Stains on my cigars, what to do?

First of all, let's use the correct terms.
Let's make the distinction between mold, bloom, and rot. The first and second will not have consequences for your cigars, whereas the last one will destroy them forever! Indeed, spots on your cigars can have different origins, some answers regarding cigar maintenance.

The different types of spots and marks on cigars

There are many types of marks and stains that can appear on your cigar. We invite you now to discover them with us!

The "beige" Marks

Leaf stains (Surface mold), they are the result of contamination by the Cercospora fungus which feeds on the chlorophyll of the leaf while it is alive. Your wrapper leaf will be affected, but not the binder leaf or the filler leaves.You just need to use a soft brush and gently stroke the cigar to remove them. Your cigar will not be affected in any way.

The "green" marks

They are the result of increased humidity in that area during the drying of the wrapper leaves. These chlorophyll molecules have simply not been transformed. The aroma of your cigar will not be affected in any way. I notice these marks more and more often on cigars.

Small 'white' marks on the surface

In the case of the appearance of small white spots, we then speak of 'bloom ' (called 'bloom' by our English-speaking friends)… Indeed, your cigar is blooming, quite simply. These small spots resemble crystals resulting from the cigar's sweating. A (delicate) brush stroke and everything will disappear.

Raised 'white' marks

We are dealing here with a blatant case of rot and not mold.
Unlike mold, rot will also be present in the heart of your cigar and will not remain on the surface:

As you can understand, cigars infected in this way are good for the trash. This phenomenon results from over-humidification of your cigars… which will often lead to the appearance of lasioderma.

Also find the advice article on lasioderma and our lasioderma traps.

Thierry