Cigar humidity level and rate of burn/heat.

[Yvan the terrible]

Don’t want to get into what is the best humidity level to keep your cigars but more into what happen to the burn at different humidity level. I originally had set up two sealed glass jars with different humidity level to see how much of a difference the humidify would affect taste but I’m now noticing how much the heat level (temperature) of the cigar changes drastically (or seems to) at different humidity levels. Is it simply the rate of burn or something else?

 

[MarcL]

What?

 

[MarcL]

Humidity has a good amount to do with a cigar and, how it performs. Not only the humidity in the cigar but, the humidity in the air.

 

[GreenDragon]

There is a ton of chemistry and physics lurking behind your question. But to put simply, H2O, in whatever form it is in, can absorb a ton of heat, and even more so when it transitions between phases (solid, liquid, gas). In a nutshell, the more humidity in a cigar, the slower and cooler the burn. And the temperature of the burn will effect the flavors you experience as the temperature of the combustion will determine what reactions occur and the resulting flavor compounds. As we all experience flavors differently (which is why for some inexplicable reason there are people that actually like beets and cilantro - shudder) there can be endless arguments on the perfect humidity level for one's humidor.

 

[GreenDragon]

And, as Marc indicated, the ambient humidity will affect the burn of a cigar (or pipe) as well. Additionally, as you smoke a cigar, it produces water vapor, and the inner core of the cigar gets wetter and wetter. This is one of the reasons the flavor profile of a cigar changes as you smoke it and can taste different towards the end as opposed to when you first light it. Smoke 1/2 or 2/3 of a cigar and then take it a apart. You will be quite surprised at how wet it can be in the center.

 

[Patriotguy]

And, as Marc indicated, the ambient humidity will affect the burn of a cigar (or pipe) as well. Additionally, as you smoke a cigar, it produces water vapor, and the inner core of the cigar gets wetter and wetter. This is one of the reasons the flavor profile of a cigar changes as you smoke it and can taste different towards the end as opposed to when you first light it. Smoke 1/2 or 2/3 of a cigar and then take it a apart. You will be quite surprised at how wet it can be in the center.

I wonder if that could be why it seems like every cigar I get lately from either a b&m or a mail order seems to be over humidified. Im letting what I have just rest in my humidor but it is such an annoying issue to be enjoying a cigar then half or the final third to smolder and tunnel on you. Where I am right now its about 79% humidity out right now.