Tips on Storing Cigars

How do I store my cigars?
Storing your cigars should be done in a humidor. A humidor is a box lined with cedar. The cedar helps age and flavor cigars and keeps them moist at an optimal level of humidity.

Ideally, cigars need to be at 70 percent RH and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to give you the best smoking experience. At this temperature and relative humidity, the tobacco will burn and taste the best. If your cigar is drier than that, it will burn too fast and taste harsh. If your cigar is too moist, it will be hard to keep lit, and it will mold during storage.

Keep your humidor closed at all times, sealed tightly against the outside atmosphere. This will keep the interior at the optimal levels of humidity and temperature. You will also need a humidifier, which actually puts the moisture content into the air inside the humidor.

What are the ideal conditions for storing cigars?
Cigars are affected by light, humidity, temperature, and friction. They should never be exposed to ultraviolet light, so keep them out of direct sunlight. Light will also bleach the cigar wrappers and destroy its elasticity. UV light even changes the molecular composition of the wrapper.

Direct sunlight will probably raise the temperature inside your humidor too. This is something you need to pay attention to. Temperature has a direct impact on humidity. It can also make tobacco beetles more active. Anything above 75 degrees is bad for your humidor.

Why is warm air inside the cigar humidor so essential to storing cigars?
It has a higher moisture capacity than cold air.

Is there anything else that can happen while storing cigars that might damage them?
Friction can do a lot more damage to cigars than you might think. Just consider how some of the loose cigars look when you enter a walk-in humidor. Many of them have been handled and handled again, and almost all of them have also been moved around. When this happens, they get scuffed up, and the wrapper often tears. A tear is hard to stop. There are adhesives that you can buy to repair this, but why would you want to when you can buy a fine cigar in good condition?

Should I mix different brands and levels of flavor when storing cigars?
It is not a good idea, at least not with loose cigars. Cigars impart flavor to each other by touching because much of the flavor is in the wrapper. Therefore, separate loose cigars in your humidor if they are not covered with plastic wrap.

If I have not bought a humidor yet, what do you recommend for storing cigars?
You really need to get a humidor. In the meantime, store your cigars in a Ziploc bag. When it starts to get dry, add a few drops of water to a small piece of paper towel to get the humidity back. If you are storing a box of cigars, use Tupperware.