Any secondhand smoke that comes from a tobacco product can be classified as environmentally dangerous tobacco smoke. Environmental tobacco smoke includes all secondhand smoke coming from lit tobacco products including cigars and cigarettes. Smoke emitted from either cigars or cigarettes contains a lot of the same harmful irritants. Smoke from both cigars and cigarettes are full of nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia. Environmental tobacco smoke also contains carcinogens like vinyl chlorine, benzene, arsenic, hydrocarbons, and nitrosamines. Since cigars are larger than most cigarettes, they tend to produce and release more environmental tobacco smoke into the air. That being said, hanging around cigar smoke can be more of a risk to one’s health than breathing in cigarette’s secondhand smoke.

Cigar Smoke

Although cigars and cigarettes emit the same environmental tobacco smoke, there are some differences between the two that are worth noting. The differences have much to do with the different ways the two products are manufactured. Cigars go through a long fermentation and aging process during their production. It is during this long process the huge levels of carcinogens are produced. After the completed fermentation and aging stage, the cigar is wrapped tightly in a nonporous wrapper keeping the cigar from burning too fast. It is the fermentation process and the nonporous wrappers which are the largest contributing factors in the high concentration of carcinogens released in the smoke. It is not until the cigar is lit that those carcinogens are released into the air. The nonporous wrapper is a large factor in the unclean burn of the cigar.

Cigars also produce large amounts of carcinogens because of their size. Cigars are larger than cigarettes in girth. Cigar size gives them the ability to release a lot more smoke, toxins, and irritants. Cigars are made for relaxing and taking the time to enjoy the cigar, rather than cigarettes which are often sucked down in a matter of minutes. The longer smoke time needed for cigars leads to larger quantities of smoke. Non-smokers should avoid the places where cigars are smoked. If you choose to smoke cigars, always make sure you are in a well-ventilated or windowed area.

smoking a cigar

We are all aware of some of the cigar smoking health risks. There are risks in smoking cigarettes, but is there any health risks associated with cigar smoking?

The Risky Business of Cigar Smoking…

Are those risks just as dangerous as with cigarettes? Research provided by the National Cancer Institute claim there are definite dangers involved with cigar smoking. Research has linked cancers of the larynx, lungs, esophagus, and oral cavity with smoking cigars. Some of the newest research shows there is a link between smoking cigars and pancreas cancers. Those cigar smokers who deeply inhale on a regular basis are at a higher risk of developing lung and heart disease.

Health risks in cigar smokers are more apparent in those who smoke on a regular basis and inhale the smoke. A smoker who smokes three or four cigars on a daily basis is eight times more likely than a nonsmoker to develop some type of oral cancer. It is unclear the exact risks of smoking only an occasional cigar. We can speculate that if smoking cigars daily puts you at risk of developing health problems.

We all know cigarettes are highly addictive, but are cigars just as addictive? It seems as though many more people are addicted to cigarettes but not cigars. All tobacco products contain nicotine, and nicotine is addictive. It’s easy to observe the effect of nicotine by looking at individuals who use smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco, which is addictive. Cigar smokers usually do not inhale deeply, but the nicotine is still absorbed in the mouth. Cigarette smokers; on the other hand, inhale deeply and often causing the nicotine to be quickly absorbed in the lungs. Although cigar smokers don’t inhale deeply, they still have a large amount of nicotine absorb by the body and they are still at risk for becoming addicted to cigars if smoked on constantly.

Since nicotine is addictive, why aren’t cigar smokers smoking more cigars, more often? People are aware of the addictive quality of nicotine and, therefore, avoid becoming hooked on cigars. Cigars take longer to become addicted to because less nicotine is released into the body as with cigarettes. Cigars are also more expensive than cigarettes, and are viewed as a luxury product or only enjoyed on special occasions; they are simply not used as often. The more frequent a cigar is smoked, the higher the chance of becoming addicted. Smoking any tobacco product frequently will dramatically increase the health risks.

Cigar Humidor

How To Season A Cigar Humidor

Owning a cigar humidor allows you to protect your wonderful cigars for many, many years.  This is what many people think.  However, just owning a humidor is no cause for celebration.  Your new humidor must be seasoned before it is worth its weight in gold.

Both old and new humidors need to be seasoned.  Humidors are usually made of cedar or mahogany wood.  This wood is part of the humidification system.  It helps to provide flavor and humidity to your precious cigars.  If it is not seasoned, the cigars will dry out due to the fact that the wood will absorb moisture from the cigars themselves.  The function of the humidor is to make sure that enough moisture is maintained for the long life of your cigars.
Cedar and mahogany are both very good agents to hold humidity.  They also contain an anti-fungal agent that is resistant to mold, which makes them the best choices for humidors.  Seasoning a humidor is fairly easy.  You need to have some distilled water and a new sponge.  Distilled water is important because it does not contain the minerals and impurities that are in tap water.  These minerals and impurities leave deposits that can destroy the dehumidification devices present in a humidor.

In order to season your humidor, you need to soak the sponge in distilled water and wipe down the surface of the interior wood.  Specifications should be followed when filling the humidification device.  Soak the sponge again and put it in a plastic bag to prevent direct contact with the wood.  Place the bag inside the humidor and close the lid.  Then you let it sit for 24 hours and check to see how much moisture is still in the sponge.  If it is dry, then you will want to repeat the process.  If it is still wet, then you should remove the sponge from the humidor.  Then you should wipe down the interior surface of the wood again.  Then you can refill the humidification device.
It is very important to maintain a balance of moisture for your beloved cigars.  This is why we have humidors.  They create a “tropical environment.”  It takes a very talented, knowledgeable, and patient person to make sure that they season a humidor right to create this environment.  It is quite easy to do, but it is very important to protect the cigars.

Humidors come equipped with a hygrometer.  These are important because they give a reading of the humidity level.  If the humidity is too high, then you must simply leave the lid open for a while.  If it is too low, then you should add more distilled water to the humidification device.  If it is really bad, then you should leave a wet sponge inside the humidor for twenty four hours.  Make sure that the sponge does not touch the cigars.  At this point in time, many people choose to store their cigars in plastic bags to keep them from getting wet.

It is specifically recommended that cigars that are stored on top of each other be separated by straws to maintain an even balance of air and moisture in the humidor.  It is also important to know that your cigars should be rotated on a regular basis.  Rotate them from top to bottom and from side to side.  Now you are finally ready to enjoy your beloved cigars!  And you can see the benefits of having your own humidor that is seasoned properly.  So kick back and enjoy yourself a stogie!

Cigar Clipper

Just A Little Off the Top: How To Clip A Cigar

What is the proper way to clip a cigar? Every cigar lover has their own personal style and method, but here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.

Here’s how to cut a cigar. First, pick up the cigar and take a look at the head of the cigar, the closed end. This is the area that will be cut. Figure out where the cap is. The cap is the area of the cigar where extra tobacco was used to close up the cigar. Finding the cap is the first part, and then you need to figure out its length. You don’t want to cut past the cap’s end, doing so can cause the whole cigar to unravel and fall apart in your hand.  

Tip – How to clip a cigar: Make sure you have a high quality cigar clipper to remove the head of the cap. A poor quality clipper can fray or split the ends. You can find good clipper, made for making clean cuts, at any tobacco shop. Hold the cigar steady and make a quick, meaningful cut right over the cap. Remember less is always more, if you cut is not high enough you can always cut it down further.

Ever wanted to learn how to blow smoke rings from your cigar? Cigar lovers

Blowing Smoke Rings

everyone talk about the art of smoking a cigar. Smoke rings are a sign the smoker is no novice, he enjoys a good cigar and smokes it well. How do you learn to blow a smoke ring? Many say it’s not something that can be taught, it is something you learn on your own with time and practice. Here are some tips to at least get you started.

Aficionados explain that if you want to blow smoke rings, you first need to create some dense smoke. Suck deeply on the cigar until dense smoke fills your mouth. Hold the smoke in your mouth while slowly opening your mouth. Form a well-rounded ‘O’ with your lips, pulling back your tongue as you push out the smoke.

Do not exhale the smoke, the will push the smoke out to quickly. Simply push the smoke out of your mouth. If there is the slightest breeze in the air, it will ruin your chances of blowing out smoke rings, so make sure you practice only when the air is calm or indoors.

Old Cigars - Aged Cigars

Choosing the Perfect Cigar: Old Cigars Versus New Fresh Cigars

Do you know the difference between old cigars and fresh cigars? Do you even know what those terms mean? If you are a new cigar smoker, you may be surprised by these terms. An important thing to note, cigars are never fresh. This means simply, it is difficult to buy a cigar right after it has been produced. Most tobacco stores will but their cigars in a proper storage unit, at the correct temperature and humidity, before placing them out for sale. The best tobacco should be aged for at least one to two years, before it is rolled into a top notch cigar.

Most cigar smokers prefer an older, more vintage cigar. Or an aged cigar. Why is that? The age of the cigar is not really a factor in the taste of cigars; it is simply a matter of preference. How long do vintage cigars last before losing their flavor? The key is in the storage in a quality humidor. Keeping cigars at a constant state of 70 degrees and 70% humidity, will keep them fresh for years.

If an old cigar is stored incorrectly and dries out, can it be saved? Yes, it can be restored and the flavor saved, but the process needs to be done with patience as it is a slow, careful process to re-humidify it.

Cigar Types

A Simple Guide To The ‘Types of Cigars’…

If you are new to cigar smoking, the vast selection of styles and sizes can be bewildering at first. The first thing you should know is cigars are broken down into two categories: parejos and figuardos.

The first group, parejos, are cigars which are, for the most part, straight. Parejos are divided into three subcategories: corona, panatela, and Lonsdale. Coronas are probably the most popular and come in a variety of styles to choose from. They are known for their round head and open foot, or tip. Panatelas are longer and thicker than Coronas. Lonsdales are longer than Coronas as well, but they are the thinnest of the three.

Figurados are the second main category of cigars. Figuardos are more irregular in shape and not exactly straight, as if they are each made by hand to be only slightly off. Belicoso cigars are the smallest of the figuardos. They have small, rounded heads, and a larger foot. The Pyramid has, as the name would suggest, a pointed head which taper off to a large foot. The Perfecto cigar is tapered on the head and feet and thinner in the middle. The Diademas is the largest of the figuardos and is commonly known as the ‘giant’ among cigars as it is eight or more inches longer than any other cigar.

Cigar and Alcohol - Brandy

Cigars and Alcohol. How To Pair Them…

The cigar is synonymous with the luxury of high class society. Cigars conjure up visions of wealthy men sucking away on their stogies and swirling glasses of brandy while talking politics in smoking air-tight rooms. If you are intrigued by this mysterious world and would like to learn the art of relaxing with a stogie in one hand and drink in the other, you are not alone. Here are a few guidelines to follow.

Tradition dictates cigars should be paired up with hard alcohol. The popular liquors of choice have always been: rum, brandy, and whiskey. Some enthusiasts say a cigar should be mixed with a strong, but sweet drink like scotch or brandy. Cigar aficionados have been using these pairings for years. The idea of pairing cigars with a nice cold beer has long been ignored. Why ignore the comfort of a nice, cold brew? Lately, it has become quite popular to pair cigars with a variety of beer. Since cigars have slowly invaded popular culture, it is not just the high class who takes the time to enjoy a good cigar. What a better way to relax than out on the porch with a cigar and a cold beer.

It isn’t easy to find a beer that is comparable to a high quality cigar

, but will pay off in the end. Finding a good match has a lot to do with your level of experience. If you are a newer smoker, it may be best to ask for some help when pairing up a cigar with beer. If your palate is more experienced, and you know what your taste is, you have a better chance of figuring out what beer goes with your cigars.

Cigars are robust and full of flavor so it can be a challenge to find a beer that compliments the power of cigars. The best pairings are single malts like scotch or a barley wine. Barley wines go best with cigars tasting wood-like or spicy. Barley wine has a hint of fruit flavor and goes well with the spicy flavor in the cigar. Likewise, your spicy cigar may go well with a fruity type of beer; this will bring out the flavors of each.  

The best way to find out what works best for you is to experiment. Of course, the first thing to do is find a cigar you like. While smoking it, concentrate on the taste and flavors. Now, you can look for a beer with similar flavors or complementary flavors. You never know what you can discover by experimenting this way.

How Much and How Often

The National Cancer Institute gathered research on both cigarettes and cigars and discovered the health risks are linked to frequency of use. That means it doesn’t matter whether you prefer smoking cigarettes or cigars, it’s how often and how much you smoke in general. People who are daily cigarette smokers have a greater chance of developing cancer than the occasional cigar smoker. However, research shows cigars have more carcinogens than cigarettes. Cigars also emit a much more toxic smoke, posing a greater danger for those who may inhale the secondhand smoke. This is mostly due to the cigar being larger than a cigarette and therefore would emit more smoke.

Don’t Breathe Deeply

The largest debate seems to stem from the matter of inhaling nicotine from either cigars or cigarettes. Most cigar aficionados claim cigars are less dangers simply because they don’t inhale as deeply as cigarette smokers, keeping most toxins out. The National Cancer Institute’s research showed both cigar and cigarette smokers were equally exposed to dangerous carcinogens and it didn’t matter if they inhaled or not. Inhaling damages the lungs; you can still expose carcinogens to the mouth, tongue, larynx, and throats without inhaling. By simply holding an unlit cigar or cigarette in your mouth, exposes them to carcinogens. Saliva comes in contact with the cigar or cigarette when they are smoked, which means carcinogens are being swallowed. Swallowing carcinogens further exposes the throat, larynx, and esophagus to toxins. There appears to be no difference between the amounts of carcinogens swallowed by either cigar or cigarette smokers. Meaning, they both hold the same risk of getting oral and esophageal cancer.

Health risks seem are related to how deep someone inhales the smoke in either cigars or cigarettes. Most cigarette smokers inhale more deeply and more often, putting them at a higher danger of developing larynx cancer. To give a more clear idea of how inhaling relates to health risk, the National Cancer Institute states the lung cancer risk to be the same for a person who smokes a pack a day and a person who smokes five cigars a day.