Storing cigars properly to preserve their aroma
Are you a cigar lover who’d like to know exactly how to store your cigars properly? Premium cigars are valuable, handmade natural products, and it’s really important that they are stored properly. It’s crucial to have the correct humidity and temperature to preserve the fine aromas. Read on to find out how to preserve the special flavour and store your cigars properly.
The key points
- Optimal storage conditions: cigars should be stored in humidity of 68–75 percent and at a temperature of 16–22 °C.
- Near-original conditions: the conditions found in a tropical climate like the Caribbean or South America are perfect for maturing and preserving the aroma.
- Don’t forget ventilation: good air circulation prevents a musty smell and keeps the aroma of the cigars fresh.
- Humidor as the best solution: a humidor made of cedar wood ensures constant climate conditions and protects cigars from losing their quality.
Why store cigars as they were in their country of origin?
Are you wondering if you’ve been storing your cigars properly up until now? A perfectly preserved cigar has a soft, elastic wrapper. It is pleasantly heavy in the hand and exudes a succulent odour typical of its origin. To store your cigars in the best environment possible, they require environmental conditions similar to those in the tropical home of tobacco: the Caribbean, South America or south-east Asia. If you create similar climate conditions for storage, you’ll be able to store or mature your cigars over a long period of time. If instead you store your cigars in a humidity level that is too low, they will dry out and lose their exquisite aroma. On the other hand, if the humidity level is too high, there’s a risk that the valuable tobacco will go mouldy.
| Region | Climate | Average temperature | Humidity | Rainy season | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean (e.g. Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica) | Tropical-humid | 25–28 °C | 70–80 % | May–November | Clear dry and rainy seasons, high humidity |
| South America (e.g. Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia) | Tropical to sub-tropical | 22–27 °C | 70–85 % | October–March | Stable temperatures, different humidity depending on region |
| South-east Asia (e.g. Indonesia, Philippines, Sumatra) | Tropical with high humidity | 26–30 °C | 80–90 % | November–March | Warm temperatures all year round, few temperature fluctuations |
Storing cigars with optimum humidity and temperature
The ideal humidity for storing cigars is between 68 and 75 %. The sooner the cigar is intended to be smoked, the closer the humidity should be to 68 percent. The ideal storage temperature is between 16 °C and 22 °C.
A humidor provides the perfect conditions for storing cigars.
Cedar wood for long-term storage without moisture
Traditional cigar boxes and lots of modern humidors are made of cedar wood. This wood absorbs moisture and then releases it evenly. Collectors can store their cigars for a long period of time in a box made of cedar wood.
Storing cigars in a fridge
As a natural product, cigars require a perfect hygienic environment. An activated charcoal filter in a humidor ensures that the air inside – unlike in a conventional fridge – is free of any odours. If you don’t have a humidor, you may have asked yourself if you can store your cigars in the fridge. You shouldn’t do this because in the fridge your cigars may absorb foreign odours, even if they’re in airtight packaging. So if you want to enjoy cigars on a regular basis, you should invest in a high-quality humidor.
FAQ: storing cigars
If cigars are stored under optimum conditions, ideally in a humidor, you can store your cigars for up to 15 years. This means you can amass a collection of cigars and enjoy them with the same aroma even after a long period of time.
If you don’t own a humidor, the classic cigar box made of cedar wood and storage in a wine cellar will provide optimum conditions.
Cigars can be stored in air-tight containers and plastic bags, but the external conditions such as sunlight are important. Keep an eye on whether the humidity level rises to prevent any mould from forming. A container made of cedar wood is the better choice for storing cigars.
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