Posted on January 31, 2010.
Storing Cigars Cuban cigars are from the Caribbean, which has a tropical climate very different from Europe. As a natural product, your Havana cigars need to be carefully preserved. They are accustomed to being in a warm climate with high relative humidity.
Therefore they must be protected against extremes of temperature and humidity (particularly low moisture). This is particularly difficult to achieve in the air conditioning and central heating in buildings, where air tends to de-humidified and cigars can dry out very quickly. Some cigars in aluminum tubes that can help them preserve in dry climates, but they tend to mature at a much slower rate than 'naked' boxed cigars.
Maintain a temperature of 16 C to 20 C and a relative humidity of 65% - 70%.
In the United Kingdom, you'll need a humidifier to keep moisture from your cigars at various times of the year:
Humidity
At the very least, keep your cigars in a sealed cabinet, drawer or box, away from radiators and other heat sources. Choose the coolest place inside your house. Leave the cigars in their original boxes as this will help to conserve, protect it from being damaged, and prevent corruption of flavors-cons among different varieties of cigars stored in the same area. If the humidity in your cellar wealth is low, a damp sponge in a cup will serve as a basic provider of humidity.
When you buy your cigars from TomTom, they are packed in an airtight bag Zip-Loc, which keeps moisture from your cigars while you transport your wine shop. These bags are very effective cellar short-term, however we do not recommend that you leave your cigars sealed in these bags for over a month. Although humidity will be maintained, cigars should also be exposed to fresh air for them to 'breathe' and age correctly.
A variety of desk top and travel humidors can be purchased (see "Accessories") and are essential for the dedicated cigar smoker (more information below).
Temperature
The danger of excessive temperature (combined with too much moisture), is that the cigars can either go moldy or be damaged by an attack Weavile. If moldy cigars, this is usually not a problem, as it is spotted early enough and the mold (or bloom) only appears on the wrapper. The mold can be removed with a soft brush (eg a badger shaving brush), then the cigar can be returned to store in good condition. If mold gets into the end of the cigar, we recommend that you do not smoke. Weavile, or tobacco beetle, is a more serious problem. If you see small holes in your cigar, you should take immediate action. Please call Tomtom for further advice. Never store cigars near direct sunlight or for long periods of exposure to sea breezes (salt will not enhance your smoke). The higher the temperature, the higher the humidity required to compensate.
Desk-Top Cigars
There is a very wide selection of these humidors on the market. The basic design requirements is that they are sealable (and generally lockable!), But allow the cigars to breathe. This is normally achieved by leaving the base of the box with paint, and no part of the inner cedar box should be laminated. The box contains a connector that provides the humidity: this is normally a block containing a sponge or chalk, which can be mitigated. The box may also include a dial indicating the humidity and temperature.
In general, the larger the box, the harder it is to maintain a constant level of moisture within its boundaries. These humidors do not regulate the temperature. The price range starts from about 125 for a humidor plexiglass, which hold about 50 cigars in 2000 and beyond. A comprehensive selection is available on our accessories.
