Questions on Bloom or Plume

[Cyber]

I have a few questions about this.

First, Is the taste. When I put the end of the cigar into my mouth there is a spicy/pepper taste with a hint of salt. This is before the light and with out a draw on the cigar. Just the taste of the bloom on the wrapper. Is this taste the same on all cigars with bloom?

The other question is how long must a cigar age before bloom starts to show up? I guess it will be different based on the oils in the wrapper but is there a minimum time before it starts to show up?

[Cigar Man Andy]

First, I don't recall a salty taste. That may be mold. It takes years for Plume to start.

Mold looks hairy, plume looks like sale - crystal.

Here are a couple of reference pages for you...

If it is white, it is plume? NOT...
Opus with plume
Mold or Plume/Bloom? MOLD

[madurolover]

Plume adds no taste to a cigar. The reason it is so desired is because it means the cigar has been properly stored.

It usually takes a long time for plume to form. Also some cigars may never produce any.

[Cyber]

Ok, let me put this into a little prospective.

First, I know what mold looks like as well as the mycilia growth. In this subject I am over qualified, considering my degree is in mycology. It is not MOLD.
On that note, if anyone has a cigar that is moldy I would like it. I would love to obtain a sample of it for examination.

I am aware that it does not add a taste to the cigar when smoked but I have noted a taste when I moisten the foot of the cigar in my lips. The salt taste is faint but there is a hint of salt that I pick up. The spice/pepper taste is very noticeable.

As to the age question, the reason I ask is that I picked up some cigars from the local B&M that are grate and have bloom on them. I ordered a couple of boxes of the same cigar and they are, at best, ok. But there is no bloom on them so I am guessing they need to age. That being said I was wondering how long of a wait I would have. Can I expect a year, or two, or five?

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by Cyber

That being said I was wondering how long of a wait I would have. Can I expect a year, or two, or five?

Since the plume is the cigars oils leeching out onto the wrapper I would say that it is quite possible for it to have a slight taste on the lips. When i said plume has no taste I was refering to when you are smoking the cigar. As far as the time needed to produce plume I would say a minimum of 2 - 3 years and more than likely 5 or more.

[ssutton219]

Originally Posted by Cyber

Ok, let me put this into a little prospective.

First, I know what mold looks like as well as the mycilia growth. In this subject I am over qualified, considering my degree is in mycology. It is not MOLD.
On that note, if anyone has a cigar that is moldy I would like it. I would love to obtain a sample of it for examination.

I am aware that it does not add a taste to the cigar when smoked but I have noted a taste when I moisten the foot of the cigar in my lips. The salt taste is faint but there is a hint of salt that I pick up. The spice/pepper taste is very noticeable.

As to the age question, the reason I ask is that I picked up some cigars from the local B&M that are grate and have bloom on them. I ordered a couple of boxes of the same cigar and they are, at best, ok. But there is no bloom on them so I am guessing they need to age. That being said I was wondering how long of a wait I would have. Can I expect a year, or two, or five?

If your address is in your profile or you want to pm me your address I might see if the local B&M still has all thier "GOOD MOLD" cigars on sale..


Shawn

[eyesack]

Originally Posted by Cyber

Ok, let me put this into a little prospective.

First, I know what mold looks like as well as the mycilia growth. In this subject I am over qualified, considering my degree is in mycology. It is not MOLD.

As to the age question, the reason I ask is that I picked up some cigars from the local B&M that are grate and have bloom on them.

Hey Cyber, I don't mean this to start a flame war or anything, and by no means do I have a degree in biology nor wish to question your authority, but isn't it called "mycelia"? Or is that something different? Also, just a noob question, but why would you moisten the foot of the cigar in your lips instead of the cap? I've also seen some great-looking sticks at my local B&M covered in what looks like bloom, so this is a timely thread!

[eyesack]

also, those pics don't work.

[Hermit]

That salty taste?
That's just a sweaty palmed torcedor.