It takes time, patience
and a little know-how to get a new humidor ready to hold
cigars.
You're trying to recreate the tropical
environments where most cigars are made, and you can't
rush the process. Putting cigars into a dry humidor can
ruin good smokes.
Most humidors have an interior made of
untreated Spanish cedar, the preferred wood for humidifying
and aging premium cigars. The wood needs to be humidified,
or seasoned, before the box is ready to hold cigars.
Take a new sponge make sure it is unscented
and free of soap and wet it with a liberal dose of distilled
water. Wipe down all the exposed wood, including any trays
and dividers, and the interior lid. Avoid using a paper
towel or a fraying cloth; these will literally leave a
paper trail on the wood. After you've wiped down the wood,
squirt the sponge with more distilled water, then place
it inside the humidor on a plastic bag to avoid direct
contact with the wood and close the lid.
Next, prepare your humidification device
according to the manufacturer's instructions. Unless the
manufacturer specifically states that you can use tap
water, use only distilled water. Tap water contains minerals
that will destroy most humidification systems by leaving
deposits that will clog the humidor element. Once the
humidification element is filled, be sure to wipe it down
to remove the excess water. Rest it on a hand towel for
approximately 30 minutes.
Close the humidor with its humidification
device (it may not need it) and check the sponge. If it
is fairly dry, add more distilled water. If it is very
damp, leave it alone.
Let the humidifier sit another night,
and then remove the sponge and plastic bag. The walls
of the humidor have now absorbed all the water they need,
and now you can safely store your cigars.
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