Sparkle On Wrapper

[Mister Moo]

I recently bought a box of Mi Cubano Maduros (#650) dated May 2004. They are suddenly starting to show a slight crystalline sparkle here and there on the wrapper. Is this a sign of bloom to come? As it is, I find the #650 a great tasting $2.00 smoke that I enjoy. Is it possible they'll actually get better if they keep hanging around? I've been smoking cigars for less than a year and have not seen this "sparkly" thing before. Advice?

[kansashat]

Hard to tell without actually seeing it, but yes, that sounds exactly like plume.

[Eichen]

Sparkles are good news, brother! It means your tobacco is happy.

[Mister Moo]

Sparkles are good news, brother! It means your tobacco is happy.
Good news. I like the sparkles. I wish a few of them for eveyone.

[kenstogie]

as said earlier it is hard to tell with out seeing but it does sound exactly like plume or bloom. The oils in the tobacco are slightly drying out with causes the crystal effect which should (hopefully) turn into plume. HAPPY SMOKING MAN!!!!

[Mister Moo]

Well, these cigars certainly are flavorful - much to my taste. I just bought two more boxes of this discontinued item. If this is bloom (to be), I like it.

[Mister Moo]

as said earlier it is hard to tell with out seeing but it does sound exactly like plume or bloom. The oils in the tobacco are slightly drying out with causes the crystal effect which should (hopefully) turn into plume. HAPPY SMOKING MAN!!!!
Sparkle update. Sparkles are good.

Yes indeed - these are the crystals that come before the bloom. Since the Mi Cubanos arrived about 1/3 of them now show crystals. Compared to the un-sparkly ones they taste markedly better.

Of those, some are now beginning to show bloom/plume spots. It really is a big taste difference - both the leaf in your mouth and the quality of the smoke. I wondered if bloom made that much of a difference and - first hand, finally - I think it really does.

Now, who is working on bloom accelerator spray? I'd buy that.

[cigartexan]

Here's some really nice sparkle :D
http://homepage.mac.com/sheerin/crystals.jpg

[Mister Moo]

Here's some really nice sparkle :D
Uh huh. But do you sell the sparkle spray?

[clovis]

Sparkle update. Sparkles are good.

Yes indeed - these are the crystals that come before the bloom. Since the Mi Cubanos arrived about 1/3 of them now show crystals. Compared to the un-sparkly ones they taste markedly better.

Of those, some are now beginning to show bloom/plume spots. It really is a big taste difference - both the leaf in your mouth and the quality of the smoke. I wondered if bloom made that much of a difference and - first hand, finally - I think it really does.

Now, who is working on bloom accelerator spray? I'd buy that.


Just curious...at what temp. and RH are these stored?

[Mister Moo]

Just curious...at what temp. and RH are these stored?

The first box got uncello'd and dropped in my storage humi where they're hanging around 70-72F x 68-70%rh. I was surprised how big a difference there is in how they smoke compared to those uncrystalized - they went from ordinary to very tasty.

I bought a couple more boxes since the original post. They're still in original boxes, poly bagged and humidifed - I haven't looked at them, but they're stored in the same conditions, approx. I'll crack a box and give them a look before Christmas. You interested in a follow up?