Quality Humidors and Accessories for Enthusiasts
A humidor is a special box or room designed to store cigars, cigarettes, or other tobacco products in order to keep them fresh and moist. Without proper humidity, tobacco dries out and loses its flavor.
Humidors come in all shapes and sizes, from small desktop models that can hold a few dozen cigars, to large walk-in rooms that can store thousands. The level of humidity inside a humidor is typically maintained between 65% and 75%.
There are several different types of humidifiers that can be used to maintain the proper level of humidity inside a humidor, including electronic devices, gel packs, sponge inserts, and even old-fashioned water pans.
Most cigars come packaged in cellophane wrappers which protect them from drying out. However, once the cellophane is removed, it is important to store the cigar in a humidor as soon as possible.
If you are a cigar smoker, chances are you already have a humidor or two in your home. But if you're new to the world of cigars, here are a few things you should know about these essential storage units:
What Is A Humidor?
A humidor is simply an enclosed space that has been specifically designed to store cigars (and sometimes other tobacco products) in order to keep them fresh and moist. Without proper humidity levels, tobacco dries out quickly and loses its flavor. Most humidors are lined with cedar wood which helps absorb excess moisture and regulates the overall humidity levels inside the unit.
The ideal level of humidity for storing cigars is between 65% and 75%. Too much moisture will cause the cigar wrappers to swell and potentially crack; too little moisture will cause the tobacco leaves to dry out and lose their flavor. Most good quality humidors come equipped with some type of hygrometer which allows you to monitor the current humidity levels at all times.
Types Of Humidifiers
There are several different types of devices that can be used to add moisture (and therefore raise the relative humidity) inside a humidor:
Electronic Devices: These plug into an outlet and use either distilled water or propylene glycol solutions to generate moisture vapor which is then released into the air inside the humidor. These devices are generally very effective but do require some regular maintenance (i.e., refilling the reservoir).
Gel Packs: These non-toxic packets contain water-based gels which slowly release moisture over time – they can last for several months before needing to be replaced. Gel packs work well but can sometimes raise humidity levels too high if not monitored closely enough.
Sponge Inserts: These work similarly to gel packs but use natural sponges instead of gels – they need to be recharged (i.e., soaked in water) on a regular basis but do not release as much moisture into the air as gel packs do so they may require less frequent monitoring overall..
Water Pans: The most old-fashioned method for adding moisture involves simply placing a shallow pan filled with distilled water inside the humidor – this will gradually evaporate and raise the relative humidity levels accordingly.. Of course, you'll need to check on these pans frequently (at least weekly)to ensure that they don't run dry..
Proper Cigar Storage 101
Now that we've covered some basics about whathumidors areand how they work let's talk about how tobest store your cigars once you've purchased them.. If you're buying pre-packaged cigars from acigar shop chances are they're already goingto be stored in agood environment but it's still important tomaintain those same conditions onceyou get them home.. Here are afew tips:
-Remove any plastic or cellophane wrappers assoon as possible.. These materialsare great for protectingcigars duringtransportation but onceyou're readyto smoke oneit's importantto takeit outofthe wrapper so that itcan "breathe."
-If you plan onaging yourcigars long-term(i.e., morethan afew months), it's bestto storethem intheir original wooden boxes.. This will helpkeep them freshand protectedfrom outside elements..
-Once you'veremoved acigar fromits packaging make sureto put itinto yourhumidor right away– don'tlet it sitoutfor too longas thiswill causeit totdry out quickly..
-Be sure tomaintain properhumiditylevelsinside yourhumidorf at alltimes– too muchmoisturewill causeyour cigarto swelland potentiallycrack whiletoo littlemoisturewill causethe tobaccoto dryoutand lose itsflavor.. Checkon yourhygrometerregularlyto ensurethat everythingis workingproperlyand addmoistureas needed(usingone ofthe methodswe discussedearlier)..
What makes a quality humidor?
In order to ensure that your humidor is able to properly protect your cigars, there are a few things to look for:
-A quality humidor will have an airtight seal in order to keep the humidity levels inside stable.
-It is important that the interior of the humidor is lined with a material that won't absorb moisture, such as Spanish cedar. This will help to regulate the humidity levels and prevent your cigars from drying out.
-The humidor should also come with a hygrometer so that you can monitor the humidity levels inside and make sure they are staying consistent.
If you follow these guidelines, you can be sure that your humidor will be able to keep your cigars fresh and flavorful for years to come!
How often should you check a humidor?
You should check your humidor at least once a month to make sure that the humidity levels are still where they should be. You may need to add more water to the humidifier if the levels have dropped. Other than that, just sit back and enjoy your cigars!