Need to buy cigars for Wednesday’s poker game at Dave’s house? Are you looking for a new hobby and have decided that you want to start smoking cigars? Well, you can buy or smoke any cigars you want – of course, except for Cuban cigars if you live in the US – but there a number of things you should know before you buy a cigar. This is especially for people who are new at smoking cigars.

For Starters: If you are new to cigars, it is a good idea to start with smaller cigar sizes such as a Corona or a Petit Corona. You need to develop a taste for them before you take on one of the larger ones such as a Churchill. Cigar flavors are varied such as claro (mild), colorado (moderate), maduro and oscuro (very rich). A beginner should start with a milder flavor such as a claro (or a colorado at the very most) because the maduro or oscuro are usually too strong for a novice. One way to tell the flavor of a cigar is to look at the wrapper. Lighter flavors have lighter wrappers and vice versa.

Make Sure They are Fresh: Inspect cigars properly before buying them. Look at the color of all the cigars in the box; they should all be the same and if some of them are discolored, it a sign that they may not be fresh. Pinch the cigars between your fingers, they should be tender. If they are hard then it is another sign that they are not fresh.

Try Some Before You Buy the Whole Box: Do not rush into buying an entire box of cigars because you like the way they look or smell, or because you like the box they come in. It is a good idea to buy at least three (3) of them at first to know how they really taste. The region where a cigar is made affects its taste. For example, cigars made in Nicaragua differ greatly from those made in Honduras.

Learn Cigar Smoking Etiquette: There are many things that a newbie to smoking cigars might do that shows him or her as just that. These include actions like holding a cigar between the index and middle fingers when dragging or asking for a light from someone (like you do for cigarettes). Both of these actions are negatives according to the prescripts of smoking cigars. Cigar etiquette also includes rules like smoking slowly and not chewing on the cigar. There are a lot more than have been mentioned here.

Buy a Humidor: For cigars to be truly enjoyed, they have to stay fresh and should not be allowed to dry. For this reason they must be stored at a certain temperature and humidity. This you can achieve using a humidor. Humidors come in different sizes and can be as large as a room (used by cigar stores) but what you need is a personal or travel humidor which are boxes that can contain anywhere from 10 to more than 100 cigars. They are equipped with hygrometers for monitoring the humidity levels. Travel humidors are portable while personal humidors are usually kept at home such as in a study. If you cannot obtain that, then a simple airtight bag with a piece of wet foam inside it can serve.

Use the Right Lighter and Cutter: Always try to light your cigars with a wooden match. Do not use wax matches or Zippo lighters to light a cigar. They give a chemical taste to the cigar that negatively affects the smoking experience. Whatever you use, allow it to burn for a while before you bring it close to the tip of the cigar especially if it is a lighter. As for cutters, it is best to use a double-blade guillotine cutter because it gives the cleanest cut. Always keep the cutter sharp.

The Size of the Cigar Matters: When it comes to cigars, size does matter. Longer cigars are just that and therefore, take longer to finish which means you get to enjoy your smoke for a considerable while. Wider and longer cigars usually have cool smoke as it takes longer for the smoke to reach your mouth. And of course, it looks manlier when you smoke a large cigar.

Beware of Fake Cuban Cigars: We have all heard about those magical and life-changing cigars from Cuba: Cohibas, Montecristos, H. Upmanns, and the rest of the lot. First of all, remember that they are illegal in the United States and if you are caught in possession of them that could mean a substantial fine. However, if you do feel that you must experience that true smoke then you must be aware that most of the Cuban cigars you will be offered will be imitations. True Cuban cigars will not come cheap because it does take a lot of risk to get them into the US and well, for all their fame they ought to be expensive.

Cigars Can Also Adversely Affect Your Health: Most people consider that since cigar smoke is not to be inhaled it carries less risk of cancer. Whilst it is true that smoking cigars makes it less likely that you may develop lung cancer when compared to cigarette smokers, you are more likely to have lung cancer than non-smokers. Cigars predispose the smoker to lip, mouth and throat cancers just like cigarettes do. They are also as addictive as cigarettes because in truth, they contain even more nicotine.

Written by midnightauthor