Proper Humidor Humidity for Cigars
Cigars are rolled bundles of fermented and dried tobacco leaves that are made to be enjoyed by well-aged successful villains … or anyone who enjoys the smooth and favorable taste associated with it. One thing that many people forget when buying cigars is that they should be properly taken care of.
It won’t do to just put your cigars in a fancy box that you can pull out on special occasions. How should you do that? That’s where cigar humidors come in — they keep your cigars in their best shape for much longer.
What are Cigar Humidors, Exactly?
Ideally, cigars have to be stored in the same atmosphere in which its tobacco was grown, or at least as close an atmosphere as possible. For that, you’ll need a humidor. Cigar humidors are made specifically to keep cigars at the temperature and humidity that suits it best. It’s basically a cigar box with a humidifying device.
What’s the Proper Humidor Humidity for Cigars?
Right, so you’ve got your cigar humidor, and you’re ready to store your cigars so they can last longer and better retain their flavor. So now, you need to know at what humidity to set things up. The best humidity rate for your cigars would be around 12% to 15% of their weight, as that is as much humidity as it can absorb without negative consequences.
If you don’t keep the humidity at the ideal levels, it will significantly affect how well your cigars are preserved; too high or too low humidity will result in unpleasant surprises when you attempt to enjoy your cigars.
Getting the humidity rate just right can be seen as an art that needs to be mastered, and when you have this down, you will enjoy better-tasting cigars. The optimum relative rate in your cigar humidor should be 68% to 74%.
Cigar-Specific Considerations to Keep in Mind
Although there is a ‘standard’ measurement that can be used as a guideline for storing cigars, you should adjust this measurement according to the kind of cigar you’re storing. To get the best smoking experience from every type of cigar, try to stick to these suggested humidity values:
Cuban Cigars
For these cigars, a humidity percentage of 60% to 75% is best. If you go lower or higher, you could dry out or ‘over-humidify’ the cigars.
Extra Cuban Cigars
Dominicans or Nicaraguans would be best suited to higher humidity levels. In general, consider going for humidity ranges between 65% and 80%.
Tuscan Cigars
During the curing of Tuscan cigars, the humidity levels are at 65%, so sticking to anything between 55% and 70% when storing them will be ideal, according to Tuscan experts. However, since it is common for retailers to store cigars in uncontrolled environments, you might need to give your cigars more humidity initially.
For the most part, humidity levels for cigars are relative, and it is recommended that cigar lovers experiment with the humidity levels and learn what works best for their preferred cigar. You might end up not liking the flavor of your cigar when adhering to these guidelines; in that case, change it a bit and see what happens. Just do not exceed a humidity level of 80% — this will cause your cigars to rot.
All cigar lovers acquire their own preferences when it comes to the characteristics of their favorite cigar — it just takes a little time and patience.
Keep an Eye on Your Humidor
There are a number of factors that can influence how well your humidor works. The use of air conditioners and heaters, open windows, and the changing of seasons can directly and seriously affect the humidity levels inside a cigar humidor.
You can use a hygrometer to make sure your humidor is working efficiently and correctly — this device measures humidity. The condition of your cigars will also be a giveaway to something being amiss with the humidor.
As humidity levels in your home (or wherever you store your cigars) fall, you may have to add distilled water or humidifying solution to your humidor.
Conclusion
Enjoying a good cigar every now and then can be very satisfying, as long as the cigars are stored the right way under ideal conditions. A cigar humidor is a perfect way to keep your cigars ‘fresher’ for longer and to prevent the loss of flavor or rotting. Just remember to keep an eye on your humidor as the seasons and temperatures around it change. We hope your next experience will be filled with fantastic cigars now that you know the proper humidity for your cigars.