Tobacco Beetles

[edameff]

Well my excitement at the LCDH in an undisclosed recent Mexico location has been crushed after receiving a recent shipment. BUGS! Yes, it is very depressing. I bought 4 boxes of the original release Trinidad Fundador from 1998 and 2 boxes of Edumundo Dantes. One box of Trinidad was completely eaten up, one of the Edumundo Dante sticks had a clear beetle hole. Photos below

Now notice the cedar stick with the holes in it, here are some close ups of that

I was unaware the beetles could bore into the Spanish cedar, it's resistance to bugs is one of the reasons it is used in humidors. If you look closely you can see the larvae in the wood. I know that freezing is supposed to kill the bugs but I have always worried it could change the flavor so I do not do this (yes I know the routine of fridge, freezer, then fridge again). Now I have a thought that I am using to combat this, we have a "Foodsaver" which is a machine that vacuum seals food, it can be used with plastic bags or ridged Plexiglas containers. I tested a cheap NC cigar first to see if it would explode when subjected to this vacuum process and it did fine. This is my theory, vacuum seal the cigars, then proceed through the freezing process to protect the cigars from freezer burn, see photo

Here is an opinion question, should the humidity pack be kept in the plastic container during this process? I have read that putting the cigars under vacuum should burst the eggs and destroy them, what are your thoughts on that.

Finally I am wondering if this process will help tight rolled cigars loosen up a little and draw better. Please give me you input on these issues, and shed a tear or two for me.

The last photo is of a Fundador from a different box showing what I think is a brown mold.

When I contacted the retailer he stated "Well the cigars are very old and this can happen" I am very upset about such a stupid statement, especially from a LCDH "expert". I would not normally buy from Mexico, however there was some rare and vintage stuff I just had to have, also the Edmundo Dante is not available any where else. Please beware and inspect everything you get in!!

I am still in deep discussions with the retailer about how this will be rectified and will keep you posted.

[WayneH]

looks to me like the retailer should be put under vacuum and have his eggs busted.

[ajgagnon]

Yikes. Sorry to hear about your experience. Especially for such nice cigars. I would hope the retailer steps up.

I don't get worried about little mould spots if they aren't green and foul, but that's totally up to you.

As for dealing with infected cigars, the only thing I have done is to freeze them. I'd be more worried about humidity where those cigars rest against the plastic wall of your vacuum container... if they get wet, it's almost worse than having bugs (wrapper explosions, etc). I would double ziplock them and go through the freezing protocol and watch from there. Some people talk about brief microwave exposure too, but I haven't had the guts to try. If you think there are too many smells in your fridge/freezer, empty it out as much as you can manage, and wipe the walls down with soapy water.

Then you have to decide whether you can smoke any of the cigars (with or without holes). Looks like your infestation was pretty bad there... I've never seen it like that. In fact, I almost wonder if those aren't some sort of wood beetles, not tobacco beetles. Yikes.

[Samuli]

Sad, very sad Have I uderstand correct that few years ago Habanos started to freez all export cigars in Cuba, and that means we dont have to do it again?

[CBL]

The horror! I found a box of RA 898 like that in a LCDH in Cuba, only managed to pick out two that weren't either moldy or eaten up by bugs

On freezing, I wouldn't put the humipack in the freezer, I can imagine the freezing and defrosting process will create some unwanted humidity within the jar.

I'm not sure that the vacuum will destroy the eggs but pretty sure the cooling process won't have a huge effect on your cigars. It's supposedly done with all recent release cigars before they are shipped to the shops.

Good luck and I hope the cigars that make it through are worth all the trouble!

[edameff]

looks to me like the retailer should be put under vacuum and have his eggs busted.

Thanks, that is the type of sympathy I need, I went through half a box of Kleenex laughing so hard at your comment!!!!!

[CUBANO]

I've been freezing CCs for years and if you double bag them you are not going to have any problems with the cigars acquiring any other odors or changing the taste.

Hope the retailer will step up, and do whats right.

Good Luck.

[compitaveggie]

Were boxes inspected or shipped sealed?

[aes8]

Please keep us posted on the vendors response. I am very sure I have used him before and was satified in the past with his service. I was looking forward to using him for the upcoming 2011 Mexico RE release.

I'm sure I won't be the only one.

I'll be spending the rest of the day cleaning my shorts after I ran to the coolerdore to check my boxes.

[LeafLover]

Mother of God!! NO BUENO!!!! Like contracting an STD.

What did the retailer say? What recourse have you explored with the vendor?

Sorry for your misfortune. Just ain't right!

[dicko]

nasty lil critters

[kcheek]

Certainly a sad sight. Amazing how they bored through that wood.

[Habanos2000]

I hope you used a credit card, maybe you could have some recourse that route by filing a claim.

Receiving damaged goods like that requires a total refund, in my opinion. Especially from a LCDH which I would hold to a higher standard than just a cigar store in Mexico.

As far as freezing is concerned, I used to do that before HSA started themselves. I've never had a bad experience as long as it's done correctly.

Good luck bro!

[Dbone]

My condolences Doc, truly disturbing.

[El Presidente]

That is so disappointing on so many fronts.

Inspection and communication is a necessity. It is possible to miss a beetle hole in a box of cigars even with inspection but this goes beyond that.

[CanuckSARTech]

...It is possible to miss a beetle hole in a box of cigars even with inspection but this goes beyond that.

That's the essence of it, to me.

This goes beyond a simple beetle attack. And it's multiple boxes, and especially within the same order/grouping. Trini Fundadores, Conde 109's, all with massive and easily viewable issues.

Emil, as we chatted about ourselves earlier today, I just can't understand or get over how this wasn't picked up with a "visual" check of these wares before they were shipped out for you. This is bad. And, the retailer's comments about, "well, they are old, this can happen", just doesn't wash with me. That leads me to question the retailer's storage conditions, as well as quality control and pest management. It shouldn't be an issue - especially with what you had in place for this whole order, it should have been a, "We'll get it right, and get these replaced for you pronto".

I myself wouldn't go through the vacuum-sealer thing. You and I have talked about this before. For my thoughts, millions of cigars are frozen year in and year out, in good sturdy ziplock freezer bags, going through the proper process, and with no flavour-loss or other issues. Why mess with that which isn't broken? I've just never heard of, nor known anyone to try, what you are proposing to do with the vacuum sealer and then freezing. Who knows. But, they're your cigars, so the liability is on yourself.

My two cents though? Rather than freezing, I'd first primarily worry about getting replacement stock issued from the retailer. Don't bother to go through the hassle of a freezing if you're going to get the sticks replaced anyways. But, if and when you do go through the freezing, and if you do it as stated from within the vacuum sealer, I would recommend also to leave the humidipack out of there.

And, as others have questioned, yes, I myself and others also regularly and consistently freeze all incoming cigars, even though H S.A. started a freezing program a few years ago. It's just a bit of self-satisfaction and personal insurance for me - I trust what I do myself, not what I can't get verifiable proof of what was supposedly done in Cuba. I know my results and timings on how I do it are more than satisfactory, and 100% effective (knock on wood, at least so far).

[dB69]

Fresh beetle sighted in Finland. Invasion blocked by freezing the content of the humidor for singles immediately. One hole in one cigar, no other visible harm.

[jjp4]

I was unaware the beetles could bore into the Spanish cedar, it's resistance to bugs is one of the reasons it is used in humidors. If you look closely you can see the larvae in the wood

Wow. They're tenacious little bastards. I had no idea they could burrow into Spanish cedar. I've always read that they were repelled by the aroma and assumed they avoided it. I guess that's one more thing to worry about...