Bloom or Mold?

[Knuck42]

[quote]For the record, mold wipes off, and as stated above, if it is not on the foot no biggie.

I've seen "bloom" a couple of times over the years.  Bloom looks like tiny glitter in the sunlight,

First time I saw "bloom" was when I pulled the cedar off of a PerfeXion X standing on the bow of a boat, sunlight hit the stick and it looked like it had been rolled in glitter.  Tiny crystals covered the cigar where it had been protected by the cedar wrapper.  I've noticed it on other cigars, but you need good lighting or you'll miss it.  It is not particularly obvious.  Because of their darker color it tends to be more noticeable on maduros.

Anything else is just mold, don't let anyone fool you.

Mold on the other hand I've noticed many times in walk-ins, cigars that I've received and on occasion in a humidor of mine that got too wet.  [b]Mold can be white dots or a fine white and dust like,[/b] in either case it wipes off and is of little consequence to the cigar.  Another thing that will happen in walkins with active humidification is that impurities in the humidification water will accumulate like dust on the cigars stored in them.. It's just that, dust. [/quote] 
Or it can be the dreaded [color=green][b]GREEN[/b] [/color] stuff, in which case TOSS THE STICKS!

[Ryan]

Pretty common sad to say in some B&M's to see mold being passed off as "bloom."  Especially from folks who should know better.  If the sticks that come to me have this white fuzz mold on them....as stated...unless spread to the foot...I wipe em off...segregate them and smoke em just fine.  Not a lost cause...just gotta keep em seperated.  :)  Tis a bit disappointing to be sure...but they will smoke fine..and monte 2's be gooda!  :)

[slojave]

Thanks for all your advice.  I wiped off the mold And put it in Tupperware with 2 boveda 69 packets.  So they Are separate from my other sticks.  Thanks!

[Knuck42]

Just ermember that the life of Boveda packs is not infinite.  If you plan on ageing these sticks for more then a few months I'd reccommend checking the packs now and again.  Maybe think about keeping a spare hygro in the container to let you know how you're doing. 

[canadianbeaver]

Question... why is it important about the mold on the foot when it is the other end that you stick in your mouth?

Padron my ignorance  ;)

[SRex]

Mold on the foot means mold inside the cigar.  You DO NOT want to smoke mold.  It can cause breathing problems and some molds can be toxic.

Even mold on the cap of a cigar can usually be wiped off without any effect on taste.  If you are concerned, you can use a damp paper towel to make sure you get all the mold.

I saw sticks that were so moldy that I wouldn't even taste one.  The guy had to toss about 20 cigars.

[canadianbeaver]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought that meant at the end you light. And if we are trading gross stories a couple of weeks ago Matthew and I were out walking and his AF would not light properly.

He kept lighting and walking and eventually we figured out the stick had been burning all the way through the inside to the top, through a single channel. The stick had been eaten by beetles and then left to dry. But it been purchased the DAY BEFORE an hour out of town.

BS!!!!

[Knuck42]

[quote]Thanks for the clarification. [color=black][b]I thought that meant at the end you light.[/b][/color] And if we are trading gross stories a couple of weeks ago Matthew and I were out walking and his AF would not light properly.

He kept lighting and walking and eventually we figured out the stick had been burning all the way through the inside to the top, through a single channel. The stick had been eaten by beetles and then left to dry. But it been purchased the DAY BEFORE an hour out of town.

BS!!!![/quote]
It DOES mean this!!!  DO NOT smoke a cigar if there is mold on the foot!!! (The end you light).  Mold on the foot means there could be, (probably is), mold INSIDE the cigar.  Smoking this invites mold and the spores that live within it into your lungs.  This you DO NOT want!!

[canadianbeaver]

All I can say is a mighty

eeeeeewwwwwww


:gotcha:

[randomhero1090]

That's nothing.  It's pure white mold.  Damp towel takes care of it.  After smoking my 1st cigar that did have a couple spots of mold, I realized its no big deal.

Store at a lower temperature (sub 65*) and separate just to be safe.  Should be keeping CCs between 60-65* anyway.  Basement is a good option if available.  This is why Vinotemps are so popular with collectors.

People worried about mold on a cigar....  If I am not mistaken....  Finished CCs are now frozen to kill beetle eggs and other insects/larva....  I think you know where I am going....