If you smoke cigars regularly then you need a high-quality humidor - it's THE essential storage device for cigars, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco. A humidor is not just a stylish and convenient storage box - its primary purpose is to control the humidity and temperature of your cigars to preserve their quality, flavor, and aroma.
In the below guide, I answer a range of questions including what does a humidor do, how does a humidor work, and why do cigars need a humidor.
First, let’s start with a basic introduction. A humidor is a storage box typically used for cigars, tobacco leaves, and cigarettes. It’s not just a storage container though and it contains a range of components that allow the internal humidity and temperature to be controlled.
Humidors come in many shapes and sizes ranging from small, portable humidors for travel use, to walk-in humidors that cigar bars usually have. With these walk-in humidors, a room is essentially converted for cigar storage with a complex humidity control system installed.
As you will see below, cigar humidors have several important components to control the humidity of your cigars, these include:
They work together so that you can control the humidity and achieve ideal levels of between 65-72% together with a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This humidity and temperature range preserves your cigars and maintains the flavor, quality, and aroma for longer.
To the uninitiated, a cigar humidor may look like a simple wooden box. Still, they are so much more than that and have an array of features specifically designed to maintain the humidity and quality of your cigars. Below, I explain the main components of cigar humidors:
The humidifying component is hugely important and the traditional system includes a foam sponge soaked in a solution of 50% water and 50% propylene glycol. This is then stored inside a container and capillary action allows the liquid solution to be released into the humidor to maintain a desirable humidity level.
Aside from humidity, it’s also essential to control the temperature of your cigars, and a general rule of thumb is to achieve a constant temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is done via a built-in thermostat that allows you to change the interior temperature.
Traditional wooden humidors are typically made from Spanish Cedar which is the perfect material as it has a range of important characteristics that help the preservation of your cigars:
There is no other wood that is as beneficial for cigar storage but it also looks incredible too. A classic humidor with a gorgeous cedar wood construction will stand out and make a statement when you want to share a cigar with your friends or coworkers.
The final critical component is the hygrometer and this is a simple device that accurately measures the humidity levels inside your humidor.
This is essential as without the correct humidity and moisture, the tobacco inside your cigars will become dry and lose its flavor and aroma. Humidors have either classic analog hygrometers or more modern digital displays.
So, what’s all the fuss about using a humidor and why is the humidity important? Simply put, without these controls, the tobacco inside your cigars will become dry and lose its flavor and aroma. This, in turn, means you won’t get the same pleasure, satisfaction, and enjoyable experience as you would from a fresh cigar.
Tobacco grows in certain conditions and the humidor essentially allows you to recreate these conditions and replicate the climate where the plants thrive. Benefits of using cigar humidors include:
Consider this - without a humidor, an unwrapped cigar typically lasts for just three days before it becomes dry and stale. In contrast, when kept in a humidor with proper humidity and temperature controls, cigars can last for years and still smell and taste fresh.
You should now have a clear idea of what does a humidor do, but how do you choose the right one?
As you can see, at Northwoods humidors we have a superb collection of cigar humidors and you may feel overwhelmed by the volume of choice. To help, I have listed the main features to consider below when choosing your perfect cigar humidor:
With these factors considered, you should easily be able to browse our selection of high-quality cigar humidors and find something suitable!
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