Everyone knows about humidors, but few know how complex they can be. Even though they come in different sizes & are built with different materials, the same criteria must be met. On top of keeping cigars from drying out, humidors must also repel tobacco beetles. When picking a humidor, there are more options than you think. Each type of humidor has its strongpoints which are highlighted in the price.

One of the biggest factors in keeping your cigars safe is the type of wood used in the humidor. There are a lot of different types of wood used for humi’s, but not all of them provide adequate protection. As a rule of thumb, the inside environment of the humidor must maintain 70°F & 70% humidity. To keep this microclimate balanced, only high quality woods can be used. 

Which is the Best Wood for Your Humidor?

Some of the best wood for your humidor include the following;

• Spanish Cedar
• American Red Cedar
• Honduran Mahogany

Spanish Cedar

Pretty much every high end humidor will feature this exotic wood. This is due to the many favorable characteristics of Spanish Cedar. On top of looking elegant, it naturally prevents tobacco beetles from boring into your cigars, thereby increasing how long your cigars last. The strong odor emitted by Spanish Cedar creates an unfavorable environment for tobacco beetles.

It’s also the most effective wood for helping regulate the temperature & humidity levels of your cigars. This unmatched regulation helps prevent cigars from losing their tastes over time. So if you want your cigars to stay pungent, you can’t go wrong with Spanish Cedar.

Cons of Spanish Cedar

Even though Spanish Cedar is the most effective wood for humidors, it’s far from perfect. Despite what the name implies, Spanish Cedar isn’t produced in Spain. Each plank is imported from Brazil & other parts of the Amazon rain forest. This leads to the biggest downside of Spanish Cedar, the price. Extracting this precious wood out of the rainforest & getting it to the factory comes at a cost. On top of nearly doubling the price of the humi, it can also fund illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest. That being said, it’s still the best choice if your budget allows.

Honduran Mahogany

Even though Spanish Cedar has stolen the show, other types of wood also work great for humidors. After Spanish Cedar, the two most popular types of wood are Honduran Mahogany & American Red Cedar. These woods provide budget friendly options, but each one has its downsides.

Honduran Mahogany has become a favorite since its absorption rate is strikingly similar to Spanish Cedar. It’s also a fraction of the cost, which makes it extremely attractive to new smokers. Unfortunately, it does little to deter tobacco beetles & worms.

American Red Cedar

The third most popular option is American Red Cedar. This wood has similar characteristics to Spanish Cedar, but what sets it apart is its smell. If you leave cigars in the humidor for too long they can acquire a “woody” taste. This makes most cigar aficionados shy away from this option, but its low price still makes it appealing.

Out of these three options there is one clear winner. However, all three of these woods will keep your cigars in excellent shape. In the end the deciding factor is your budget. If you have the money, purchasing a Spanish Cedar humidor is a wise investment. But not everyone has the capital needed for this purchase so there’s no shame in going with the other options. You can always pick up a cheap humi while you save up for a Spanish Cedar masterpiece!

While having a humidor is important, you will also need a cigar holder for when you want to put down your cigar while golfing on when doing anything else. In such a case, our stage v cigar holder will come in handy. Contact us today for more information about cigar clingers. 

A cigar wrapper affects more than just the first impression; it can change the entire flavor of the cigar. Despite what many may think, wrappers manipulate multiple factors in the smoke. From flavor to burn rates, no aspect of a cigar isn’t affected by the wrapper.

A simple alteration can man handle a quality smoke, & wrappers bring everything together. Since cigar wrappers can make the difference between a yard gar & a quality smoke, getting to know the different types is essential. They vary exponentially in taste, & not every wrapper is for everyone.

Once you know the differences you can pick cigars that are more suited for your palate. This is the rite of passage for anyone pursuing an enjoyable pastime smoking cigars. For this reason, we have broken down the most popular cigar wrappers in the industry. They may vary in origin, color & taste, but each one deeply affects the cigars they cover. Prepare to discover which wrappers are right for you!

Different Types of Cigar Wrappers

An ideal cigar wrapper is held at a higher standard than the rest of the leaves. There can be no blemishes & the leaves need to be bigger to wrap around the cigar. All this attention to detail makes wrappers the most expensive part of the plant to produce.

How are cigar wrappers made?

Cigar wrappers come from the lower leaves of the tobacco plant that are called “volado” in Cuba. Volado leaves are valued for their combustibility, which makes them perfect for keeping the cigar burning properly. During the fermenting process these leaves naturally emit a distinct layer of resin, giving them a seductive sheen.

The wrappers range in color from a light tan to a dark chocolate color. All leaves start out green, but by the end of the aging process they acquire their final hue. There are a few wrappers that are intentionally aged to stay green, but for the most part a shade of brown is preferred.

Wrapper Leaves 

In total there are over 50 types of wrapper leaves, but only a few have stolen the show. Out of all these options, many were created by “tweeners” that migrated from two different regions. These hybrids were created to survive in the different climates that they are cultivated in. Following the US embargo on Cuba’s exports, a mad rush of its best tobaccos fled the country. This gave birth to many of the tweeners we enjoy today. Out of all these options, the four major wrapper leaves are Connecticut, Corojo, Habano & Maduro.

Connecticut Wrappers

Connecticut wrappers are the most popular tobacco that’s produced in North America. It’s also grown in Ecuador as a tweener called the Ecuadorian Connecticut. This tobacco is grown under shade cloth to protect the plant from the harsh radiation from the sun. This added protection keeps the leaf color light & the nicotine content low. These leaves provide a woody, spicy cedar taste.

Corojo Wrappers

Corojo wrappers are generally darker than Connecticut wrappers. This was one of the many strains that originated in Cuba. Due to the embargo, it’s predominantly grown in Honduras. This wrapper sports a spicy, peppery flavor. Even though it’s adored for its powerful flavor, it doesn’t burn as easy as other wrappers.

Habano Wrappers

Habano leaves share the same origin as Corojo’s, but these pack a punch. They are now grown in Nicaragua, & the strain only got stronger through genetic modification. They have a distinct spicy flavor that’s extremely high in nicotine. Unsurprisingly, the raw power of this wrapper only added to its allure.

Maduro Wrappers

Maduro wrappers are the darkest of the bunch. They take the longest to produce, which makes the leaves sensationally dark. Not every leaf can be turned into a Maduro, since they need to be thick enough to endure years of aging. At the end of the process they harness a sweeter taste. This led to them being revered as “dessert smokes”, since they are great to wind down any meal!

Read more