63% or 70%, differences?

[IanHummel]

Right now I have a 100 count desktop humidor that holds humidity at a steady 63% when using a heartfelt 65% 2oz tube. I'm finding that my cigars aren't as "spongy" after being in there for a while, they almost harden up a bit. I assume this is due to the humidity being at 63%. My question is this, if I swap out the 65% beads and put in 70% beads will the cigars regain that spongyness?

I've read many posts from people that say 63% is an ideal point, I guess it just bugs me that the smokes at 63% feel stiffer than at a higher RH.

I would love to hear various people weigh in on this issue from both sides. Will the 70% beads bring the spongyness back to my sticks? I mean they're obviously not dried out, they smoke great, I guess it may just come down to personal preference at this point?

Thanks!

 

[Allofus123]

yes

 

[Allofus123]

........ people weigh in on this issue from both sides.

No

 

[Ginseng]

I have to ask what contribution this "sponginess" makes to the smoking experience. The real question is whether cigars stored under those conditions smoke better for you. A softness or suppleness is a consequence of higher humidity levels, but some cigars (Tatuaje/Pepin stuff for example) seem to perform better, taste better under drier conditions.

Wilkey

 

[IanHummel]

I have to ask what contribution this "sponginess" makes to the smoking experience. The real question is whether cigars stored under those conditions smoke better for you. A softness or suppleness is a consequence of higher humidity levels, but some cigars (Tatuaje/Pepin stuff for example) seem to perform better, taste better under drier conditions.

Wilkey

In a sense, what you are asking is what I too am asking. I guess in the past I've been hung up on the fact of the "softer" a cigar, the better condition and smokable it is, which is not necessarily true. What difference will be had in the overall smoking experience if I were to raise to 70 rather than keep at 63? Like I said, right now, everything in my humi is smoking great, no complaints, just more curious as most cigars that I get seem softer so to say than what is in my humi.

 

[Rod]

Did you season your humidor when you first got it?

Once your humidor is seasoned, I would say keep all of your cigars at 65%. 70% is too high. I know a lot of retailers, cigar books, etc will tell you 70% is the right RH. In my experience 70% is the breaking point to where mold can begin to grow, as well as a perfect RH for cigar beetles to manifest.

If you keep your humidor set to 65%, you'll be fine. Some cigars are best stored at lower a RH (cubans, tatuajes, pepins). Cigars stored at 70% are going to be too spongy and too moist. You'll find yourself constantly having to re-light the cigar. You also won't taste the full flavor of the cigar. Just my opinion...

Hope this helps...

 

[Rod]

Do you take your cigars out of the cello or leave them in?

Not trying to be funny, this is a serious question. It's one of the newbie questions that EVERYONE asks at least once. I ask you this because if your humidor is not properly seasoned and you have unprotected cigars sitting on the wood, the wood may be sucking the moisture out of your cigars. Keep your cigars in cello (again, just my opinion).

Also make sure that your hygrometer is accurate - do a salt test if you haven't already.

 

[IanHummel]

Thanks for the great replies Rod. The humidor has been properly seasoned and the hygro's have been salt tested. All cigars that came in cello have remained in cello, however most of what I have didn't come in cello in the 1st place. Given the information you and Wilkey provided I think it's safe to keep it where it is at (63-65%).

Thanks again!

 

[vortex]

Almost all cigars smoke and taste better at 65%. But not all. Cameroon tobacco loses flavor and some milder cigars as well. On the other hand, some cigars are adversely affected by 70% or above. They become hard when you dry them out enough to smoke. This may be the result that you are experiencing.

See what happens to cigars that you buy that are not incipiently stored at 70%(by you or your source). Buy Pepins from a dealer that stores them at the correct RH, for instance.(NOT Famous or CI)

I've decided to store most at 68% and the rest at 65% (Pepins and ISOMs). Then I keep a humi in the low 60s as a "dry-box". I use slightly over-saturated 65% beads for the former and less saturated for the latter.

 

[N2Advnture]

In a sense, what you are asking is what I too am asking. I guess in the past I've been hung up on the fact of the "softer" a cigar, the better condition and smokable it is, which is not necessarily true. What difference will be had in the overall smoking experience if I were to raise to 70 rather than keep at 63? Like I said, right now, everything in my humi is smoking great, no complaints, just more curious as most cigars that I get seem softer so to say than what is in my humi.

RH is definitely a personal preference. I have found (since switching to 65% RH nearly 10 years ago) that you have fewer draw, burn and flavor (with aging) problems at 65% RH.

Set up a second humidor and store the same cigars in both and see which you prefer.

I hope this helps

~Mark