Spongy Cigars

[somecanadian]

Hi everyone,
I've been noticing that a lot of my cigars are going spongy and soft. At first I thought the top shelf of my display style humidor was too close to the humidifer, so I started rotating the shelves every few weeks. This did not seem to make a difference so I don't think they are over humidified. It's pretty stable at 70Rh and 67F using heartfelt beads. I have also taken a spongy cigar out of the humidor to see if it would stiff up but had no luck. Any ideas on why these are going soft?

 

[Cigary43]

What kind of cigars...brand.....is it just of one brand or all? Until cigar manufacturers come up with CigarViagra we're going to see this happen as some rollers tend to underpak and that causes a lot of soft cigars.

 

[somecanadian]

The first I noticed was about 10 of my Gurkha Royal Challenges had gone quite soft (which they weren't when I got them) and then my Davidoff cigarillos turned to mush.

 

[btubes18]

The first I noticed was about 10 of my Gurkha Royal Challenges had gone quite soft (which they weren't when I got them) and then my Davidoff cigarillos turned to mush.

Your problem is with the highlight portion above. Move on to a new brand.

 

[herfdog]

is your hygrometer calibrated and reliable?

 

[somecanadian]

What can I say, they were a good price but of no great loss if they don't come back to life. More concerned with correcting the problem before my Fuentes and Oliva's are affected.

I keep 3 calibrated digital hygro's (one on each shelf) and they are pretty reliable.

 

[knw247]

I am no expert but the sound over humidified. I'd calibrate you hydrometer. Perhaps try to keep them at 65-67 rh. You can also dry box a sample from the soggy cigars then compare it to the others after two weeks. Their are only so many things that cargo wrong with a cigar in your humi and this don't sound like mold or beetles so I'd bet the rh is off. How are they smoking.

 

[CSG123]

I think earlier posters nailed it, they are simply poorly packed.

 

[somecanadian]

I'll take a few out and give them some time. I live in a very humid area so I'm not sure it will be much luck. They still smoke ok just not quite the same taste as they used to be.

Some of them are definetly poorly packed. Gurkha's consistancy is not too good, but most of them were firm when purchased.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

I'll take a few out and give them some time. I live in a very humid area so I'm not sure it will be much luck. They still smoke ok just not quite the same taste as they used to be.

Some of them are definetly poorly packed. Gurkha's consistancy is not too good, but most of them were firm when purchased.

I've been smoking in 80%+ humidity the past couple weeks and cigars that start out firm go squishy pretty quick

I would definitely approach the humidity level and calibrate your gear. Doesn't hurt to drop to 65% for a bit to see if that resolves the issues.

Gurkha or not, gong from firm to mushy after being in your stash is saying something. Just got to figure out what it is.

And don't worry, sticks should be safe during testing procedure

 

[StogieNinja]

I think what's happening is your cigars are starting at a lower rh and going soft as they acclimate to the 70%rh in your humi.

 

[Smokescreen]

I'm having the same problem with some of my sticks. I keep my cigars in a rubber maid container with rh around 70. I think it's too high after read this thread and will try losing my rh in my humi.

 

[somecanadian]

I'm having the same problem with some of my sticks. I keep my cigars in a rubber maid container with rh around 70. I think it's too high after read this thread and will try losing my rh in my humi.

After a couple days out of the humidor mine spongy ones have tightened up back to normal.

 

[knw247]

That's great news.

 

[herfdog]

sometimes I got sticks locally in a not-so-optimal environment. Some B&Ms humidity system is less than optimal, leaving up to 10-15% discrepency from one side of their humidor to the other, particularly in winter where they struggle to keep it above 50 (no kidding)

In my experience, they'll come back to normal; but it will take a little time before they are optimal again.
It is my understanding that 40%rh damages the cigar way more than 80%rh

Unspongyning them is a matter of time. As long as there's no mold.

 

[ChiefHava]

It sounds to me like the issue is that your cigars are underfilled. This is unfortunately a more and more common quality issue.

 

[CSG123]

It sounds to me like the issue is that your cigars are underfilled. This is unfortunately a more and more common quality issue.

This is far more likely more often than humidity issues. I've recently returned two bundles (RP Connecticut and Famous 4000 Dominican) for being horribly underfilled. They weren't dry or wet, just made poorly (and smoked like it too).

 

[Senor Perfecto]

Over humidified and under packed

 

[somecanadian]

I had one yesterday and it smoked great! Thank for the help guys! Now with those out of my humidor it's time to order something new to take their spot...

 

[bostoneo]

I had this exact same problem with a local BM locker, they were running 78% RH (even though their control display was showing 69%). Cigars got soft and didn't smoke the same. Since they have fixed the issue and cigars are getting better as they shed the excess RH.