If you look at the basic necessities of premium cigars it would seem like they are actually trying to develop mold. For instance, the list of common cigar accessories includes the tightly-closing box known as the humidor, the humidifier, and the hygrometer to ensure that moisture levels are at the best range possible. Consider that cigars thrive in the same conditions that their tobacco was grown – hot and humid – and that this environment is then contained inside of a wooden box. The reason that mold is not a very common problem has to do with the properties of the wood and the tobacco itself.
Cedar wood is the only one used to create the trays and lining of the boxes and it is a very aromatic and oily wood. The oils in the wood are known as volatile and are a serious impediment to most bacteria. The same things can be said of tobacco leaves which are also acidic and inhospitable to mold as well. Then, you might ask, how does mold manage to appear inside boxes and on cigars? This is due to several very understandable problems.
In addition to mold born of too much water in a single area, there are also some molds that are contaminants from the outside world which were carried in on the cigars or their wrappings. This is a major point of contention with many cigar enthusiasts because some believe it best to always leave cigars in the cellophane wrappers in which they were received, while others believe that the tobacco can only “breathe” properly once the plastic has been removed.
The most common reason that mold grows inside of the box is due to the location of or conditions with the humidifier. If the humidifier is somehow blocked and cannot properly send moisture evenly throughout the space, this can lead to an area of extreme dampness and then to the growth of mold. Of course, the next biggest cause is the cigars themselves, and this is where a great deal of debate occurs. While there are many who say that cigars that are left in their cellophane sleeves cannot be contaminated by any potential bacteria, there are others who say that this is nonsense. The truth is that it is quite easy to have some sort of oils, food debris, or even germs on our fingertips when we pick up the cigars to put them in the box, and under the right conditions this could become mold.
If mold does appear it is important to remove the cigars (treating moldy ones according to an approved method) and to properly disinfect the entire interior surface with Isopropyl Alcohol in order to kill off any residual spores.
Ryder is a consultant for an online specialty butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including where to buy zippo lighters.