Good day aficianados.
I was going through the cigars in my coolidor and started noticing some white stuff, just barely, but it's there. I can't seem to tell what it is, so I'm asking here.
Here's some pix.
over1 over2 10x mag 1 10x mag 2. The last 2 pix are taken through a 10x magnifcation loupe. Sorry if it's a little out of focus; I just held the loupe over the lens, as a result it was a little shaky, not to mention the depth of field is very narrow.
I've seen pics of bloom and mould on the net, but my amateur eyes can't really tell which category this fits into. I came across an article that says there is also what's known as 'mineral trace' and occurs when the water for the humidity source contains minerals. I'm doubting it's this though, as I am using store bought distilled water.
One distinguising characteristic between mould and bloom seems to be that bloom can be brushed or wiped off, so, I took a fine microfibre cloth and wiped over the cigar and it pretty much seemed to go away. Though there didn't seem to be much in the first place, so I couldn't really tell. I have some more pix of after I wiped the cigars.
10x mag wiped 1 wiped 2.
I went through the 100 or so cigars I have in there, and this barely noticeable fuzz seems to be on more than a few. I noticed two or three cigars with some very small (a few sq mm) patches of this stuff. I quarantined the most affected cigars for now, and removed some of the humidifier as well.
I've had these cigars since mid december 2007 and have been checking them (though not thoroughly) once every two weeks or so. The hygrometer reads about 75% humidity (it's analog) and the ambient room temp is about 21C (70F).
Any light that can be shed on the situation would be mighty appriciated.
So keen, it smells sharp.
