The process of preparing a humidor for optimal use, prior to storing cigars, involves saturating the wood lining with moisture. This saturation is crucial for establishing a stable and appropriate environment for preserving the quality and integrity of cigars. This preparation ensures the humidor maintains the desired relative humidity level necessary for preventing cigars from drying out or becoming overly moist.
Proper preparation offers several key benefits. Primarily, it prevents the humidor from excessively drawing moisture from the cigars themselves, which can detrimentally affect their flavor and burn characteristics. Furthermore, a well-prepared humidor provides a consistent and controlled environment, minimizing fluctuations in humidity that can lead to cracking, uneven burning, or the development of mold. Historically, this step has been recognized as integral to maintaining valuable cigar collections.
