Mistake 1: Putting Cigars in the Refrigerator to "Keep Them Fresh"
The most common cause of cigar damage among beginners: using the wrong storage method.
Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai has compiled the 5 most common mistakes -- these are all "What happened to my box of cigars?" cases that W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge hears every month.
Mistake 1: Putting Cigars in the Refrigerator to "Keep Them Fresh"
Beginners think: Refrigerators keep things fresh, low temperatures slow deterioration, and cigars are like food.
The truth: The refrigerator is a cigar killer.
Why is it wrong?
Problem 1: Humidity is too low
- Refrigerator humidity is about 30-40%
- Cigars need 65-72%
- Cigars in the refrigerator will become completely dried out within 1 week
Problem 2: Food odor contamination
- Refrigerators contain: onions, garlic, cheese, seafood, leftovers...
- Cigar wrappers are natural tobacco leaves and absorb odors very easily
- After 1 month, your Cohiba will have a "refrigerator smell"
Problem 3: Temperature shock
- Taken out of the refrigerator -> condensation at room temperature -> moisture beads on the cigar surface -> wrapper spots
- Repeated cold and heat -> tobacco leaf cell damage
Correct handling: Store at room temperature with Boveda + Ziploc sealed bag.
Mistake 2: Using an Airtight Jar to "Keep Them Fresh"
Beginners think: Airtight jar = moisture-proof = good storage.
The truth: An airtight jar makes cigars die faster.
Why is it wrong?
Problem 1: Complete sealing = no micro-airflow
- Cigars need to be "slightly breathable" (allowing the tobacco leaves to continue slow, gentle maturation)
- Complete sealing = cigars are "suffocated"
- Flavor stagnates, and mold can easily grow
Problem 2: Humidity gets out of control
- Complete sealing + the cigars' own moisture -> internal humidity may surge to 80%+
- After 1 month: mold, white cottony growth, the whole box ruined
Problem 3: Metal tins have a metallic smell
- Cookie tins, milk powder tins -> metallic odor contaminates the cigars
Correct handling: Use a wooden humidor (Spanish Cedar lining) or Boveda + Ziploc.
Mistake 3: Placing Cigars Directly on a Bedside Cabinet / Desk
Beginners think: Just leave them there, pick one up when you want to smoke, convenient.
The truth: An open environment destroys cigars the fastest.
Why is it wrong?
Problem 1: Humidity drops sharply
- Indoor air-conditioned environments in Taiwan: humidity 40-50%
- Cigars need: 65-72%
- Within 1 week: noticeably dry, wrapper wrinkling
Problem 2: Sunlight exposure
- Ultraviolet light -> wrapper discoloration, oils evaporate
- After one month: the originally glossy Cohiba becomes dull
Problem 3: Temperature fluctuation
- Daytime sunlight raises the temperature, nighttime air conditioning lowers it
- Repeated rises and drops -> tobacco leaf cell damage, flavor loss
Correct handling: Keep in a sealed environment (humidor, Ziploc + Boveda), away from light, at a stable temperature.
Mistake 4: Storing Cigars Together with Other Items
Beginners think: There is space in the cabinet, it does not matter if they are stored together.
The truth: Cigars will absorb the smells of nearby items.
Odors Cigars Will Absorb (Killer List)
- Coffee beans: Completely take on coffee aroma in 30 days (some people may think it smells nice, but it destroys the cigar's original flavor)
- Tea leaves: Take on tea aroma
- Perfume, soap: Chemical smell, ruins cigars
- Leather: Take on leather smell
- Wood (non-cedar): Pine, oak, maple odors
- Plastic: Take on plastic smell (especially low-quality plastic bags)
The only exception: Spanish Cedar -- this is the standard lining wood for humidors. It is compatible with cigars and may even add cedar aroma.
Correct handling: Store cigars in an independent storage space, only together with cedar wood materials + cigar-related accessories.
Mistake 5: Humidifying with Tap Water
Beginners think: Humidor humidifiers need water, and tap water is convenient.
The truth: Tap water can ruin the entire humidor.
Why is it wrong?
Problem 1: Chlorine residue
- Taiwan tap water contains chlorine -> after release, it contaminates the cigars
- It smokes with a "bleach smell"
Problem 2: Mineral deposits
- Tap water contains calcium, magnesium, iron
- Minerals crystallize inside the humidifier -> the humidifier clogs and fails
- Mineral particles can adhere to cigars -> off-odors
Problem 3: Bacteria
- Bacteria in tap water + the high humidity of a humidor -> mold growth
- Within 1 month: white cottony growth, the whole box ruined
Correct handling: Use only distilled water or propylene glycol solution (PG solution).
Distilled water is sold at convenience stores or pharmacies, $30-50 NT per bottle, and one bottle lasts a long time.
Advanced Mistake: Setting the Humidity Too High
"Thinking that the higher the humidity, the better" -- wrong.
Ideal humidity: 65-72%
Consequences of excessive humidity (>75%):
- Cigars draw poorly (the tobacco leaves are too wet and cannot burn properly)
- Mold (white cottony growth, blue-green spots)
- Cigar beetle hatching -- the greatest nightmare of cigar collectors
What Is a Cigar Beetle?
The cigar beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) is a tiny insect egg parasitizing tobacco leaves -- in an environment with humidity of 80%+ and temperature of 25°C+, it will hatch and begin eating cigars.
Symptoms: Small round holes of 2-3mm appear on the cigar surface (holes where the beetles drilled out).
Handling: If you find one cigar with beetle holes -> immediately freeze the entire box for 72 hours (to kill all eggs) -> thaw and store again -> but the flavor has already been damaged.
Prevention: Strictly control humidity at 70% ± 2%.
Conclusion
The core of cigar storage is not "what you do", but "what you do not do" --
- Do not put them in the refrigerator
- Do not use airtight jars
- Do not leave them in an open environment
- Do not mix them with other items
- Do not use tap water
Avoid these 5 mistakes, and your cigars can be stored until your next visit to W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge.
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