How can I tell if my cigar is moldy?

What could be worse than seeing your precious cigars deteriorate and being unable to smoke them because they look as if they’ve gone moldy? Preservation is the key issue when it comes to cigars. It can sometimes be difficult for an aficionado to know whether his cigar is still good to smoke or not. This blog post will help you determine whether your cigar is truly moldy or whether it is simply stained.

If you’re not comfortable with storing your cigars, we invite you to read our blog post on the subject: How to properly store your cigars.

My cigar has spots, is it still good?

This is a question that comes up very regularly among beginner smokers. It’s true that when we’re not used to it, the appearance of spots can quickly cause panic. Relax, in most cases these spots have no impact on the quality of your cigar.

White spots: Cigar bloom

Behind this name lies a powdery white dust that settles on the surface of your cigar, on the wrapper. This white powder comes off easily with a brush or a cloth, and leaves no trace on your cigar. It will have no impact on its quality or its flavor.

Cigar bloom is known by many names among aficionados. It goes by “plume” or even “Bloom.” It’s a fairly common phenomenon that occurs when cigars are stored in a humidor or in tubes with relatively low humidity for a long period of time. The cigars then become more humid than their environment and release moisture into the air. As a result, salts and minerals escape from the cigar and settle in the form of white spots on the cigar wrapper.

There is a real debate about this phenomenon in the cigar world. Some say white spots are a sign of good cigar aging, because the oils in the cigar gradually rise to the surface and crystallize on the wrapper. Others say it is indeed mold.

To go further, you can read the study carried out by Friends Of el Habano, a specialized forum that covers this topic.

Green and Gray Stains

If your cigar has stains that are not white, there is a very good chance that it is mold.

This is a greenish-gray, furry-looking substance that is difficult to remove with a brush, but leaves marks. This is very different from the white spots we saw earlier, as they indicate that the cigar has been stored at too high a humidity level >80% and directly affects the quality of your cigar.

If you have spotted mold, we strongly advise you to throw away the moldy cigar immediately, and inspect each cigar one by one.

You should then clean your humidor with a damp cloth, this will remove the mold spores, and thus prevent them from contaminating your other cigars. Also remember to check your humidification system. Even if it shows no signs of damage, it is strongly recommended that you replace the humidifying agent in your humidifier to avoid any risk of contamination.