Introduction
If you have had a long-term interest in cigars, you may have heard a bit about cigar humidors. A cigar humidor can ensure that your cigars stay fresh and aromatic. Cigars require certain precise conditions to stay fresh for a long time, and you have to take care of the temperature, moisture, and most importantly, humidity. Therefore, you need a cigar humidor to maintain the humidity of your cigars, so that you can enjoy them for much longer. If you are planning to store your cigars for two weeks or longer, you cannot make do without a cigar humidor.
This article discusses the high-end cigar humidor which is an electronic cigar humidor, and also lists down some of the conditions that you should consider when purchasing a cigar humidor.
What is a cigar humidor?
Basically, a cigar humidor is a storage device for your cigars that helps maintain their humidity level. By maintaining the humidity level, the humidor allows the tobacco leaves inside the cigars to expand and contract according to the humidity inside. The reduced humidity level can cause the tobacco leaves to shrink and lose their taste and aroma. On the other hand, a too high level of humidity will lead to the growth of mold and rotting.
There are numerous types of cigar humidors, and they vary in size, capacity, features, and numerous other factors that we will discuss later on. No matter what the size of the cigar humidor you buy, each one will have certain components to lock the humidity for cigars and provide them with the right conditions to store them.
How do cigar humidors work?
A quality cigar humidor consists of several components that work together to maintain the humidity and other conditions for your cigars. Let’s take a look at the components and how they work to keep your cigars fresh and aromatic for a longer period of time.
Humidifier
The humidifier is one of the most essential parts of cigar humidors, and its effectiveness and quality depend on the size of the humidor. As the name implied, the humidifier provides your cigars with the right amount of moisture they need, in order to keep the tobacco leaves inside your cigar from shriveling.
Most cigars also have essential oils inside them, which add to their flavor and aroma. Generally, you need to keep the humidor between 62 to 70 percent to preserve its quality. There are numerous methods and types of humidification systems you can use to provide moisture to cigars. We will discuss such systems in detail later on.
Hygrometer
The hygrometer is another important component of the cigar humidor, and its job is to detect the humidity level and indicate whether it needs to be increased or decreased. There are two types of hygrometers: digital and analog. Cigar humidors that have electronic humidity control are connected to the humidifier.
Thermostat
To maintain the freshness of the cigars, they also have to be kept at a certain temperature. Ideally, they need to be kept around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with a safe range between 60 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. While some cigar humidors come with temperature controls, you can make use of a thermometer to monitor the conditions inside humidors that don’t come with this feature. High-temperature conditions often cause the formation of cigar beetle eggs, which can ruin cigars and make them unsuitable for smoking. If the cigar humidor is equipped with a cooler and heater for regulating the temperature, the thermostat will work with both of them to maintain a cert
Spanish cedar
Most of the high-end cigar humidors have an interior made from Spanish cedar. They may either have a cedar lining on the walls or cedar shelves and drawers. The biggest advantage of using Spanish cedar in the cigar humidor is that it keeps insects and pests away, and also prevents the insides of the humidor from decaying. It also keeps cigar beetles away, while also preventing the growth of mold and mildew. Spanish cedar also has some absorbent qualities, which allow it to absorb and release water to help keep conditions evenly moist inside the humidor.
Putting it all together
Remember to pay close attention to the equipment and understand when they become less effective. Keep in mind an unconstant check-up on the humidor can ruin your cigar stash. For more cigar humidors questions make sure to reach out to our consultants via the contact form, email, or WhatsApp.