I am trying to get an understanding of the sick period cigars go through. A few of my questions are: What is happening to cigars when they become "sick"? What time frame does this sick period usually occur? Does the sickness start in a time frame after the box code or after you begin to stabilize? How long does this last?
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Sick Period ?
- Thread starter diesel
- Start date
CWS
<b>Lead Moderator</b>
"The "Sick Period" is a stage when cigars have a distinct ammonia smell and even a nasty taste in most cases. This is the time when tobacco is fermenting and releasing ammonia. Normally, this stage lasts a fairly short time, but it will vary depending on the age and fermentation length of the tobacco used in the cigar. This smell/taste will go away as the tobacco is aged and the ammonia is allowed to be ventilated away from the tobacco.
Most commonly, this stage is most noticeable in Cuban cigars. It will generally run from few months to a year depending on the individual cigar.
This stage usually does not exist with most non-Cuban premium cigars as most non-Cuban manufacturers will age their tobacco considerably longer before rolling it and even then will often store the rolled cigars for an extended period before shipping them."
Most commonly, this stage is most noticeable in Cuban cigars. It will generally run from few months to a year depending on the individual cigar.
This stage usually does not exist with most non-Cuban premium cigars as most non-Cuban manufacturers will age their tobacco considerably longer before rolling it and even then will often store the rolled cigars for an extended period before shipping them."
cvm4
BoM - July '05 & Dec. '10
Might be going out on a limb here, but the common perception of cigars fermenting in your humidor just seems wrong to me. That would require some sort of heat, which we don't want. To me, the sick period is a case of where the individual tobacco leaves in a cigar start to meld together and oxidation occurs. The cigar oxidizes and this oxidation changes the cigar throughout its life.
How about calling it the final step in the fermentation process in very young cigars when the gas off is most noticed by the amonia odor, which I believe most would refer to as the sick period. As stated the oxidation continues throughout the life of the cigar and is responsible for what most consider good changes as a cigar matures.
I would agree due to aged or cooked tobacco with a couple of exceptions. How about a PSD4 from Spring/Summer of 07, a Des Dieux from Fall 07 or a RyJ Cazadore from Winter of 06. Right now they all harken to a Hobo's Ass.
tubaman
3 Time BoM
Now Ken, just how familiar are you to a hobo's ass!!:grin: :grin:
:stretchgr :stretchgr
Unfortunately Kevin more than I should. After a two week business trip, week one's skivies take command of the laundry bag and are as close to hobo ass as I want to get. :crytears:
tubaman
3 Time BoM
I have three words. Valet laundry service!