How to Soften a Cigarillo

Cigarillos often dry out

Cigarillos are small cigars that are often made by machines and sold in packs of 20 much like cigarettes. Cigarillo filler and binders are commonly made from a blend of tobaccos that come from a few different growing regions. A pack of cigarillos that has been left open for a few days allows the tobacco to dry out and become hard and brittle. Hard and dry cigarillos can be softened and made pliable again by slowly reintroducing moisture back into the tobacco.

Things You'll Need

• Humidor
• Digital humidifier
• Distilled water

Instructions

1. Place the cigarillo inside the humidor with at least a half inch of empty space surrounding it. Slotted trays inside a humidor allow for better airflow and more even hydration.

2. Fill the water cartridge on the digital humidifier with distilled water according to the manufacturers directions. Digital humidifiers often have a light or audible alarm that gives a warning when water levels are low.

3. Set the digital humidifier to maintain 50 percent relative humidity, or RH, for one week. Avoid opening the humidor as much as possible once the hydration process has begun.

4. Raise the RH level by 3 percent at the end of each week until you have reached 70 percent. The entire process will take about seven weeks to complete and will require that the water cartridge is refilled several times.

Tips & Warnings

• Cigarillos with foil tips may have a rougher texture to their foil after hydration. to avoid this, wrap the foil tipped section in a small piece of plastic wrap for the entire hydration process.

• Passive tobacco humidification products like gels and sponges are difficult to control and may cause swelling and mold.

References

• Cigar Cult: Cigarillos Tested: Small is In
• Vigilant Woodworks: Cigar Storage Tips