How to Freeze and the Science behind it. Long Post

I don't know if the correct place to post, but here it goes. I think I may have beetles, I have smoked a couple of sticks lately that were very soft, the ashes dropped quicker than normal, and I have noticed what look like little tunnels in the ashes or burned part of cigar. The humidors are kept around 68% rh. The temp stays around 77 or 78, it's too expenseve to cool the house any cooler. Could these be bugs, or is it a hummidity problem?
Thanks for any help and advice.

[Old Sailor]

Originally Posted by bdcigarsmoker

I don't know if the correct place to post, but here it goes. I think I may have beetles, I have smoked a couple of sticks lately that were very soft, the ashes dropped quicker than normal, and I have noticed what look like little tunnels in the ashes or burned part of cigar. The humidors are kept around 68% rh. The temp stays around 77 or 78, it's too expenseve to cool the house any cooler. Could these be bugs, or is it a hummidity problem?
Thanks for any help and advice.

Take cigars and tap the foot over white paper, if anything comes out looking like very fine black pepper, you have beetles.

Originally Posted by Old Sailor

Take cigars and tap the foot over white paper, if anything comes out looking like very fine black pepper, you have beetles.

Thanks, going to try right now, hope it's not bad news.

[massphatness]

Freezer bags.

Luxury or necessity?

Plz advise.

Thanks.

[massphatness]

Fox -

Freezer bags.

Luxury or necessity?

Plz advise.

Thanks!

Boxes I use plain ole costco food wrap in multiple layers.

I use freezer bags for singles.

Not using anything would cause a lot of moisture loss I would think, maybe not in that short of a time but I certainly wouldn't want to expose my sticks to more moisture loss than necessary.

After reading this and looking at the pictures my cigars ended up in the fridge to chill, then on to the freezer.

[D. Generate]

Time for more anecdotal evidence to take or leave at your discretion.

When I lived in the States I had proper climate control in the house. Here in London that is an exceedingly difficult task. I never had a beetle outbreak in the States. Here it is an annual thing even with having wine coolerdors now.

Mr. Italy says what I've heard in Italy and Spain but I've had boxes from both countries that have had beetles in them. FWIW I have no doubt they take precautions but I doubt the efficacy of them.

I now freeze everything. I've still run into the occasional problem but I now also isolate and quarantine everything so I can nip it in the bud. I honestly don't know if it's just from being over here and buying at shops that has caused the problem or just bad luck. I think the wine coolerdors rules out excessive temps but I've still come across them. The past two and a half years has been the most frustrating in my smoking life.

My two pence: If you're buying anywhere in Europe then freeze. And watch them like a hawk.

Incidentally I have yet to tell a difference between one frozen and properly restored and one fresh - or one that I've had from the States that never saw a freezer.

[McSmokey]

great information i may start freezing my sticks as well

[mravery]

Ok guys,

This thread has scared the crap out of me.....

What would anyone guess is the percentage of infected cigars (pull a number out of you A$$).....

Are all the large manufacturers freezing their stock before they ship?

Right after I read it, I went and checked all of my sticks....... I had plans on buying some very expensive boxes and store them unopened..... but now, I guess I need to open them and check then from time to time even if I freeze them first..

I would like to hear from some of the other Florida guys in regards to the problems (if any) that they have had....

Cheers
Mark

Would it be safe to assume that if I freeze 100% of everything that is put into my standard non-cooled humidor cabinet, that my everyday storage temperature would not be nearly as big of a concern? I also live in Florida and do not want to spend the $$ to keep the house at 70 Degrees all day. The temperature while I'm at work will raise to about 77-78 during the day.

Originally Posted by TampaRoadking

Would it be safe to assume that if I freeze 100% of everything that is put into my standard non-cooled humidor cabinet, that my everyday storage temperature would not be nearly as big of a concern? I also live in Florida and do not want to spend the $$ to keep the house at 70 Degrees all day. The temperature while I'm at work will raise to about 77-78 during the day.

It would be safe to assume that you would not have an issue from beetles.

I don't know if there are any other issues with regard to slightly higher temperature storage. I know that mold spores grow better in warmer situations so that may be a concern even if maintaining 65% RH.

Also based on reading it seems there is common conjecture that higher temperatures accelerate the ageing process of a cigar (the ongoing fermentation of the leaves). This is more the case in Cuban cigars but I am sure can be an issue in Non Cubans as well. I am not sure if accelerated ageing (especially in the small increment that would occur due to that temperature variant) would be negative.

In my opinion (nothing really factual) your cigar storage is similar to wine storage. If you are in the range of acceptability then you are ok, it is large fluctuations in both RH and Temperature that cause issues.

On the freezing, given that that your storage conditions are a little warmer it wouldn't hurt to extend your freezing times slightly to ensure full mortality of any beetle eggs, larvae, pupae etc. As I have mentioned before I freeze everything in my collection and have had no beetles since taking on this practice and had zero impact on my cigars.

Hope that helps

Oh, I'm new to this site and posting, so I'm not sure how to get feedback on my last post from SilverFox. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[MiamiE]

Is it 100% fact that Habanos SA freezes all stock before shipping to distributors?

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Is it 100% fact that Habanos SA freezes all stock before shipping to distributors?

All?

100% fact

I would venture to say no.

But even if they do the vendors use warehouses and or large humidors that may have beetles in them anyway so the freezing at Habanos SA does not preclude that they will not come in contact with the little vermin prior to getting to your humidor

[massphatness]

PM sent

Yes.....I think freezing is just a good insurance policy on my sticks. I really appreciate the feedback man.

Drop me a PM anytime I am more than happy to help

if you want you can just ship them to me... everything freezes up here

I freeze everything I get, it is a bit easier for me but after seeing a bug (yuck) I don't play around anymore.

Thanks shawn for this thread

[Old Sailor]

Originally Posted by str8edg

if you want you can just ship them to me... everything freezes up here

I freeze everything I get, it is a bit easier for me but after seeing a bug (yuck) I don't play around anymore.

Thanks shawn for this thread

your outside is one big freezer!!