Cigar Humidity 101: Creating the Optimal Storage Conditions for Your Stogies

Sometimes, cigars just taste a bit… off. When that happens, think about how the stogie has been stored. It’s one thing to set up a humidor, but quite another to achieve the right cigar humidity.

It’s important to store a cigar in a humidity range that’s ’just right’. Otherwise, an off-putting taste can be just the start of your problems. You also risk your prized stogie burning unevenly, developing mold, or falling apart.

Read on to learn about maintaining the ideal humidity for your cigars.

Ideal Humidity Levels for Cigars

Cuban cigars owe their quality to the unique Caribbean climate. The Caribbean is where the tobacco for those stogies is carefully grown. However, it’s not necessarily a climate you will easily be able to replicate at home. That’s why you almost definitely need a cigar humidor.

Cigar humidity is the relative humidity (RH) of a cigar storage environment. RH is a measure of the air’s moisture content. It is referred to as ‘relative humidity’ as it is relative to the air’s temperature.

Humidity and temperature are deeply interlinked. This is because air expands as it warms up and contracts as it cools down. So, the air’s moisture capacity depends on the temperature. This explains why RH is expressed as a percentage.

Why Cigar Humidity Isn’t an Exact Science

In most instances, the cigar humidity range to aim for is 65-72%. So, you typically want the moisture content to be 65-72% of what the air can carry in total, given its temperature.

It’s worth noting that cigars are hygroscopic. In other words, they are highly susceptible to changes in the air’s moisture level. As this level rises, cigars can become overly moist. As it falls, they can dry out. Neither scenario bodes well for cigar freshness.

However, the best humidity for cigars depends on a wide array of factors. These include whether you want to age your cigars before smoking them. In this case, 70-74% is a suitable cigar humidity range. If you won’t be storing your cigars for long before smoking them, consider going closer to 65%.

The Importance of Humidity for Cigars

A cigar’s flavor profile depends on the unique blend of tobacco used. More specifically, it depends on the essential oils in that tobacco. However, these oils can evaporate at high temperatures. When the oils go, the flavor goes with them.

Ideally, when you feel a cigar, it will feel supple. A bit like a human finger. If a cigar gets too dry, though, it can turn brittle. Conversely, a damp stogie can feel too soft. In either scenario, you’ve got a disconcertingly fragile cigar. Its components can potentially unravel before too long.

How quickly a cigar burns usually depends on its size. However, the burn rate can also speed up if the tobacco is too dry. That’s because when you ignite it, the fire itself will be hotter and more intense.

Signs of Improper Humidity

Obviously, water douses fire. So, if you light a damp cigar, the fire can keep going out. Even if it doesn’t, the stogie is likely to burn unevenly. It’s annoying if you have to keep correcting an uneven burn. You really want to spend that time just enjoying the smoke!

At the same time, be careful not to rein in your humidor’s moisture levels too much. Otherwise, don’t be too surprised if your cigars’ wrappers start cracking. Those stogies can also lose flavor and burn more quickly. Tobacco that burns hotter gives off unpleasant smoke.

How to Monitor Cigar Humidity

It can be tricky to discern the perfect humidity for cigars. That’s why it’s worth keeping a close eye on their condition. Some warning signs can be subtle. For example, if you see holes in cigars, it’s possible that tobacco beetles have fed on them.

For a more accurate reading of cigar humidity, you need a device called a hygrometer. There are two main types of hygrometer: analogue and digital. Generally, the former look more elegant but are also less accurate. The latter are more reliable from a practical standpoint, if also pricier.

Whichever hygrometer you use, calibrate it at least once a month. This will keep its readings as accurate as possible. If the humidity is too low, use a cigar humidifier to increase it. You can reduce excess humidity by keeping the humidor in a relatively cool area, like a basement. Alternatively, briefly open the humidor to expose its interior to cold air.

The Right Cigar Humidity Makes a Big Difference

When you smoke a cigar, you want an immaculate experience. However, you can too easily fall short of that if you overlook the importance of cigar humidity. Thankfully, finding the right cigar humidity range is often a matter of ‘easy once you know how’.

Once you’ve mastered it, you can look forward to filling your humidor with sumptuous sticks. Swiss Cuban Cigars is an especially good place to shop for top-tier stogies. Those we offer range from beginner-friendly smokes to those of much bolder intensity.

Our intuitive website also makes it easy for you to peruse the vast range of options available. We deliver worldwide from our Switzerland base. If you have any questions about what we do, just drop us a line by emailing [email protected].