Plume or Bloom vs. Mold

cbsmokin · 11-21-2008, 08:40 AM

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 · 11-21-2008, 08:55 AM

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 · 11-21-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

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- · 11-21-2008, 09:03 AM

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

HK3- · 11-21-2008, 09:16 AM

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

Lee · 11-21-2008, 09:20 AM

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 · 11-21-2008, 09:24 AM

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 · 11-21-2008, 10:02 AM

Mold

Plume

Bug damage

HK3- · 11-21-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poker

Bug damage

That picture makes me want to cry.

poker · 11-21-2008, 10:07 AM

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.

11-21-2008, 10:19 AM

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 · 11-21-2008, 10:24 AM

This just brings tears to my eyes

poker · 11-21-2008, 10:46 AM

Awww just freeze em and they'll be fine.

11-21-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

This just brings tears to my eyes

gives me chills

Yazzie · 11-21-2008, 11:06 AM

What a great way to start a Compost Pile

Volt · 11-21-2008, 11:09 AM

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

cbsmokin · 11-21-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

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 · 11-21-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbsmokin

the term bloom and plume are used interchangeably

Sauer Grapes · 11-21-2008, 01:53 PM

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- · 11-21-2008, 02:29 PM

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.

11-21-2008, 08:40 AM	#1
cbsmokin Looking for the Apex Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Craig Location: In da ATL Posts: 880 Trading: (10)	Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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. __________________ Check out C.A.R.B. IV http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...840#post879840

11-21-2008, 08:55 AM	#2
kaisersozei The Homebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gerard Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 3,183 Trading: (40)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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?

11-21-2008, 09:03 AM	#4
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold That's correct Gerard. If's it's in the foot, it's athletes foot.

11-21-2008, 09:16 AM	#5
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold I do believe that MOLD BLOOMS, and cigars develop PLUME from the oils. I do not think the term is the same.

11-21-2008, 09:20 AM	#6
Lee Life is good! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Lee Location: SW Michigan Posts: 208 Trading: (7)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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?

11-21-2008, 09:24 AM	#7
WyoBob Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bob Location: Buffalo, WY Posts: 155 Trading: (1)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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

11-21-2008, 10:02 AM	#8
poker 1:11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kelly Location: SoCal Posts: 5,280 Trading: (7)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold Mold Plume Bug damage __________________ Cigar Asylum: A cigar board birthed without agendas, without profiting, and without advertisements. Amor puro Character is what you do when no one is watching

11-21-2008, 10:07 AM	#10
poker 1:11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kelly Location: SoCal Posts: 5,280 Trading: (7)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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. __________________ Cigar Asylum: A cigar board birthed without agendas, without profiting, and without advertisements. Amor puro Character is what you do when no one is watching

11-21-2008, 10:19 AM	#11
Dgar Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold Mold is what happens at home in your humidor, bloom/plume is what you'll find in the B/M's just ask them....

11-21-2008, 10:24 AM	#12
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold This just brings tears to my eyes __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

11-21-2008, 10:46 AM	#13
poker 1:11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kelly Location: SoCal Posts: 5,280 Trading: (7)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold Awww just freeze em and they'll be fine. __________________ Cigar Asylum: A cigar board birthed without agendas, without profiting, and without advertisements. Amor puro Character is what you do when no one is watching

11-21-2008, 11:06 AM	#15
Yazzie Have My Own Room Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Longhorn Country Posts: 1,674 Trading: (10)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold What a great way to start a Compost Pile

11-21-2008, 11:09 AM	#16
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold This thread is very evil and bad. Somewhere the cigar Gods are not happy with someone.... __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

11-21-2008, 01:53 PM	#19
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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.

11-21-2008, 02:29 PM	#20
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Plume or Bloom vs. Mold 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.