Mexican Cedar...Good or bad?

[Luca]

Hi Foh,

Myself and @IanMcLean68 are looking to get some Spanish cedar for our wineadors. We both are just after some Spanish cedar shelving.

I saw a past post on Spanish Cedar Suppliers that located a timber supplier near Sydney. I called them and they informed me that they no longer have Spanish cedar as it is a prohibited import because it is an endangered species of timber...(is this true?)....

The supplier then recommended to me that Mexican Cedar could be just as good for cigars. He said it was pretty much the same. I will go by their shop tomorrow and have a look at this Mexican cedar and see if it smells/looks the same as Spanish Cedar.

What are your thoughts on this type of timber for humidors/wineadors? I am a bit hesitant to use Mexican cedar. I also dont understand why it is banned from being imported into Australia....I have had my humidor get into the country with no problems. All it required was an inspection by Aus Customs...which they charged a fee for too...

Any input is much appreciated. I don't understand why it is so hard to find Spanish Cedar in Australia!!!

Thank you,

Luca

[IanMcLean68]

Thanks Luca.  You asked for a picture of my humidor, so I may as well post it on the forum  Definitely would look better with some cedar shelves and maybe a singles tray don't you think?!  I like the idea of my cigar boxes resting on cedar. I like the nice smell cedar imparts to a humidor, as well as the moisture retention/buffering offered by cedar.  I do believe others have offered some evidence to the contrary on the list before though, so I would be interested in hearing any input on this.

 

[TheGipper]

Hmm, it depends on what he meant by "Mexican Cedar".  If he meant Cedrela mexicana, then it's exactly the same thing as Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata), just a different name.  But that would have the same endangered species status, I'm sure.

I just looked it up, and Cedrela odorata is indeed a CITES Appendix III class endangered species; so that means the import to Australia is restricted from countries like Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia (and others).  Which probably covers where most of it is exported from.

The USA CBP website is rather useless for this info.  But I think the USA is also a CITES participant, so I'm wondering if it's illegal for import to the USA now also.

 

[TheGipper]

A little more info I could find:

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/restricted-and-endangered-wood-species/

That site states the importation is only restricted from a few countries:

Cedar, Spanish

Cedrela odorata

Appendix III (wood from Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, Guatemala, and Peru only)

6/12/2001

[Shaunster]

I use Sapele Mahogany for my shelves.

[Luca]

Hmm, it depends on what he meant by "Mexican Cedar".  If he meant Cedrela mexicana, then it's exactly the same thing as Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata), just a different name.  But that would have the same endangered species status, I'm sure.
I just looked it up, and Cedrela odorata is indeed a CITES Appendix III class endangered species; so that means the import to Australia is restricted from countries like Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia (and others).  Which probably covers where most of it is exported from.
The USA CBP website is rather useless for this info.  But I think the USA is also a CITES participant, so I'm wondering if it's illegal for import to the USA now also.
 

@TheGipper thank you so much for this info. If I see the supplier tomorrow Ill let you know if it is Cedrela Mexicana or not.

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[shaffer22]

Spanish cedar is in the mahogany family. So is sapele. Anything along those lines would be nice. 

[Fugu]

2 hours ago, shaffer22 said:

Spanish cedar is in the mahogany family. So is sapele. Anything along those lines would be nice. 

True, Sapeli and Cedro are of the same family, but completely different tree, different wood, different properties. TheGipper's info is dead on.

[Luca]

Hmm, it depends on what he meant by "Mexican Cedar".  If he meant Cedrela mexicana, then it's exactly the same thing as Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata), just a different name.  But that would have the same endangered species status, I'm sure.
I just looked it up, and Cedrela odorata is indeed a CITES Appendix III class endangered species; so that means the import to Australia is restricted from countries like Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia (and others).  Which probably covers where most of it is exported from.
The USA CBP website is rather useless for this info.  But I think the USA is also a CITES participant, so I'm wondering if it's illegal for import to the USA now also.
 

Had a look at what the supplier had. It looks pretty much the same. See pic!

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[shaffer22]

20 hours ago, Fugu said:

True, Sapeli and Cedro are of the same family, but completely different tree, different wood, different properties. TheGipper's info is dead on.

Yeah, that’s all true. I just think any of them would work for a wineador. These shelves are more aesthetic than anything else. When you use Spanish cedar in those quantities, you’re not getting much of the benefits. And with active humidification and box storage, there isn’t a major need for those properties anyway. 

[Fugu]

7 hours ago, Luca said:

Had a look at what the supplier had. It looks pretty much the same. See pic!

Looking good! (To be totally sure, just take a sniff...)

But comparing with today's boxes (CB, BN, SBN, SLB that is) is of very limited avail. The only Cedro you'll find in (most) cigar boxes nowadays is in the thin cedar sheet inlays.

[Luca]

Looking good! (To be totally sure, just take a sniff...)
But comparing with today's boxes (CB, BN, SBN, SLB that is) is of very limited avail. The only Cedro you'll find in (most) cigar boxes nowadays is in the thin cedar sheet inlays.

It smelt the part. The guy just gave it a quick plane when I was there. Didn't smell not like cedar if that makes sense.

My only worry is the sizes they can provide. Hopefully they can machine some shelves for me. Just need to give them the exact measurements. They only had planks of cedar when I was there...

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[TheGipper]

Well if you think it's the same wood as that Montecristo box, then it's not cedrela odorata.  You should be able to tell by the smell.  If it does not have that distinctive smell, it's not Spanish cedar.

If you smell it and you're not sure...it's not Spanish cedar.  The real thing has an unmistakable smell.