Why Do I Have White Mold on My Cigars?

A white substance on a cigar could be good -- or bad. Experienced cigar smokers love seeing a powdery white substance on their cigars that brushes off easily without leaving a mark. The white powder is a sign that the tobacco is aging gracefully, potentially adding to the flavor. On the other hand, white spots that leave a mark when removed are a sign of mold or fungus that could ruin the cigar.

Fine white power on a cigar that looks like dust is called plume or bloom. Cigar Aficionado magazine reports that oils rising to the surface of the cigar cause the powdery substance. It's fine to smoke the cigars with or without plume, although most people gently blow it off to prevent contact with the mouth. The substance isn't any more harmful to the smoker than the tobacco itself. People who collect cigars and store them for years consider plume as a source of pride.

Mold often appears on cigars that are improperly stored. High temperatures cause the wrapper or outside covering of the cigar to develop a fungus. This damages the appearance of the cigar by leaving a permanent mark. Most experienced smokers throw away cigars with mold. Cigar Aficionado reports that cigars with mold at the foot of the cigar should not be smoked. The foot is the end of the cigar that is placed in the mouth.

Properly storing cigars in a humidor encourages plume and prevents mold. Humidors vary widely. The one thing they all have in common is that they maintain cigars at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity. Some humidors are huge rooms such as in a cigar store, while others are small containers that close securely.

Small home humidors feature humidification devices that maintain the temperature at 70 degrees along with 70 percent relative humidity. Wooden cigars sold by cigar stores range in price from about $30 to several thousand dollars, depending on the quality of the materials. The more expensive humidors are showpieces but do not necessarily protect cigars better. Cigars will thrive in even the cheapest humidor if the proper temperature and relative humidity is maintained. Some cigar lovers use plastic food containers with snap-on lids as humidors by adding separately purchased humidification devices for a few dollars.

Some cigar stores rent lockers inside their walk-in humidors. This allows cigar smokers to store their cigars in a professionally controlled environment. This is an option for people who are aging cigars but do not wish to manage their own humidor.