deal combinations of humidity and temperature differ depending on the cigar tobacco. For instance, during the cigar boom of the mid to late 1990’s, due to the lack of quality control in Cuba, it was not uncommon to find 50% or more of a box of twenty-five Habanos plugged, i.e. rolled too tight to draw. However, I know of instances when collectors reduce their humidity to as low as 62% for a period of a month or more and the cigars “opened” to the point of being smokeable. Of course, this method is not a guaranteed solution to a plugged cigar problem; however, it is certainly worth the effort if the cigar is a special one.

Another issue more common to Habanos than domestic cigars is the occurrence of tobacco beetles. It is believed by most cigar enthusiasts that 90-99% of all Habanos contain beetle larvae in the leaves; however, if the cigars are kept at a lower temperature and humidity, the likelihood of hatching into live beetles is greatly reduced.

I am aware of one instance when after returning from a week long vacation, a friend discovered his air conditioning had been disconnected during his absence, raising the temperature in his cigar cabinet to 80&deg or higher with an equally high humidity. He was equally distraught to find after opening one or two boxes of his precious Habanos that beetles had hatched in the heat and within one week destroyed almost two full boxes of cigars. For this reason some collectors place newly purchased Habanos through a freezing process before resting them in their cabinets, especially during the hotter summer months.

Another question I was often asked as a tobacconist, was “should I remove the cellophane (or tube) before storing cigars in my humidor?” As cigar cellophane is permeable to air and moisture, this issue really becomes a personal preference. Although for longer term storage or aging, most enthusiasts believe removing the cellophane allows the natural elements to accelerate the aging process of the tobacco. The same is true with removing the cap from a cigar tube to allow it to “breathe” since aluminum tubes, unlike cellophane, are non-permeable. (continued...)