Mold

[NathanJD]

Ok, let's have a serious talk about a serious subject - mold.

Firstly, exactly how common is mold? Is it the kind of thing that everyone experiences once on a while?

How afraid should you really be about it? It strikes me that the stuff is everywhere, and in a lot of things that we eat, drink and breathe.

If you've removed most of it, once it combusts, isn't it likely to vaporise into a pretty much benign carbon?

Everyone says throw away cigars with signs of mold at the foot, and I can see the logic, but other than 'it's bad' can anyone give me advise on exactly why its bad? We've been smoking them for hundreds of years, I bet people smoked some right furry examples in the early days. What's the science?

[James811]

Not sure about the science, check out my thread from earlier for some slightly less than scientifically perfect advice

[bigbarneyhotdog]

mold means they haven't been stored correctly. don't buy them with mold, if you do then send them back. if yours have it then smoke them, if someone else's cigars have it then smoke them. that's science!

[Smallclub]

mold means they haven't been stored correctly.

Sorry but this is not exact. It happens in collections stored at 65% and less in humidors, in tupperdors, in whateverdors? It happened to MRN (and it was a bad case of mold, I saw pictures), whose collection is stored at 60% or even less, and at cold temperature.
Mold can be seen in many cigar shops, worldwide. Tobacconist can't check thousands of boxes so often?

Some years ago, many smokers and retailers thought that a thin layer of white mold was a good thing, a sign that the cigars were "alive" therefore aging?
I even met smokers who thought white mold was a sort of "pourriture noble", the rot on the grapes used for sauternes wines?

Actually, apart from the fact that it is clear that high temperature and RH are the most conducive conditions, to my knowledge no one knows exactly why and when these fungi flourish on certain cigars and not on others.

[cohibaIV]

Good reply kidda...


Sent by smoke signals using iCohiba from Havana

[NathanJD]

Cigars are a fermented organic product that is stored in an environment of warmth and humidity, yet there is so much mysticism over mold - Ive read what you SHOULD do but no one seems to be too clued up on why.

Smallclub, thank you for confirming my suspicions. How long ago did people think like that?

James, it was your thread along with my experiences that prompted this thread as it goes.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Bloom is a whole different story

[Smallclub]

Bloom is a whole different story

… No one is talking about bloom/plume here…

[Zigatoh]

I think a bit on the outside that wipes off isn't so much of a problem, had some on a recent order, gone and they smoke fine... on the foot would worry me as this could get inside the cigar, and while yes you burn it, only the end is burning while you drag air through all the mold in the cigar straight into your lungs... maybe...

[Agricola]

Ok, let's have a serious talk about a serious subject - mold.

Firstly, exactly how common is mold? Is it the kind of thing that everyone experiences once on a while?

How afraid should you really be about it? It strikes me that the stuff is everywhere, and in a lot of things that we eat, drink and breathe.

If you've removed most of it, once it combusts, isn't it likely to vaporise into a pretty much benign carbon?

Everyone says throw away cigars with signs of mold at the foot, and I can see the logic, but other than 'it's bad' can anyone give me advise on exactly why its bad? We've been smoking them for hundreds of years, I bet people smoked some right furry examples in the early days. What's the science?

Cigars with mould on the foot should be ditched without smoking. As for mould in the form of white spots on the wrapper it should be brushed of and can be smoked afterwards.

To address the confusion between bloom and mould: When a cigar has white spots on the wrapper the only way to tell between bloom and mould is to look through a microscope. Bloom is crystaline and mould is not, you cannot tell from looking a picture or even with the eyes since bloom is often discoloured in much the same way mould would be.

Either way wether it is bloom or mould the cigars have been stored incorrectly. The cigar will get bloom because it was allowed to slowly dry out and probably took over the job of humidifier in a humidor. Resulting in chemicals such as ammonia being brought to the surface by the moisture in the cigar as it travels to the wrapper then evaporates. The mould comes about due to high humidity, however unlike many believe high temperature does not increase mould risk. In fact mould will grow more readily and quicker in low temperatures but requires 80% humidity for weeks.

Bloom or mould?

The white spots you get on the wrapper are usualy bloom and it occurs for many reasons but it is a plume of crystilline chemicals from within the cigar, but even if it's mould treat the same and brush it off and give it some time in a stable enviroment before smoking. If it's on the foot of the cigar then it's mould and it should not be smoked but binned and all your cigars should be check just to make sure.

When buying don't buy the cigars wether it is bloom/plume or not since no matter what a cigar with anything on it other than what it had leaving the factory means it's not been stored properly. Would you purchase a brand new car with Rust on the body? Why not though? I mean you can just take it off when you get home and the car will be no worse when driving it, right?

Someone will probably say I'm wrong but that's the method I use when it comes to mould or anything that looks like it.

[NathanJD]

Hi agricola, I know all of that, and bloom's not the issue - let's move away from that. Again, you've reitterated the web-wide information on what to do but with no information on why. That's the question.Let's forget bloom before we get side tracked.

[Agricola]

Ok, let's have a serious talk about a serious subject - mold.

Firstly, exactly how common is mold? Something you will see once in a while if you go around cigar stores regularly (I'm sure it is diffent for each person). Is it the kind of thing that everyone experiences once on a while? Yes.

How afraid should you really be about it? Unless it's on the foot it's not a massive problem. It strikes me that the stuff is everywhere, and in a lot of things that we eat, drink and breathe. Not all mould is dangerous to humans however it doesn't do cigars any favours.

If you've removed most of it, once it combusts, isn't it likely to vaporise into a pretty much benign carbon? If it's on the foot then not after a load has entered your body!

Everyone says throw away cigars with signs of mold at the foot, and I can see the logic, but other than 'it's bad' can anyone give me advise on exactly why its bad? Mould + Lungs = bad for humans. We've been smoking them for hundreds of years, I bet people smoked some right furry examples in the early days. I haven't seen evidence that Castro, Che Guevara or Churchill smoking a furry cigar and don't intend to myself! What's the science? Science of what?

I hope that helps in answering more specificaly and as to science you'll have to be more specific with the question.

[Styler]

At the end of the day we're not amature biologists, knowing how to react to a case of mould and how to decrease your chances of encountering it are of more importance to the average cigar smoker than the exact science behind it.

[Zigatoh]

Doesn't that humidifier solution, with the propylene glycol, have anti fungul effects?

[Agricola]

Doesn't that humidifier solution, with the propylene glycol, have anti fungul effects?

Yes.