Home / News / Latest News / Industry Solution / Do You Need to Open the Packaging When Using a Cigar Humidor?
For cigar enthusiasts, taking care of cigars is crucial, especially when using a humidor. However, a common question arises: Do you need to open the packaging when placing cigars in the humidor? This question often confuses beginners, so I will provide some advice based on personal experience.
Cigars are environment-sensitive, and their taste will be greatly influenced by the humidity. It's used to keep an optimal moisture balance so that your cigars are fresh and ready to smoke. Cigars with incorrect humidity can be too dry or become overly moist and will taste and burn incorrectly.
Opening the cigar packaging allows the cigars to directly absorb moisture from the humidified air in the humidor, ensuring more even moisture replenishment. It also enhances the release of their natural aroma, giving you a taste of their flavor before smoking. Additionally, disassembling the cigars enables you to inspect them for any moisture-related issues or flaws that could affect their quality.
On the other hand, some smokers will leave cigars in their packaging, particularly in the long term. However, the benefits are as follows:
1. Keep Original Flavor: The case supplies very good protection for your cigars from the moisture and odors of today's environments, keeping your cigars in their original flavor, moist and ready for them to be enjoyed.
2. Great for Long-Term Storage: If you are going to store your cigars for a long time, like a rare or expensive cigar that is going to age, then the solution is to leave the packaging on. The fact that the cigars are packed offsets the action of air and humidity.
Whether to open the packaging of your cigars or to leave them closed depends on the length of time you are storing them and on your taste:
1. If shipping is delayed a few days or weeks)
You may decide to open up the packaging if you intend to smoke the cigars shortly. In a more humid cigar humidor, your cigars will very quickly acclimate and begin dispensing their fragrance.
2. Large Long-Term (Months to Years)
For cigars that you plan to store for a long time, especially rare or expensive cigars, it is recommended to keep the original packaging. This will retain the moisture and aroma of the cigars, keeping your cigars fresh.
For cigar collectors, having a high-quality humidor equipped with a hygrometer and temperature-humidity control is essential. Such a humidor can maintain the cigars' ideal humidity without opening the packaging. It can also prevent excessive moisture, avoiding mold or flavor degradation.
Whether to open the packaging depends on storage time and personal preference. For short-term storage, opening the packaging helps cigars adjust to humidity. For long-term storage, especially with rare cigars, it's better to keep the packaging sealed. The key is ensuring the humidor maintains stable humidity to preserve the cigars.