It's hard to beat the feeling of lighting up a premium cigar on a rainy day or watching the smoke drift away into a hot summer night. But both of those scenes can affect cigar humidity, adding harshness to the flavor profile and creating an uneven burn.
With the right cigar storage, you can make sure that doesn't happen. Keeping your cigars at the right humidity (and the right temperature) means they should always burn at their best. It can also keep the tobacco in good condition during long-term storage, especially if you don't want to smoke every stick right away.
In this beginner's guide to cigar humidity, we'll look at the effects of incorrect humidity on cigars, how temperature affects moisture levels, and how to follow good cigar storage habits to keep your collection in prime condition.
How does humidity affect a cigar?
Cigar humidity is one of the things that can be difficult to master. Humidity isn’t readily visible and it's not always obvious if there’s a problem with your cigar.
With a little experience, you'll start to notice when your cigar humidity is a little off. Too high and the stick will feel soft and spongy. Too low and the wrapper will feel dry and crackly. Either way, the integrity of the cigar is at risk as the swollen or shrunken filler leaves no longer fit well in the wrapper.
Specifically, humidity impacts your stick’s burn rate. A dry cigar will burn fast and hot, with more harshness in the flavor profile. Like any fire, a damp cigar might refuse to light at all.
Difference between moisture and humidity
Tobacco leaves are a natural biological material. Plants contain moisture, and tobacco is no exception. The moisture in the leaves is a good thing, as it keeps cigars pliable and stops them from crumbling to dust during transport, home delivery and storage.
Humidity, on the other hand, is an environmental issue. Cigar storage at the incorrect humidity level can disturb the natural moisture level in the leaves, putting the whole stick at risk.
Does temperature affect cigar humidity?
Air humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. In cooler air, more of that vapor condenses into liquid water. Because of this, warmer air is typically more humid.
What this means for cigar storage is this: If you live in a hot and humid climate, you'll need to keep your cigars dry. If you live in a cool, dry place, you might need to add to their humidity instead. And, of course, this may change throughout the year, even if you don’t move your cigars from place to place.
What is the ideal humidity range?
When we talk about humidity, we usually mean 'relative' humidity (RH). It’s a percentage that tells you how much moisture is in the air, compared with the maximum amount of vapor the air can hold at that temperature.
A good rule of thumb is the 70/70 limit. At an air temperature of 70F, you should store your cigars at a maximum of 70% RH. Some cigar smokers prefer to keep their sticks at around 65%, especially during long-term storage.
Why you should get humidity levels right
Getting cigar humidity right is a win-win. Your cigars will stay in better condition during storage, burn more evenly when you smoke them and they won’t have any extra harshness in the flavor profile.
Different types of tobacco and different cigars can behave differently at the same relative humidity. If you feel like you've done everything right, and it still burns hot, it could be that you have a cigar that prefers a little more moisture in its atmosphere.
Common cigar humidity issues and how to fix them
If your cigar feels dry and crinkly or soft and spongy, it's a good idea to fix it before you light up. Changing cigar humidity should be a gradual process. Ideally, you should keep your collection in a good-quality cigar humidor so they're always ready to smoke.
Too dry
Cigars often arrive quite dry from the manufacturer or retailer. You might even find a desiccator in the packaging to remove excess moisture during delivery. To bring the cigar's humidity back up, place it in your humidor or a purpose-made cigar humidifier.
Adjusting the humidity too quickly can come as a shock to the tobacco leaves, so try to raise it gradually, over the course of at least a few days. Some collectors have a separate humidifier for new deliveries before moving the sticks over to their main humidor for long-term storage.
Too damp
Too much moisture in the tobacco can make it feel springy to the touch and give you the impression of a 'limp' cigar. Don't worry; this can be rescued, too. One option is dry-boxing the cigars for a few days to allow the excess moisture to evaporate away.
Dry-boxing is thankfully straightforward. Use a spare cedar box (you might have one left from a previous order) and just keep it closed in a warm, dry place for a few days. Then check on the sticks. It's likely you'll find them in much better shape.
The final draw
With these simple cigar storage tips and tricks, even beginners can keep their sticks in the right environment. A climate-controlled humidor is always a good investment. Remember the easy ways to fix damp and dry cigars, and don't try to rush the process. A premium handmade cigar is worth waiting for if you want to enjoy it at its best.