Did you know that a cigar can actually bloom? While this makes it sound like some sort of exotic flower, the real definition of cigar bloom or plume is the appearance of a dust-like material on the outer wrapping. Usually cigars will only be able to develop bloom when kept under optimal conditions for a great length of time, and such conditions can only come from the use of one of the most popular cigar accessories, the humidor.
Cigar bloom is actually the visible appearance of the oils in the cigar, which usually happens only after the oils have been kept at a very sustained level for a lengthy period of time. This is something often found on aged or vintage stogies and is a highly desirable result. In fact, many enthusiasts prefer to smoke cigars with plume or bloom on their surface.
What does this mean? If we look at cigars and how they are made and packaged we can see that they are most enjoyable when treated like a living, organic material. Consider that manufacturers slip them into cellophane sleeves rather than airtight plastic bags. This allows the air and moisture in the tobacco to move in and out of the wrapper while also being protected from some damage. The cigars are then kept in humidors which allow them to continue to exist in the same sorts of conditions under which their tobacco leaves were grown – warm and humid. Additionally, a smart cigar owner will make a point of regularly opening their humidor and letting a good amount of fresh air to enter into the environment too.
Why do cigars develop this bloom? Cigars are made from organic materials, mainly tobacco, and this is a substance that contains volatile oils. When the oils receive a regular level of humidity and air they can evenly disperse throughout the cigar, and when they reach the surface of the outer wrapping they crystallize and provide that overall dusty appearance.
What does happen is that the temperatures, humidity and aeration do allow the tobacco to function, and this results in the improvement of the aroma, the mingling of tobacco flavors and the circulation of the oils contained in the tobacco. When these oils finally reach the outer layers of the wrapper they are exposed to the air and begin to crystallize. It is the crystals that give the appearance of dust that is called bloom. Many cigar enthusiasts actually wait for their cigars to reach this point before smoking them, and though they say it is undetectable where taste is concerned it is often viewed as an indicator of a superior cigar.
Ryder is a consultant for an online specialty butane lighters store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including zippo lighters.