Bugs are Bad

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by craiggory

I've read that the factories put their cigars in a vacuum vault to crush the beetle eggs in new cigars before they ship them out. Anybody know if this is true?

Originally Posted by Nathan King

You didn't misread the book. Mr. Gage does indeed make the claim that vacuum chambers are used to eradicate beetles. I have never seen this substantiated.

I haven't read what Mr. Gage wrote, but he probably meant a vacuum chamber with low pressure to kill the beetles. Not to crush them by force. Here is an article on that process:

http://www.ftic.info/pdf/EEC.pdf

Here is what the device Grainpro Cocoon (one of the methods used in the study) had to say happens:

GrainPro Cocoons™ are airtight (hermetic), unsupported rectangular structures made of lightweight UV resistant PVC. The simple two-piece Cocoon consists of a top cover and bottom floor piece joined together with a PVC tongue-&-groove zipper similar to those used to close environmental safety suits. Insects trapped in the bagged grain expire in a matter of days as a result of an increase in carbon dioxide and reduction of oxygen.

I took a quick peek in the book again and that is indeed the system he was referring to.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by craiggory

I took a quick peek in the book again and that is indeed the system he was referring to.

It's different ways of going about the same results. The eradication of the beetles. One uses freezing and one uses CO2 and heat. It would be interesting to know which marca's use which method, as I wonder if either has an impact on flavor or aging.