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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
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