There are many pieces literature to be found that detail the different types and blends of tobacco, leaves and growing methods used in the making of cigars. As we well know, such factors have an important bearing on the quality and taste of the final product, but these elements are not the sole influences. The unsung hero of the cigar world is an excellent storage box that will empower you to maximize the flavourful goodness.

Since the Eighteenth Century, cigars have traditionally been housed and cured in wooden cigar boxes. In times past, the mode and method of such storage was valued highly – however, in our industrially-driven modern-age, cigars are mass-produced and increasingly wrapped and contained in contemporary materials such as cellophane or cardboard.

This situation comes at a loss. Indeed, the use of various types of wood containers to store cigars can significantly improve flavour and quality – just like wines grow finer with maturity, a ‘box-cured’ cigar is enhanced by the time it spends nestled in its fragrant wooden packaging. This article attempts to revive the lost art of cigar-storage by detailing some the most popular materials and methods for boxing cigars.

Cigar-box Cedar

The most popular type of wood used for cigar boxes is from the Spanish Cedar tree. Its suitability as a textile cigar storage derives largely from its sumptuously distinct fragrance that is absorbed by the cigars stored within, augmenting the flavour with a natural, fruity tint. Spanish Cedar is therefore regarded as the most suitable material for ‘box-curing’; it’s also not uncommon that the smokes are also cured in cedar-lined rooms.

It is not the wood’s flavour and fragrance alone that makes Spanish cedar a superior substance for the construction of cigar boxes. The wood’s gorgeous grain and fine texture makes it suitable for the construction of extremely ornate and aesthetically-pleasing boxes – a great bonus for any cigar aficionado. Spanish Cedar also prevents drying by allowing cigars to breathe and retain moisture, but without letting them get too damp. This is why many humidors like the ones found here are lined with Cedar.

Other Favorable Woods for Cigar-storage

Another popular type of wood for cigar boxes is Eucalyptus. Like Spanish Cedar, a Eucalyptus cigar box significantly supplements the taste and flavour of the cigars housed within it, but unlike the former, lends a sharper, clearer, menthol-like taste.

Wood from the Yellow Poplar has also often been used in cigar-box construction. As with the previous two woods, Yellow Poplar adds a unique flavour to cigars, although it is less distinguished than that provided by Spanish Cedar and Eucalyptus boxes. Eucalyptus and Yellow Poplar wood also lend themselves to a nicely finished cigar box, but they are still on the whole regarded as massively inferior to Spanish Cedar in look and quality. For this reason, many Eucalyptus and Yellow Poplar wood boxes are stained in order to mimic Spanish Cedar.

Other types of wood used in cigar-box construction include those derived from the Mahogany, Elm, and White Oak trees. Each of these tend to be valued for their aesthetic properties rather than their flavour enhancement. Additionally, cigar boxes may occasionally be made out of other woods such as rosewood or Circassia walnut.

Any cigar aficionado should invest in a quality cigar box to house your selection at home. After all, with the amount you cherish the flavour and celebratory ceremony of a good smoke, you shouldn’t be housing your goods in plastic. For sentimental value, why not get something engraved? Etsy and Island Cigar Factory will enable you to play a role in dictating the aesthetic and customized message. Regardless of the source though, make sure you are doing your cigars justice by housing them properly in a quality wooden box today.