How to Rehydrate a Dry Cigar

Sometimes, despite all your efforts to care for your cigars, a mistake may occur, which leaves your cigar a little dried out. A dry cigar is something all cigar smokers will want to avoid, as it can create a bad-tasting smoke.

A cigar needs to be kept at optimal levels of humidity for the best smoking experience – a relative humidity of approximately 65-70%. If your cigar isn’t stored correctly, it can become dry.

Whether you left a cigar loose in your car or forgot to check the moisture levels in your humidor, there are a number of ways in which we can accidentally cause a cigar to become dry. Whatever the reason may be, there is no need to worry too much as it is possible to rehydrate cigars.

How to Rehumidify a Cigar

The rehumidification process needs to happen gradually. If you just put your dry cigars into a humidor and whack the humidity up to 75%, then the cigars might crack or burst as they have become too humid too quickly. They need to be rehumidified gradually.

The best way to do this is by using Boveda packs. Place your dry cigars in a Tupperware box or Ziploc bag with a Boveda pack.

Boveda packs start at 62% humidity, and you can buy them up to 84% humidity. To gradually introduce humidity to a cigar, begin with a 62% Boveda pack in with your dry cigars, and it will bring them to that level of humidity.

Gradually increase the level of humidity by placing a new Boveda pack in every two weeks. Next, use a 65% pack, then a 69% pack, this might be enough to fix your cigars, but you may need to go up to a 72% pack if it still feels too dry.

What Are Boveda Packs?

Boveda packs are designed to offer a predetermined level of humidity. They are made to gradually release humidity, and they do not require maintenance or monitoring, making them a very easy option for getting the humidity of your cigars right.

The great thing about these self-regulating packs is that you can never over-humidify your cigars – they only ever keep it at the level stated on the packet.

How Long to Rehydrate Cigars?

The process of rehydrating a cigar is not a quick one; it can take weeks or months, in fact, so it is important not to rush it. A cigar that hasn’t been properly rehydrated will still smoke hot and have a bitter and unpleasant taste.

It usually takes between two and six weeks to re-humidify a cigar, depending on how thick the ring gauge is and how dry the cigar itself was when you started. It takes this long as it isn’t enough to just humidify the wrapper; you must allow the moisture time to reach the innermost leaves of the filler.

When Can’t You Rehydrate a Cigar

There are some instances in which you will not be able to rehydrate your cigar:

  • The wrapper is damaged or cracked.
  • The cigar has become so dry that all the oils have evaporated from the tobacco.

How to Prepare Your Humidor

If your humidor is what caused the humidification issue in the first place, you will need to re-season your humidor.

First, you need to empty your humidor. Next, with a piece of moist (but not wet) cloth, wipe down the walls of the humidor. Distilled or bottled water is fine, but do not use tap water as it contains minerals and other impurities that can clog the vent holes of humidors.

Next, remoisten the humidification element with distilled water. The humidor will then slowly return to the optimal 70% relative humidity. Once the humidor has reached the right humidity, and your cigars have been rehydrated, the cigars can be placed back into the humidor.

Test the Cigar Before Lighting

Before lighting up your recently rejuvenated cigar, test that it is ready by gently pushing on it with your fingers. It should feel firm but give slightly – a bit like pressing against your finger when you squeeze it. If you hear cracking when you give it a squeeze, then it is too dry. If it feels soft and spongy, then it is too damp.

If it is too dry or too damp, then read our guide on How to Fix Under Humidified or Over Humidified Cigars to discover the best way to fix it.

Letting your cigars get too dry or damp damages them and can impair the wonderful smoking experience they would otherwise offer. The best way to prevent issues with your cigars is to invest in a quality humidor and check on the humidity level on a weekly basis.

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