Mold on Cigars
There are two things that might be growing on your cherished Cuban cigars: plume or mold. One is a sign of optimal aging and an enhanced smoking experience. The other is a disaster.
Plume is healthy and improves the flavor of your cigars, but mold on cigars has got to go.
Mold is a type of fungi that grows on your cigars if your storage conditions do not have the right temperature and relative humidity. If the relative humidity increases above 75% and temperatures over 70˚F, you may see a hairy substance crisscrossing the wrapper of your favorite Romeo y Julieta.
In some cases, this means that the oils in the cigar are crystallizing. But if the substance is blue or green, you could be dealing with mold. Mold can also appear as a white, spotty substance and, if you look at your humidor from above, you can see its spread across your sticks.
Plume or bloom is a sign that your cigars are aging marvelously. The tobacco oils are coming to the surface of the stick and crystallizing there.
Plume differs from mold on cigars because it is shiny and, most of the time, can be rubbed off the wrapper quickly. When you see a stick with plume on it, it means your humidor conditions are perfect.
You need to maintain a uniform temperature in your humidor and an even humidity. The key to stable humidity is consistency, so don’t leave a humidor near a window where the sun can heat it or the breeze can lower the temperature.
If the mold solely appears on the wrapper, you may be able to rub it off with no damage to the rest of the stick. If you spot mold on the foot, you may have to clip some of the cigar off and inspect the interior to see if there’s any inside. Never light a stick with mold that has penetrated further than the first inch.
Keep your Cuban cigars mold-free and perfectly aged with a humidor. You can find authentic Cuban cigars at Swiss Cuban Cigars from brands including H. Upmann, Hoyo De Monterrey, and Cohiba. Explore the full selection online.