Cigar Accessories
Humidors are necessary to age cigars and keep them from drying out, otherwise they will become too tasteless and crisp to smoke. The classic humidor is round with a removable lid that is constructed to have an airtight fit. Most humidors are crafted from wood, such as walnut, Spanish cedar or rosewood, and have felt-lined drawers which can be locked. The best humidity range the interior of a humidor should maintain is 68% up to room temperature, or 72%. A hygrometer is usually included with a humidor, which measures the humidity level inside a humidor. Besides being used to age cigars, humidors are also considered to be classy pieces of furniture, with their unique, burnished wood and stylish design.
Cigar Cutters
Cigar cutters are used to cut off one end of a cigar in order for it to be smoked. While most cigars have one end which is capped and needs to be snipped off before smoking, some of them are already cut on both ends. The more expensive cigars, such as Don Tomas cigars, always come with a capped end, which is made of small bits of wrapper stuck to the end of a cigar using flour and water, or tobacco paste. The reason why a special cigar cutter is used to cut off the tip is because a knife or bite-type cut will leave a jagged end that will not burn consistently. There are three different types of cigar cutters: straight cut (guillotine), V-cut, and punch cut. Straight cuts are preferred by cigar devotees because they make such even, clean cuts. In addition, they cost less and are easily slipped into someone's pants pocket.
Rolling Your Own Accessories
For rolling your own cigars, all you basically need are:
- a good, sharp pair of scissors,
- a small spray bottle of water,
- egg whites
- a humidor
- an oven
Once you have prepared the tobacco you want to smoke by either smoothing out folds or shredding it, you can get your binder leaf ready by spraying it lightly with water and taking out the mid-rib with the scissors to keep it from cracking. Put some tobacco onto the binder leaf, carefully roll up the leaf and paste it together using a dab of egg whites. Place the cigar in a former (bought at a cigar store) and place it in an oven for around thirty minutes at no more than 150 degrees. Now take a thin leaf of tobacco and finish wrapping the cigar, leaving the ends open or closed, depending on your preference.
Put your newly rolled cigars into a humidor for a few weeks so they can age in the humidity and become moist enough to smoke. You can even leave a cigar in a humidor for several years without spoiling the taste or aroma.
Paul is an online journalist and cigar aficionado. He smokes don tomas cigars after a long day of writing at his home in New Mexico.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
