Once you are accustomed to your cigars, you may want to know the correct way of storing them. This is not really all that hard and there are some simple strategies which you can use if you are interested in having that perfect cigar last for weeks, or even months, for a special occasion.
Ideally, you should store your cigars in a environment of approximately 65°F with a relative humidity of around 70%. These two parameters are inversely dependent on each other and hence, if one goes down, the other should go up.
If you cannot afford to buy your own humidifier, there are ways to fashion out of available kitchen apparatus. The use of Tupperware and Ziploc bags are not unheard of. You can directly place your cigars in one of these boxes or bags and without airing it out, seal it and store for a couple of weeks.
However, if you truly want it to stay fresh, you should insert a humidifying agent inside this bag and box. For this, you can use either a sponge, moist paper, or anything that can get wet but is not scented within the bags, not touching the cigars. This sponge or moist paper should be wet and dried out such that it is moist, but not damp. Regularly check your homemade humidifier to ensure that your cigars are not getting moldy or are in contact directly with the moist substance.
The last resort would be to actually invest in a cigar storing device, if you can afford it. A cigar aficionado usually knows how to fasten one of his own.
Archive for June, 2009
The Proper Way to Store a Cigar
Thursday, June 25th, 2009The Popularity of Smoking Cigars
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Cigar smoking is on the rise in the United States and the world over. The trend is especially evident among women and the younger crowd as more of them is being enamored with the idea of smoking a cigar.
In fact, the popularization of the cigar by popular celebrities on TV as well as on the big screen is largely the reason for the rise in the sales volumes of the cigar among the impressionable youth.
The myth that cigars are substantially safer than cigarettes is another reason for the rise in its popularity. As more users are discovering, you are equally vulnerable to lung cancer smoking a cigar. In fact, there is a higher chance of getting oral cancer with cigars because of the long time you take in smoking one entirely. While an average cigarette may take ten minutes, a cigar will take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours to completely finish it.
Smoking cigars has been on a rise since 1993. In fact, with more established figures smoking it on the screen, the cigar enjoys a high stature and respect amongst the people in a society. Fortunately, things are changing and cigar consumption has stopped rising for the past two years.
With government coming down heavily on tobacco companies, the cigar too has taken a beating and the high tax on imported verities has deterred some people from smoking it. Many organizations actively protest against smoking. Despite all these efforts, there are an estimated 18 million cigars sold worldwide per year.
The Humidor
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Serious cigar lovers will know about the humidor. They will know the importance of storing the cigar in the right manner and the importance of protecting it from the elements. In fact, not everyone knows the importance of keeping the cigar protected and covered, unless they do so regularly.
The humidor comes in a variety of different sizes. In fact, you can even build one of your own. All you need is a Tupperware box or some good Ziploc bags. Inside these, you need to place the cigar along with a humidifying agent. The humidifying agent can be a sponge, a moist paper or something similar. You need to dry out the humidifying agent so that it doesn’t remain damp and cause mold formation on the cigars. Ideally, it should be slightly moist so that it can circulate well within the box and maintain the health of the cigars.
Commercial humidors come equipped to handle the cigars and do not need anything extra. These come in various sizes like cabinet, travel size, commercial display and even in the form of a gift box. The cabinet sized models are ideal for homes, and if you are a frequent traveler, then do consider buying yourself a travel size as well.
Humidors are known to protect cigars for a long period. In fact, some of them protect cigars well over years together at once. If money is a concern, you can buy a small wooden model that is available in desktop size as well.
How To Smoke a Cigar
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
The right way to smoke a cigar is the one way that will let you enjoy it the most. The first thing when it comes to smoking your cigar is that you need to buy the right kind. Don’t buy cigars that are sappy and have holes on the body or are discolored. If you are starting for the first time, buy a mild variety and inspect it thoroughly by hand. Don’t buy more than you are going to smoke in a couple of days because cigars need humidifiers for storage.
Now, relax and take it in easily. Take your own time when it comes to smoking that cigar, because cigars are meant to last long. Ideally, you should be taking a puff a minute.
If possible, try not to inhale cigar smoke and instead, enjoy the rich flavor when you are smoking it. A well crafted cigar will have very low amounts of nicotine which will make you feel asphyxiated and cause choking when inhaled.
To really do it in style, exhale in the form of smoke rings. Smoke rings are more about letting the air without really exerting any force. If done right, it looks good and you end up not inhaling the smoke.
The last step is to know when to put out the cigar. When you are not getting the cigar’s flavor but are instead getting an aftertaste, then it is the right time to put out the cigar. You can just leave it on the ashtray and it should go out by itself.
Keeping Your Cigars In Perfect Condition
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
A well maintained cigar goes a long way in maintaining its exotic taste and flavor. In fact, you can store cigars for months together and still get the same great feeling when you smoke one you just brought from the cigar shop.
There are a couple of ways to keep your cigar in the perfect condition. In fact, you ought to keep it in its original packaging if you want it to remain fresh and are not planning on smoking it right away. Once you open the packaging, store the remaining cigars in a humidor, one that you can either build on your own or purchase from a store or online.
Having your very own humidor is not too expensive. In fact, if you really want to save on it, you can build one at home using the things readily available in your kitchen. This includes using either a Tupperware box or a Ziploc bag. You can place the cigars inside one of these containers along with a humidifying agent. The cigar should not be touching the humidifying agent, and ensure that the agent you choose is damp but not moist and is kept at a small distance from the cigar.
However, you can buy a humidor for as low as $17 online and should consider it if you are a regular cigar smoker. Not only will it work better than a homemade one, but it will also look great on your desk or wherever you decide to keep it.
Kentucky Tobacco
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
It has long been thought that the only place to grow cigar tobacco in the United States is in Connecticut. For close to around twenty years, there has been a cultivator in Kentucky that has sent this theory up in smoke and yes the pun was intended.
Tobacco has long been grown in Kentucky. This tobacco has been traditionally used for filler tobacco for cigarettes. If you wanted a finer tobacco for the cigar wrapper, the general consensus was that it could only be grown in Connecticut. One cultivator named Mark Barrow changed all of that.
In the 1990’s, Mark journeyed to Connecticut to find a seed that he could adapt to make work in his region. After pounding a lot of pavement and being turned down several times, he finally made his way back to Kentucky with the seed in hand. He started out with Havana 214, 217 and Connecticut shade. The year after he began growing broadleaf which has since then comprised the majority of his crop.
His tobacco is blended with tobacco form Puerto Rico. It is processed, dried, and aged in Puerto Rico between 1 and 4 years. After that it is shipped back to Kentucky and sold throughout the United States. Tobacco continues to gain popularity in Kentucky and may progress into neighboring states, producing a lot more home grown tobacco.
How to Roll a Cigar
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Rolling cigars is an art. It can be an interesting challenge even if you don’t smoke cigars. Below are a few steps that illustrate one method for rolling a cigar. You can roll a cigar from shredded tobacco or whole leaves.
1. Prepare your filler by either shredding the tobacco or squeezing whole leaves down in your hand to remove excess folds.
2. The next step is to prepare your binder leaf. Try to keep it moist to prevent cracking. Remove the center vein of the leaf with scissors. If one leaf is not large enough, use two leaves.
3. Now you need to prepare the wrapper leaves. Keep them moist as well.
4. Prepare some glue that will be used on the binder and wrapper. Mix together 1/4tsp of flour with 2 or 3 tbsp. of water. Stir the mix and put it in the microwave for 15 sec. The final paste should be very thin.
5. Roll up the shredded tobacco or the gathered whole leaves in the binder. Apply some glue to the edge of the binder. Trim off all excess filler that is hanging off the end of the roll.
6. Wrap this up with the wrapper leaves. Make sure that the wrapper leaves have the veins facing inward to give the cigar the smoothest appearance possible.
7. Let the cigar dry by keeping it in a cool and dry place.
Now enjoy your hand rolled cigar!
How to choose a Cigar
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
It is true that smoking cigars is somewhat of an art. It seems like choosing a cigar would be a very complicated process but actually it is simply a matter of choice. The best way to choose a cigar is to try as many as you can and stick with the one that you like best.
There are a few things to know about cigars that will help you better choose the one that you might like the most. The darker the color of the cigar, the stronger it will be. This is because the leaf has been left on the plant longer. The name of the colors of cigar wrappers are as follows:
Double Claro – has a light green wrapper and a very mild flavor.
Claro – has a light tan wrapper and a smooth, mild flavor.
Natural - light brown to brown. It has a fuller bodied flavor than the Claro.
Colorado - reddish dark brown, with a robust, rich flavor.
Colorado Maduro – a dark brown wrapper with a rich, aromatic flavor.
Maduro – is very dark brown, and usually has a strong, sweet flavor.
Oscuro - the darkest maduro wrapper, oscuro is almost black and is stronger than the lighter maduro wrappers.
Use this color list as a guide to help you get started in your new hobby. Everyone has their personal preference but it is highly recommended to continue to try variations in order to mature you palate and cigar knowledge.
The Cuban Embargo Update
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Since the last presidential election and the recent developments with the Cuban dictator, there have been rumors that relations between the United States and Cuba will be changing.
There is much debate what this will mean. At this time it is appearing that travel restrictions to Cuba will be the first things that will be relaxed. This is certainly the first step in improving the relations between the United States and Cuba.
However, Cuba would prefer to see the President eliminate the trade embargos completely. This would change many things for not only Cuba but for United States as well. A more relaxed sharing of cultures could and would begin.
Cigar aficionados want to know what this will mean for them. The feelings are mixed. Some people feel like it will promote the Cuban cigar industry. The quality of cigars would only get better with the increased demand. Others believe that it will ruin the prestige of the industry and water it down with mediocre competition.
There is a fear that some prestigious brands that are named by the region will lose their prestige if other brands in the same region are allowed to join the market because of increased demand.
At this time embargos are still in place, so Cuban cigars aren’t readily available for U.S. consumption. We’ll have to let this one play out as only time will tell what will happen?
Cuba and Cigars
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
There are many different stories about the origin of tobacco and therefore the history that brought about the production of cigars. One thing is certain that during this debatable history, Cuban cigars have become the benchmark of cigars.
In the 1600’s, Cuba became a distribution hub for tobacco for Europe. During this time tobacco began being cultivated in Cuba. Many people considered the Cuban seed, the best flavor tobacco and thus it became the ultimate in tobacco.
It is rumored that Cuban locals began the cigar craze by making a crude type of cigar made from twisted and dried leaves that were rolled in another leave. This method of smoking tobacco leaves began to spread and surpassed the tendency to smoke tobacco in a pipe.
By the late 1700’s, cigar factories started to appear and to be produced. Cigars were not exported from Cuba at this time and even did not start to be exported until the 1800’s. With the continued praise about the quality of the Cuban seed, Cuban hand rolled cigars were considered the best of cigars. Even with the advent of machine rolled cigars, the popularity and the elite status of the hand-rolled Cuban cigar has remained intact. It is still the most prestigious cigar in the world.
Cuban cigars are in a class of their own. If you’re ever given the opportunity to smoke one, you won’t be disappointed. Hopefully in the upcoming months the U.S. embargo will be lifted making it much easier to buy them to be enjoyed and experienced more commonly in America.