Walk-ins in Cuba

[TonyAccardo]

Good morning. I have never been to Cuba myself and am interested in how the cigar divans and the LCDH's keep their cigars conditioned? I would imagine alot of stores or warehouses don't use active humidification. Living in Southern Florida, I'm familiar with the Caribbean humidity/climate but as it does here, I would think that the humidity would change from day to day where it could be detrimental to the cigars. I've read through threads of guys going through hoxes in the LCDH's there and beetles flying out of boxes at the register as they were being rung up. Kinda made me laugh.

Does anyone have any info on how these stores are storing their stock? Like what humidity/what temp? Thanks.

[ImTripN2]

While I wasn't looking for them, I never noticed a single humidification device in all the shops I visited. I have heard there is some effort to control temps in the curing process, but again I can't say for sure. One of the experts will chime in here shortly I assume, but for now my guess is the humidity and temp is controlled by Mother Nature. :-)

[TonyAccardo]

That's what I've always heard too. I just find it amazing how nitpicky alot of us are with our storage yet these LCDH's and other cigar vendors don't give a damn it seems. But then again, they're not looking to age their stock and then smoke it either. They just care about selling it and that's it. I guess with the size of the island, most shops being located close to the sea too, you probably would get much variability in humidity although I can see it getting as high as 85% there and as low as 60% possibly some days like it does here on the beach in southern Florida. You'd think that would wreak havoc on a cigar over the course of even the shortest amount of time.

[Diamondog]

The island is a humidor...

[shlomo]

There are air conditioners. There are doors. There are windows. Sometimes they are on/open, sometimes they are not....whatever

[stogieluver]

I never noticed any sort of humidification device in the walk in humidors in the LCDH's. In fact, all of the singles are on display right out in the open in the shops.

Never thought about it until you mentioned it. I surely didn't think about it while in the shops; was too goo goo eyed looking at the stock trying to decide what to buy to be concerned with such trivial matters.

[Guest chunkatlarge]

Dada they are around shops like Renaldos are a humidor all his cigars are in cabinets

[moryc]

I found that some are humidified and some are not. I have purchased boxes from places that do not seem to be humidified and have the AC running. Like the LCDH in Guardalavaca doesn't seem to have any humidification devices, the AC is running and the sliding door to the walkin humidor did not close (siding door). They were still fine.

[rigby]

having never lived in cuba... but I have lived on an island in belize... anyways it was always about lowering humidity and temperature, never adding humidity... the environment always provides all the moisture needed and then some.

[kiwiman911]

I have seen some places that have dehumidifiers in the humidors, that looked and sounded good to me

[CanuckSARTech]

Most walk-ins have active humidifiers, and active dehumidifiers as well. Air conditioned in there usually as well. In my experience, they seem to try to keep it between 70/70 and 65/65.

That said, the age and accuracy of most units can be detrimental to that. Many shops have constant issues. They seem to have no issue keeping things at 68/68 - if it stays under 75/75 outside, LOL. Any electrical-grid issues play into this as well.

As everything in Cuba, results may vary.

[Diamondog]

Reynaldos is awesome he has the A/C on full blast but his shop is perfect for humidity! I dont know how he does it with the A/C on full

[Diamondog]

Dada they are around shops like Renaldos are a humidor all his cigars are in cabinets

That looks like club habana

[Guest chunkatlarge]

chunkatlarge, on 20 Feb 2015 - 10:29 AM, said:

Dada they are around shops like Renaldos are a humidor all his cigars are in cabinets

That looks like club habana

Yes the top pic

The bottom is Partagas Humidor

[CanuckSARTech]

That looks like club habana

chunkatlarge, on 20 Feb 2015 - 10:29 AM, said:

Dada they are around shops like Renaldos are a humidor all his cigars are in cabinets

That looks like club habana

Yes the top pic

The bottom is Partagas Humidor

Bottom is Partagas walk-in, but top picture is 5y16 LCDH.

[CigarDarr111]

I was recently at the LCDH in Puerto Vallarta and the owner of shop mentioned that his walk in is controlled by an electronic humidifier, air con and for days it rains heavily he has a dehumidifier that kicks on if need be. Cant see how some walk ins wouldn't have the environment controlled with such big buck inventory. I assuming Cuba has limited resources but eh what do I know I'm just a simple minded Canadian...