How to Fix an Over-Humidified Cigar

An over-humidified cigar is just as unpleasant to smoke as one that is too dry or under-humidified. When a cigar is over-humidfied it is too moist, it will be very spongy, tough to light and the wrapper can possibly crack or come unravelled while you’re smoking it.

The ideal conditions for storing your cigars is 69%-72% humidity and 16-18 degrees celsius.

To fix an over-humidified cigar you need to find out the cause - The first thing to check is if the cigars you have received are too moist to begin with. Most retailers monitor their humidification levels all the time to ensure their stock is always in the correct conditions. If you have just bought a cigar and feel like it is too soft then ask the retailer to exchange it.

The next thing to check is if you have over saturated the humidifier in your humidor or if you are topping it up too often. The best way to avoid this is to simply check your hygrometer. Make sure your hygrometer is calibrated and monitor the readings on a regular basis, especially within the first few days of filling the humidifier. If the humidity goes really high and doesn’t come back down, you may need to leave the humidor open for a while.

If the humidity of your humidor is too high it is best to remove the humidification device for a day or two. The readings on the hygrometer should gradually fall. If the humidity is 80% or higher then leave the lid open slightly for a day or two to allow a slow flow of air through. When you have the desired readings then put your humidifier back inside and continue to monitor.

To keep on top of the humidity in the cigar itself it is always good to rotate the cigars you have so that the same cigars aren't always close to your humidification device. It is always good to shift cigars from the bottom rows to the top and vice versa.

One of the safest and easiest ways to remove humidity from your cigars is to add sheets of cedar to your humidor. Cedar naturally absorbs humidity and will also impact the flavour of your cigars in a good way as you age them. You can add cedar to a traditional humidor, coolerdor or even a ziploc bag.

If your cigars are feeling too moist you can place them in an empty wooden cigar box for a day to draw out the excess humidity. Although not a substitute for a proper humidor, it's a safe place to store cigars that are too wet. They are traditionally made of, or lined with cedar which as mentioned above will absorb excess moisture.

You can remove a cigar from the humidor and leave it out overnight before you smoke it. This lets some of the humidity escape to ensure effortless burn. This shift in humidity can be too drastic so should only be considered for slightly over-humidified cigars.

If you are still having issues with over-humidified cigars consider moving them to a ziploc bag and then season your humidor.

Written by Oliver Partington