Humidity levels ROTT

Recently saw a tip in a thread about resting cigars somewhere that to measure the humidity level in a few cigars, you can throw them in a ziplock bag along with a hygrometer for 4 hours or so, and once the reading stabilizes that's where the cigars are. Figured I'd give this a try as I had a 5 pack come in last night. After 6 hours or so of chillin with my hygrometer, the reading had come down from the 65% in my tupperdor to 63%, which surprised me since I feel like it's generally accepted that sticks are typically shipped pretty moist. Think this is an accurate way to figure out the humidity level of cigars? And does that mean these guys are probably good to just light up?

Is it possible they were shipped a little dry instead of wet? I'm impatient though so if it's a 5 pack I'd have to smoke one anyway just to see. :)

I did this a few months ago with some sticks ROTT. Mine also came in the mid 60's for RH%. I was a bit surprised. Even so, now that I have a pretty good stock of smokes, I usually let then acclimate at least a few weeks before I light one up.

Yeah I'm still building my newbie sampling collection, which necessitates some ROTT smoking. Trying not to let the few duds I've experience so far turn me off to cigars that will taste better in a couple months. Forgot to mention these were shipped from cigarbid, not sure if people have had different experiences with different vendors. There wasn't any type of humidification device in the packaging, which I've seen other sites like CI include. I wouldn't imagine much would change in like the 2 days the cigars spent in a dark box regardless though.

Cigars act as "water pillows", so in a small, sealed baggie they should only lose a very small amount of RH.

My biggest concern in shipping is the large amount of temperature fluctuations that can occur.

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Originally Posted by Zeede

My biggest concern in shipping is the large amount of temperature fluctuations that can occur.

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Do fluctuations in temperature over time effect the taste of a cigar if the moisture level its holding stays the same? My knee jerk reaction first thought would be that as long as it has a day or so to stabilize at a normal 70 degrees it would be fine... I'm certainly no expert though.

Extreme temperatures or rapid and large temperature changes can damage the wrapper.

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Originally Posted by dbach11

Do fluctuations in temperature over time effect the taste of a cigar if the moisture level its holding stays the same? My knee jerk reaction first thought would be that as long as it has a day or so to stabilize at a normal 70 degrees it would be fine... I'm certainly no expert though.

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also most people let cigars they get rest for several weeks so they stabilize to the RH in your humidor. most people go with 1% humidity a week so depending on your set up it can take several weeks for them to stabilize.

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Originally Posted by Demuths1770

also most people let cigars they get rest for several weeks so they stabilize to the RH in your humidor. most people go with 1% humidity a week so depending on your set up it can take several weeks for them to stabilize.

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Right, I was just surprised that they seem to have arrived off the truck at 63% already.

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Originally Posted by dbach11

Right, I was just surprised that they seem to have arrived off the truck at 63% already.

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depends where they come from. most places i order from don't come to wet.

Last order I received spent four to five days in transit, ordered on 13th, shipped on 14th,here on 19th. Smoked one ROTT and it burnt,tasted fine. That was about twice the length of time most of my orders take to arrive.Had the weather been very hot or cold would've expected the box to need a bit of time before smoking one.No humidification item included, just the sealed box with a few air pillows.Will find out tomorrow if the little rest they've had affects the smoking experience.

don't forget ziploc's breathe. so your rh is probably not correct. try a small tupperware container.

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Originally Posted by Zeede

My biggest concern in shipping is the large amount of temperature fluctuations that can occur.

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It is not the temperature fluctuations that cause the problems per se. It is the resulting rapid fluctuations in relative humidity as a result of the temp fluctuations that cause the problems.
So, still rapid temp changes can be a problem. The relative humidity is dependent upon temperature. Cool too rapidly ==> condensation. Heat too quickly ==> drying. These rapid changes then are what can cause the tobacco to swell/shrink and lead to damage of the wrappers.