Panicbound
Dankster
I am smoking a very, very ashy shark. What external factors affect an ash on a cigar? Thanks in advance...Adam
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ash based on humidity too?
- Thread starter Panicbound
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SkinsFanLarry
Craft Beer Addict!
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There's a lot that Cigar ash can tell you about the cigar's origin, much more than you could ever expect! That's why it is of a high importance for professional tasters and experienced smokers, as well as cigar taste and aroma. Actually ash is just a mineral, an inorganic compound that remains as a result of tobacco leaves burning. All tobacco leaf contents able to give off taste and flavor while burning are turned into volatile compounds, which we can sense through our olfactory receptors and taste buds. All other compounds that do not have these astonishing qualities turn into ash.
The most important test for a cigar is the ash color. It isn't related with the leaves quality or the roller's skill. The main factor that influences the color of the ash is the land on which the tobacco was grown.
Soil is rich with chemical compounds and a variety of mineral deposits, which are carried into plants by moisture. The soil in different regions is distinguished by its own characteristics: different minerals predominate in different places. Hence the same plant will have essentially different chemical and mineral contents in different areas. For instance, cigars rolled from tobacco grown in the central regions of Cuba (Remedios) produce almost white ash; cigars made of tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo produce gray ash with white veins. Take into consideration that the two areas are adjacent to each other. The difference takes place because the soil in the Vuelta Abajo is full of various minerals in roughly equal amounts, while the soil in the Remedios Region is characterized by potassium predomination.
The connection between the chemical contents of the soil and the quality of the cigar made of tobacco grown in it has been scientifically proved. Moreover, in early 2001 one of the scientists from a Canadian consumer organization proposed to make tests on the chemical components in order to protect genuine Cuban cigars from fakes. His idea was that cigars labeled as Cuban, but whose chemical contents proved to be different from the chemical contents of the appropriate region of Cuba, should be removed from the shops right away.
Thus the predominance of gray and white in the cigar ash testifies that it is of good quality. Pure white ash may be considered as a mark of quality, proving that the cigar is from certain places like Cuba or the Dominican Republic, where there are plantations that are particularly full of potassium. Black ash is a bad sign. Leaves that after burning produce black ash are poor in minerals and produce a very unpleasant taste and smell.
When the ash falls off, there remains a evident change in the cigar taste. The matter is that the ash is very important in the actual process of smoking. While it gradually appears on the cigar, the ash cools the smoke and makes the process of smoking much milder. That's why when the ash falls off a cigar, the smoker feels that it has become stronger and hotter. Therefore the ash can be not only nice in appearance and useful in finding out more information about the cigar, it also has a use from the practical standpoint.
What the Ash Can Tell You
The most important test for a cigar is the ash color. It isn't related with the leaves quality or the roller's skill. The main factor that influences the color of the ash is the land on which the tobacco was grown.
Soil is rich with chemical compounds and a variety of mineral deposits, which are carried into plants by moisture. The soil in different regions is distinguished by its own characteristics: different minerals predominate in different places. Hence the same plant will have essentially different chemical and mineral contents in different areas. For instance, cigars rolled from tobacco grown in the central regions of Cuba (Remedios) produce almost white ash; cigars made of tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo produce gray ash with white veins. Take into consideration that the two areas are adjacent to each other. The difference takes place because the soil in the Vuelta Abajo is full of various minerals in roughly equal amounts, while the soil in the Remedios Region is characterized by potassium predomination.
The connection between the chemical contents of the soil and the quality of the cigar made of tobacco grown in it has been scientifically proved. Moreover, in early 2001 one of the scientists from a Canadian consumer organization proposed to make tests on the chemical components in order to protect genuine Cuban cigars from fakes. His idea was that cigars labeled as Cuban, but whose chemical contents proved to be different from the chemical contents of the appropriate region of Cuba, should be removed from the shops right away.
Thus the predominance of gray and white in the cigar ash testifies that it is of good quality. Pure white ash may be considered as a mark of quality, proving that the cigar is from certain places like Cuba or the Dominican Republic, where there are plantations that are particularly full of potassium. Black ash is a bad sign. Leaves that after burning produce black ash are poor in minerals and produce a very unpleasant taste and smell.
When the ash falls off, there remains a evident change in the cigar taste. The matter is that the ash is very important in the actual process of smoking. While it gradually appears on the cigar, the ash cools the smoke and makes the process of smoking much milder. That's why when the ash falls off a cigar, the smoker feels that it has become stronger and hotter. Therefore the ash can be not only nice in appearance and useful in finding out more information about the cigar, it also has a use from the practical standpoint.
What the Ash Can Tell You
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THIS:
"When the ash falls off, there remains a evident change in the cigar taste. The matter is that the ash is very important in the actual process of smoking. While it gradually appears on the cigar, the ash cools the smoke and makes the process of smoking much milder. That's why when the ash falls off a cigar, the smoker feels that it has become stronger and hotter. Therefore the ash can be not only nice in appearance and useful in finding out more information about the cigar, it also has a use from the practical standpoint."
is why I CAN'T STAND when a cigar smoker dumps his ash like he's smoking a cigarette.
JUST LEAVE IT BE....
(Just for full disclosure, I am over-asher, I'll keep the SOB hanging on until it winds up all over me :grin
Good find Larry! :thumbsup:
"When the ash falls off, there remains a evident change in the cigar taste. The matter is that the ash is very important in the actual process of smoking. While it gradually appears on the cigar, the ash cools the smoke and makes the process of smoking much milder. That's why when the ash falls off a cigar, the smoker feels that it has become stronger and hotter. Therefore the ash can be not only nice in appearance and useful in finding out more information about the cigar, it also has a use from the practical standpoint."
is why I CAN'T STAND when a cigar smoker dumps his ash like he's smoking a cigarette.
JUST LEAVE IT BE....
(Just for full disclosure, I am over-asher, I'll keep the SOB hanging on until it winds up all over me :grin
Good find Larry! :thumbsup:
I'm thinking that Panicbound's very ashy shark is "flakey"? I've had some where the ash peels away and easly flakes off. I'm not sure if a high or low ambient humidity level causes this to happen.
I do know that smoking technique can affect an ash. Let's say you're smoking a quality maduro that normally has a firm ash... and you puff fairly consistantly every 10 seconds or so, never letting it cool too much, the ash is holding firm. Now, you've got to get a beer or take a leak, so you place it on the ashtray with the ash intact. It took 1 or 2 minutes to pee and pop another top. You pick up the cigar and take a couple robust puffs to get it fired again. The ash is going to drop at this time, every time, no matter how long it is. Something about reheating after it's cooled causes it to weaken. This is a perfect time to drop one in your shirt pocket, on Rover or in your drink. So I'm thinking that smoking consistancy has much to do with ash consistancy.
I do know that smoking technique can affect an ash. Let's say you're smoking a quality maduro that normally has a firm ash... and you puff fairly consistantly every 10 seconds or so, never letting it cool too much, the ash is holding firm. Now, you've got to get a beer or take a leak, so you place it on the ashtray with the ash intact. It took 1 or 2 minutes to pee and pop another top. You pick up the cigar and take a couple robust puffs to get it fired again. The ash is going to drop at this time, every time, no matter how long it is. Something about reheating after it's cooled causes it to weaken. This is a perfect time to drop one in your shirt pocket, on Rover or in your drink. So I'm thinking that smoking consistancy has much to do with ash consistancy.
Virgeinadeaux
Virgeinadeaux
Well kiss my ash; this has been very informative. Thanks brothers.
PLUSH
Some random brother
Uh dude! You are an UNDER-ASHER, yes you never ash, it falls on you ALL the time. Either you are too hot and you need the ash to stay cool, or you do it to look cool. :barf:THIS:
(Just for full disclosure, I am over-asher, I'll keep the SOB hanging on until it winds up all over me :grin
Good find Larry! :thumbsup:
danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
That was very informative Larry, thanks :thumbsup:.
Dan
Dan
Panicbound
Dankster
Thanks for the info. I usually never ash either and my lap or foot will feel it when it does drop. However, last night the fuente would not keep an ash (and Larry, the ash was almost entirely white. I was reading your post while I smoked). It had a great draw, lots of smoke, and I never had to retouch it. However, when I picked it up, took a draw, turned to the side, did the hokey pokey, put it down, etc....it ashed consistantly.
Nothing bad, just messy.....Adam
Nothing bad, just messy.....Adam