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 "Vegas de Santiago"
Costa Rica Cigars

"The New Standard of Excellence"

 





 Spanish  Cedar
For Cigar Boxes and Humidors!

Ever wonder how those Spanish missions have survived all
these years?  That's right, Spanish Cedar! 

Because of its specific gravity and density, it was often carved into canoes by Amazonian natives, because of its buoyancy,
but we know it as the cigar lover's friend!

     

In truth, Spanish Cedar, is neither Spanish, nor Cedar.  It
is, in fact, a deciduous tree, (a tree that loses its leaves
in the fall), not an evergreen, (like the true cedar).

Cedrela odorata, C. mexicana to be more exact, is also
known as Spanish Cedar, Cedrela, Mexican Cedar, (or other nation of origin) and "cigar box" cedar.

Known in Central and South America for its rot and insect resistant qualities, it is usually used for exterior architectural applications of all kinds.

 

We have many Spanish Cedar Tree
Farms in Costa Rica.

Spanish Cedar is a generally straight-grained wood, with occasional spectacular short, broken ribbon patterns.

The tree can grow to heights of one hundred feet and
diameters of six feet.  It is clear of branches for forty to
sixty feet, producing boards free of knots.

When freshly cut, it has pinkish to reddish-brown heartwood, sometimes with dark streaks. When exposed to the air
it turns red or dark reddish brown, resembling mahogany
in texture and color. Which makes it a beautiful wood to
use, in the construction of Cigar Humidors!

The "oils" in Spanish cedar are believed to impart a
better flavor to cigars and to help "marry" the cigar
blends... as they age, in cedar lined storage areas.

When moistened, as when you prime your humidor, the
scent, slightly reminiscent of true cedar, but with spicy overtones, becomes evident.  In order to be effective in
your humidor, the wood must be left unfinished.

The main use for this wood in Costa Rica and the United States... is in cigar box construction and to construct and
line cigar humidors.

It is also used to make "high quality" furniture, cabinets,
chest linings, boatbuilding, construction, millwork, musical instruments and plywood.

One interesting note: the oils in Spanish cedar produce a
vapor that can condense upon and stain most metals except lacquer coated brass and stainless steel.

The wood will often exude oil over time, but this can be
removed with alcohol or acetone; make sure you remove
your cigars until those vapors dissipate!


With the tremendous number of humidors to choose from,
the novice is often concerned over whether or not their
humidor is cedar lined.

Tests for density and weight are the scientific choices,
but for the shopper, it is usually sufficient to moisten the
wood and smell the spicy cedar aroma.

Similar woods like mahogany, may have the same color,
but are more dense and do not give off this characteristic
aroma.

If your humidor is not lined with cedar, you have a few
options to correct the oversight.  You can purchase
Spanish Cedar, from wood specialty shops, in 1/8"
and 1/4" thicknesses and cut them to size.

The wood is currently running from $5.25 to $10.00 a
board foot. Some places even sell it by the square inch,
so it can get expensive.  It is grown in special "Tree Plantations", not cut from the Rainforest.

Another alternative is to ask your tobacconist for the
interleaf sheets... from cigar boxes and either laminate
these inside your box with contact cement or just lay
them in the bottom of the box.

In most cases, a humidor should be wet down with
distilled water and the humidifying device, filled and
left sealed for 24 to 48 hours, without the cigars. After
that time, refill the humidifier and set your cigars in place.

Spanish Cedar Source
for Humidors:

Wood Workers Source

 

Vegas de Santiago
Manufacturers of Premium Cigars in Costa Rica!

      

          

 


 

Buy Online!
http://www.vegassantiago.com

Contact Us at: vegassan@gmail.com

 




 

Vegas de Santiago
Manufacturer of Premium Cigars
in Costa Rica

We are the  Largest Manufacturer
of Fine Cigars in Costa Rica!


 

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