Seasoning a new humidor maintains the optimal environment for your cigars. A humidor serves as a protective haven for your cigars, preserving their flavor, aroma, and overall quality. Without proper seasoning, the humidor may dry out and brittle cigars, losing their taste and character.
The benefits of a humidor are endless, like prolonging their lifespan. Cigars are investments, and cigars in perfect condition will age gracefully, allowing you to enjoy them at their peak. It also extends the value of your cigar collection over time.
Alongside your humidor, having a proper cigar ashtray is essential. A dedicated cigar ashtray is designed to accommodate the size and shape of cigars, providing a convenient and safe place to rest your cigars between puffs.
How to Prepare the Humidor for Seasoning
Taking the time to prepare the humidor sets the foundation for a successful seasoning process, ultimately contributing to the optimal preservation of your cigars.
Step 1: Remove Packaging Materials
A new humidor has several packaging materials to protect the unit during transportation and storage. While these materials ensure the humidor’s physical integrity, remove them before seasoning.
Removing these packaging materials eliminates potential barriers that could obstruct the humidor’s ability to absorb and distribute moisture evenly. This step is crucial to creating an optimal seasoning environment for cigar storage.
Step 2: Check for Proper Sealing
After removing the packaging materials, carefully inspect the lid of the humidor. Examine the edges, corners, and the area where the lid meets the body of the humidor. Look for any visible gaps, cracks, or irregularities that may compromise the humidor’s ability to retain humidity.
Press down on the lid while it is closed to test the resistance. A properly sealed humidor should offer resistance when pressing the lid, indicating a good seal. However, closing or requiring excessive force should not be difficult.
Step 3: Clean the Interior
Before seasoning, clean the interior of your humidor to remove any dust, debris, or lingering odors that may affect the flavor and aroma of your cigars. Use a soft, lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to gently wipe down the interior surfaces, including the walls, trays, and dividers.
Avoid using cleaning agents or chemicals, which can leave residue or odors that may transfer to your cigars. Allow the humidor to air dry completely before proceeding to the seasoning process.
Choosing the Seasoning Method
Seasoning involves introducing moisture into the humidor’s wooden interior to condition it and establish the ideal humidity levels for storing cigars. You can choose different methods to season your humidor, each with advantages and considerations.
#1. Distilled Water Method
The distilled water method is a commonly used approach to seasoning a humidor. It uses distilled water to gradually introduce moisture into the humidor’s wooden interior. This method allows for controlled and consistent humidity absorption.
Ensure you have a clean and non-abrasive sponge designated for this purpose. Dampen the cloth with distilled water. Distilled water is recommended as it is free from impurities that could affect your cigars’ taste or aroma.
#2. Propylene Glycol Solution Method
Propylene glycol helps to stabilize the humidity levels inside the humidor by preventing excessive drying or over-humidification. Propylene glycol solutions are readily available at cigar shops or online.
With a clean cloth, dampen it with the propylene glycol solution. Gently wipe down the interior surfaces of the humidor, including the walls, trays, and dividers, with the dampened sponge or cloth. Ensure the solution is applied evenly throughout the interior, not oversaturating any areas.
#3. Boveda Seasoning Packs Method
The Boveda seasoning packs method provides a convenient and hassle-free way to season a humidor. Boveda packs are designed to release and absorb moisture, making them effective for achieving and maintaining the desired humidity levels.
Place the Boveda packs evenly throughout the interior of the humidor. Close the humidor and let the Boveda packs work their magic. The packs will gradually release moisture, conditioning the humidor’s wooden interior.
