type uses a sponge.
- Hydrometer: A hydrometer is a gauge which indicates the humidity in the humidor.
We will discuss in detail each one in the pages of our site.
The features described above are all common to every humidor. They are, in effect, what makes a box a humidor. However, there are other factors to consider when evaluating the value of a humidor