What is plume?

[Big Cle]

Ive been smoking cigars for 12 years. I don't get excited about plume, actually I 'm thinking I don't want to see plume on my cigars. Isn't plume the oils from the leaf (that give the cigar flavor) that has crystalized on the surface of the cigar. Meaning the the cigar will have less flavor?

 

[bigmanfromou]

I have to agree. I like old cigars, but don't really care one way or another about plume.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Plume or bloom is a fine white powder or dust which forms on cigars when oils exude from the tobacco as a result of aging. Plume is a good sign that a cigar has been properly aged, and it can easily be brushed off. Not to be confused with mold, which is a bluish fungus that stains the wrapper.

With much of its oils removed from the tobacco, the cigar will be slightly softer in flavour and strength. Of course, this strictly applies to cigars that have been aged for many years, even decades. Cigars that have been aged for a shorter amount of time are not at risk.

 

[Robinsond]

Does it change the flavor of a cigar? Or if it does appear, should I brush it off?

-Dave

 

[Starz26]

Does it change the flavor of a cigar? Or if it does appear, should I brush it off?

-Dave

Not sure...oh wait, Larry already answered that :chat: Just bustin your chops!

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Does it change the flavor of a cigar? Or if it does appear, should I brush it off?
-Dave

What I always tell people is that if you buy a "powered sugar" donut, do you brush all the "powered sugar" off before you eat it?

 

[Big Cle]

But my thinking is if the cigar has been properly stored hum/temp, the leaf shouldnt let the oils go, causing plume. Ive got some 10+ year old cigar that didnt develope plume, and they are smoking like age cigars should in my opinion.

 

[Robinsond]

Not sure...oh wait, Larry already answered that :chat: Just bustin your chops!

Ahh right haha...no worries!

-Dave

 

[Jhard1121]

I have never had a cigar plume, but then again they usually don't last long enough for them to develop it. I think people just get excited to see it because it shows the age of the cigar, however, I can see how it might change the taste of the cigar.

 

[Mitch]

First off, cigars that are handled, rarely develop plume so unless you are aging full boxes, even cigars that do plume will not if they are rolling around in trays or getting picked up and admired now and then.

Second, Don't think of plume as changing anything in the cigar, it's just an indicator that a cigar has some age, and has been stored proplerly. It's still the same cigar and will taste the same as one rolling around in a tray that never developed it.

It's also not a guanrantee of a good smoke, any oily cigar can plume, but not all oily cigars were created equal to start with.

 

[NorcalMark]

some cigars will plume and some won't.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

First off, cigars that are handled, rarely develop plume so unless you are aging full boxes, even cigars that do plume will not if they are rolling around in trays or getting picked up and admired now and then.

Second, Don't think of plume as changing anything in the cigar, it's just an indicator that a cigar has some age, and has been stored proplerly. It's still the same cigar and will taste the same as one rolling around in a tray that never developed it.

It's also not a guanrantee of a good smoke, any oily cigar can plume, but not all oily cigars were created equal to start with.

And that my brother's is it in a nutshell! :thumbsup:

 

[indyrob]

plume does nothing for me. I don't chase after it- and neither happy or excited by seeing it (except on something with an oscuro wrapper cause I almost expect it at smoe point in time).