Newb Question Concerning "Plume" and Mold

[ggiese]

"Submitted via cigaraficionado.com

First some definitions.

Plume is a light, whitish layer of fuzz that can develop on cigars as they age in a humidor. Plume doesn't hurt cigars and is actually a sign that they're aging properly.

Sometimes people mistake plume for mold, which can ruin cigars and is a sign that the air in the humidor is too warm and/or humid. Mold has a bluish tint and tends to develop in spots rather than evenly across the surface of a cigar, as plume does.

Physical appearance aside, the easiest way to determine what's growing on your cigars is to apply the "rub test." Using your finger, try to rub the material off. If it flakes off it's plume, if it doesn't it's mold.

And if it's plume, rub the rest off your cigar, light up and enjoy."

...I would not describe plume as "...a layer of fuzz". A layer of fuzz better describes mold.

From Cigarafficinado.com:

Plume:
Plume, which is also called bloom, is a naturally occurring phenomenon in the cigar aging process. Oils that exude from the tobacco in a finished cigar will appear as a fine white powder and can be brushed off without leaving a mark. Plume is not to be confused with mold, which has color to it and stains the wrapper.

...that's the plume I know.

And dark wrappers are far more suceptible to mold than lighter wrappers.


I know people desparately want to answer questions, but it is best for this community that any answer posted is accurate. I hate straight cut and paste jobs....