Plume or Bloom vs. Mold

[cbsmokin]

I was doing some Internet research out of my own curiosity and I thought the following information might be helpful for others as well.

CigarBloom or Plume (same meaning) is a cigar term that describes crystallization due to the rising of tobacco oils from within the cigar to the surface. The air will then dry the excretion creating the crystallized or dusty appearance. Bloom / Plume can appear slightly different on various cigars because every manufacturer will use a different wrapper leaf, filler, curing process, etc.


Cigar bloom / plume will not effect the cigar taste. The discussion, or the need for the bloom / plume, is that the cigar must be resting for a good period of time under great conditions of temperature and humidity. Meaning aging has already played a role in the cigar you are about to smoke.



Cigar mold, like any other mold, is a fungus. Mold will generally appear on cigars when the relative humidity in the humidor surpasses 80%. Please do not get confused with the common misconception that mold is a certain color; mold can be green, blue, light yellow, and even white.

Visually cigar mold is more “fuzy” or “hairy”. If the scientist in you so wishes to see the spots up close you should really notice that there is a definitive structure to the mold. There will be stalks holding up additional spores that are waiting to “jump” and contaminate anything and everything nearby (isolate the infected cigars ASAP). Growth wise the cigar mold will grow in small clusters that causes a spotted look unlike bloom / plume that will cover the entire cigar.

[kaisersozei]

Is it true that plume only appears on the wrapper? In other words, if there are white spots on the foot of the cigar, it's likely mold?

My Beer B&M (Total Wine) has a walk-in humidor. Pretty nice selection of sticks. Stopped by yesterday and this one box of Trinidad's had dozens of sticks that were covered in spotty mold. The cellophane was very yellowed, too, so it kinda threw me until I checked the foot of the cigars and they were peppered with white splotches. Mold, right?

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

Is it true that plume only appears on the wrapper? In other words, if there are white spots on the foot of the cigar, it's likely mold?

My Beer B&M (Total Wine) has a walk-in humidor. Pretty nice selection of sticks. Stopped by yesterday and this one box of Trinidad's had dozens of sticks that were covered in spotty mold. The cellophane was very yellowed, too, so it kinda threw me until I checked the foot of the cigars and they were peppered with white splotches. Mold, right?

Correct.

[HK3-]

That's correct Gerard. If's it's in the foot, it's athletes foot.

[HK3-]

I do believe that MOLD BLOOMS, and cigars develop PLUME from the oils. I do not think the term is the same.

[Lee]

Great information here. I've read several times that if the spots are white then the sticks aren't in danger. I didn't know what plume looked like until I read this post. I just got a box of cigars that had small white mold spots on them. Gently cleaned each one and will watch closely to see if it reappears. Does any one know of any other needed treatment?

[WyoBob]

Here's a pic of mold on the foot of a LGC (the last time I ordered from JR's. Four boxes of LGC's, all with moldy cigars.)

WyoBob

[poker]

Mold




Plume




Bug damage

[HK3-]

Originally Posted by poker

Bug damage

That picture makes me want to cry.

[poker]

The easiest way to tell mold vs plume is with a 10X eye loom.
Mold will appear fuzzy, and spore-like.
Plume will appear almost crystalline.

Mold is what happens at home in your humidor, bloom/plume is what you'll find in the B/M's just ask them....

[mosesbotbol]

This just brings tears to my eyes

[poker]

Awww just freeze em and they'll be fine.

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

This just brings tears to my eyes

gives me chills

[Yazzie]

What a great way to start a Compost Pile

[Volt]

This thread is very evil and bad. Somewhere the cigar Gods are not happy with someone....

[cbsmokin]

Originally Posted by HK3-

I do believe that MOLD BLOOMS, and cigars develop PLUME from the oils. I do not think the term is the same.

I thought the same thing, but the term bloom and plume are used interchangeably to describe the signs of aging. And yes one of the way to tell it is mold is because it does bloom off of the cigar.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by cbsmokin

the term bloom and plume are used interchangeably

[Sauer Grapes]

Furthermore, dust is also mistaken for ploom or bloom at times.

In fact, without a close picture or an in person examination, the first picture could be dust. Of course, it could also be a wicked case of bloom or plume.

[HK3-]

Some information I did not know about mold-

Mold will stop growing and become inactive or dormant in a controlled environment, however the spores will remain viable on the host material. Increases in relative humidity or other moisture will facilitate a mold bloom.