Written by Daddy Cappuccino
4-minute read
Hello there, fellow cigar aficionado! Today, we’re going to delve into the art of seasoning a traditional humidor. Now, you might be thinking, “Why bother with all that when there are humidors with electric climate control?” Well, my friend, while those high-tech humidors are certainly convenient, there’s something to be said about humidor seasoning and the satisfaction of maintaining a traditional humidor. It’s a labor of love, a ritual that connects us to the age-old tradition of cigar preservation. So, grab your favorite stogie, sit back, and let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
- Seasoning the Interior of a Humidor: The First Step to Cigar Preservation
- Charging the Humidifier: Ensuring the Perfect Environment for Your Cigars
- Humidity Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Keeping Your Stogies Fresh and Flavorful
- Conclusions: Wrapping Up Our Humidor Journey
1. Seasoning the Interior of a Humidor
So, you've got your brand new humidor, and you're ready to start storing your cigars. But wait! Before you start filling it up with your favorite stogies, there's an important first step you need to take: seasoning your humidor.
Seasoning a humidor is all about preparing the wood lining inside the box. This wood acts as a buffer to regulate moisture output, but it needs to be treated properly before introducing cigars. To begin, you'll want to wipe down the interior with a clean, dry cloth to remove any dust from the manufacturing process.
Next, it's time to bring the wood lining as close as possible to the operating relative humidity. To do this, place a small bowl or container filled with distilled water or humidor solution (propylene glycol) in the bottom of the humidor, close the lid or door, and let it sit for at least 12-24 hours. Do not dare using tap water, it can cause wear and tear and spread bacteria and mold. Once this time has passed, if a large portion of the water or solution has evaporated, refill the bowl a second time and leave it inside the cigar humidor for another 24 hours. Once the water stops evaporating, you can proceed to the next step of charging the humidifier. At this point, the humidor should be completely seasoned.
Another commonly used method to season a humidor is to wipe it down with a clean cloth dampened with distilled water. Remember, the cloth should not be completely soaked. And please, ensure that distilled water is used sparingly as excessive amounts can cause the wood to warp. Distilled water is key here, folks!
2. Charging the Humidifier
Alright, now that we've got our humidor seasoned, it's time to charge the humidifier. This little device is the heart of your humidor, helping to maintain the perfect environment for your cigars.
Just before you load your cigars into the humidor, you'll want to remove the cigar humidifier unit. This is the sponge-like plastic device that's going to be soaked in distilled water. Submerge the cigar humidifier in distilled water or Humidifier Solution for 30 minutes. Then, remove it from the water or solution, dry it off, and set it face down on a paper towel for another 30 minutes. This allows any excess water to escape from the humidifier, preventing any water leakage onto your precious cigars.
Once this step is complete, secure the humidifier inside the box using velcro adhesive, magnets or the solution provided in your humidor. Now, your humidor is seasoned, your humidifier is charged, and you're ready to introduce your cigars to their new home.
Remember, maintaining the perfect humidity level is key to preserving and enhancing the flavor of your cigars. So take the time to charge your humidifier properly. Your cigars will thank you for it!
3. Humidity Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Now that we've got our humidor seasoned and our humidifier charged, it's time to talk about humidity maintenance and troubleshooting. After all, even the best of us can run into a little trouble now and then.
First off, what do you do if the humidity levels are too low? Well, for the first few days after the humidor is filled with cigars, make sure to check its hygrometer occasionally (if your humidor includes one) to see if the humidor needs a re-soak. If your humidor doesn’t come with a hygrometer, simply re-soak your humidifier once every 2-3 weeks. This will keep your cigars in check. If you're in a dry environment, you might need to re-soak every 1-2.5 weeks. And remember, a humidity level of 64-72% is generally ideal for most cigars.
If the desired humidity level is not reached or cigars seem a bit dry, it might be time to move to a different solution. The sponge within your humidifier is not enough and you should consider other ideas like: humidifier gel jars, gel tubes, electronic humidifiers, disposable humidifier packs... As you can see there is a variety of options to maintain the perfect humidity in your traditional humidor.
But what if the humidity levels are too high? Well, sometimes a humidor can become overly saturated. If this happens, leave the humidor open partially to allow some of the moisture to escape. You can also add additional cigars into the humidor. The cigars will help absorb some of the excess humidity. If this still isn't enough, you might need to remove the humidifier for a while.
4. Conclusion
Well, my friend, we've come a long way. We've seasoned our humidor, charged our humidifier, and learned how to maintain the perfect humidity level for our cigars.
Remember, every humidor is unique, and it may take a little trial and error to find the perfect balance. Luckily, there are different solutions designed to maintain a consistent humidity levels, ensuring your cigars stay fresh and flavorful, free of mold and bacteria. With patience and care, you'll create the perfect environment for your cigars. And trust me, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of smoking a well-preserved cigar.
So here's to you, fellow cigar enthusiast. May your cigars always be flavorful, and your humidor always be at the perfect humidity.
🍻 Happy smoking and see you in the next article!
