5 Common Cigar Combustion Problems and How to Overcome Them
Hey there, fellow cigar aficionados! How’s it hanging? Hopefully, all is good and smoky! As lovers of fine cigars, we thrive on the thrill of discovering new blends and savouring exquisite experiences. But, let’s face it, sometimes our cigar journey hits a snag, turning what should be heavenly into a total disaster. We might be quick to blame others (like we always do), but often, it’s our own oversight that leads to trouble. One of the common aspects where every cigar aficionado may find themselves in trouble is cigar combustion.
Cigar combustion is a process by which a cigar burns and releases smoke when lit. Far beyond mere ignition and smoke, it’s a delicate interplay of factors that can make or break your smoking pleasure. It is a crucial aspect of the cigar smoking experience, as it directly impacts factors such as flavour, aroma, and draw.
Picture this: you’ve just settled in with your favourite cigar, anticipating a blissful experience. But as the smoke curls and the ash wavers unevenly, you realize something’s amiss. That’s where cigar combustion comes into play, influencing everything from flavour to draw.
Controlling cigar combustion is paramount for a truly enjoyable smoking session. A well-made cigar burns evenly, releasing smooth, flavorful smoke with every draw. But without proper management, you risk encountering a host of common problems that can ruin the experience. Uneven burns, harsh flavours, and frustrating relights are just a few hurdles that can stand between you and cigar nirvana.
Fear not, fellow aficionados, we’ve compiled the five most common problems in cigar combustion, along with their solutions, to ensure that every puff is a pleasure.
Remember those classic 1970s Hollywood movies where the protagonist savours a perfectly lit cigar, exuding effortless coolness? Well, that’s the dream we’re chasing, folks!
1. Unequal Combustion
While lighting a cigar, one should expect the burn of the entire circumference of the wrapper equally, resulting in the formation of cone-shaped ash. But, if the edges of the layers in cigars are burning and become unbalanced, consider it a phenomenon of unequal combustion.
Causes of Uneven Combustion Include
- Inaccurate Lighting of the Cigar
- Low-Quality Cigar Construction
- Irregular Level of Humidity (On the Tobacco Leaves of the Cigar)
How to Overcome it?
- Place a cigar upside down in the ashtray. Ensure you place a cigar on the side that burns the fastest to avoid its contact with the air. Lesser the amount of contact the fastest burnt part of the cigar will make with air, the lower the chances for the cigar to get affected by unequal combustion.
- You can also apply a small amount of saliva on one side of the cigar, which burns at a faster pace. It can slow the combustion rate on one side.
- Apply lighter to the slower-burning side of the cigar to cut down (burn-off) the excess layer sheet.
2. Combustion in Candle
A type of uneven combustion in which one side of a cigar gets burnt extremely disproportionately and attains the similar shape of a canoe (a Rosalía nail) is known as Combustion in Candle.
You may be wondering what causes this type of combustion. Are its causes similar to uneven combustion (which we have discussed before)?
Without writing much, let’s clear all your doubts.
If one side of your cigar becomes uneven and gets burnt at a faster rate, it is a condition of uneven combustion. To avoid this, you can consider the solutions that were mentioned in the previous section.
However, if any of these solutions aren’t working and the cigar is still burning badly, consider it as a condition of ‘Combustion of in Candle.’
Causes of Combustion in Candles Includes
- Poor Cigar Lighting & Not Relighting It
- Imperfect Selection of the Wrapper
- Poor Storage in the Humidor
- Squeezing the Head of the Cigar too Tightly While Smoking
How to Overcome It?
- When a cigar starts burning unevenly, creating a “canoe” shape where one side burns faster than the other, it’s best to temporarily stop smoking it. Instead, let the cigar burn out naturally. Then, you can carefully cut off the uneven or affected part. After that, relight the cigar, paying extra attention to the burning process.
- Since ‘Combustion in Candle’ can also result if a smoker tries to squeeze the head of the cigar tightly while smoking, choose the given below solution to avoid it.
- While clenching your teeth on the head of the cigar while smoking, rotate a cigar in your mouth as you draw and bite.
3. Tunnel Combustion (Tunneling)
As the name suggests, ‘Tunnel Combustion,’ of course, would involve some sort of hole or tunnel-like cavity formation. If you think like that, you’re 100% correct.
A type of combustion where the centre of the cigar burns more quickly than the outer wrapper, resulting in the formation of a hole or tunnel-like cavity in the cigar, is known as ‘Tunnel Combustion’ or ‘Tunneling.’ This type of combustion is common in cigars with Maduro or Oscuro Wrappers. An obvious reason behind this is the presence of naturally thicker or oilier wrappers in these cigars. Due to this, these cigars tend to absorb more moisture, resulting in the slower burn of wrappers than the filler tobacco inside. As a result, this can lead to a tunnel burn.
Causes of Tunneling Include
- Uneven Packing of the cigar
- Excessive humidity
- Improper lighting technique
How to Overcome it?
- If tunnel combustion occurs, it can fully detract from the enjoyment of smoking a cigar. The flavour becomes unbalanced and harsh, and the aroma of your favourite cigar may turn unpleasant. So, consider throwing it away.
- However, adopting important precautions can avoid tunnel combustion in your cigar.
- Ensure the cigar is properly stored in a humidor with stable humidity levels.
- Pay extra attention to the lighting technique, ensuring that the entire foot of the cigar is evenly lit.
4. Fast Combustion
It is common for cigar enthusiasts to get excited about smoking their favourite premium cigar. But as the anticipation reaches its peak, they often find themselves consuming the cigar too quickly. And that’s a point where things may get wrong. If the cigar is consumed too quickly, a smoker will not have the time to enjoy the flavors of tobacco.
The flavours of the tobacco leaves will be unused when a cigar is consumed too quickly. The complex flavour, which was earlier teasing their senses, will leave a smoker unsatisfied. What begins as a rush to indulge quickly turns into a missed opportunity to savour the intricacies that make each cigar truly exceptional.
Causes of Fast Combustion Include
- Improper humidity levels within the cigar (too dry)
- Loosely packed cigars tend to burn faster.
- Compulsively Smoking a Cigar as if it is a cigarette.
How to Overcome it?
- Typically, cigars that are too dry are easy to recover from if a situation like fast combustion occurs. With proper technique and a good humidor, you can lower the extreme dryness, resulting in the recovery of fast combustion-affected cigars.
- Simply let it go out by itself, then trim off the burnt part with a cigar cutter. Let the cigar sit out until it stops smelling burnt. After that, put it back in your humidor, where it’s kept at the right temperature and humidity for about two to three weeks.
- However, it should be noted that the flavours of the tobacco leaves may not be properly recovered. So, if your recovered cigar lacks flavour and still has holes, throwing it away is the best option.
5. Constant Cigar Extinction
If your cigar keeps going out while you’re smoking it, it could be because it’s too much moist or because it’s not a high-quality cigar. Moreover, it can also be due to improper storage of it. Typically, cigars are meant to be stored in the night conditions – around 65% to 75% humidity and between 18º to 20ºC temperature.
Furthermore, this may also happen if you smoke a cigar too slowly.
Since we’ve already explained the causes of this problem, there’s no need to explain them again in a separate section. Let’s proceed straight to its solutions.
How to Overcome It?
If the problem is too much moisture, you should let the cigar dry out a bit. You can do this by leaving it outside of the humidor for a couple of days if you live in a dry place, or you can put it in a sealed plastic bag if you live in a humid area. Thus, this helps the cigar get back to the right level of moisture before you try smoking it again.
Wrapping Up
By understanding and addressing the five common cigar combustion problems discussed in this guide, enthusiasts can elevate their enjoyment and appreciation of fine cigars. However, remember, proper storage, attention to lighting technique, and patience in puffing all contribute to overcoming these challenges. With proper knowledge and diligence, you can unlock the full potential of your favourite cigars and indulge in moments of pure pleasure. Speaking of favourite cigars, if you’re considering buying cigars of your favourite brand online, choose ‘The House of Cigars‘.
With years of experience, ‘The House of Cigars’ is the top online store for premium-quality cigars. Our stock is mostly sourced from top cigar-producing countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico & Cuba. From machine-made cigars to flavoured cigars, we showcase a wide range of cigars. So, whenever you consider buying premium cigars online, choose ‘The House of Cigars’ only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q-1. What is combustion in smoking?
Ans: Combustion in smoking refers to the process of burning tobacco or other substances within a cigar or cigarette. When tobacco is ignited, it undergoes combustion, releasing smoke that contains various chemical compounds.
Q-2. What are cigar combustion causes?
Ans: Cigar combustion causes include uneven packing, improper humidity levels, dense filler tobacco, and tobacco type. Factors such as lighting technique and cigar size can also influence combustion quality.
Q-3. What happens if a cigar is combusted?
Ans: If a cigar combusts improperly, it may result in uneven burning, harsh flavours, tunnelling, or relighting difficulties, detracting from the smoking experience.
Q-4. Who provides premium-quality cigars online?
Ans: Though there are online cigar stores that offer premium quality, ‘The House of Cigars’ takes centre stage. The House of Cigars showcases a wide range of varieties. Also, all of their stock is directly sourced from countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico.