netexplore

What causes the harsh amonia taste I sometimes get when approaching
the end of a cigar? This has occurred on several types from cheap
Thompson's to not so cheap cohiba's.

I love cigars; however, I dont smoke them nearly as much as I would
like and am just beginning to be able to appreaciate the differences
the the brands.

I still like'em mild, but am beginning to want to smoke some with a
little more body and "punch".

hutch

Insufficiently fermented tobacco...or so I've been told

skyhawkxp

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 16:16:31 GMT, Netexplore
<netexplore1960@hotmail.com> opined:


Perhaps you need to adjust your "end of the cigar" just a bit?<g>
Usually though, ammonia is unfermented (young) tobacco, but it
shouldn't be just at the end, or at least I have not experienced
that.
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SkyhawkXP
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dr. hardcrab

Try leaving the cigar in the ashtray when making a trip to the head???

;-]

magnulus

Sounds like a sick cigar that hasn't aged enough.

miss elaine eos

Out of curiosity, is it your understanding that aging can help this
cigar? Or is that the the tobacco wasn't left "on the vine" long
enough, and no amount of age can save it, now?

Misc "Got a couple of MCR leaves like that -- trying to decide if I
should compost them or try to keep aging them..."

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hutch

I dunno

fulcrum_29

IME, I have had two very different results. I once received a box of V
Centennial Maduro Churhills which reeked of ammonia. I laid this box down
for over year, and the resulting smokes were quite yummy. Even the ones
that I sampled during the testing were good. However, I have had other
cheap cigars, Flor de Gonzalez, that reeked of ammonia and actually made me
sick from smoking. They were bad cigars, that weren't worth ageing to begin
with. While I agree that cigars that smell of ammonia contain under-cured
tobaccos, I would suggest that age may save them depending on the "quality"
of the cigar. Those FdG's are Dog Rockets, hands down. Even with age,
they're bad cigars. However, the V Centennials used to be one of my go-to
cigars, and should I find a good deal on a box, I would buy another one.
So, the ammonia smell really depends on the cigars IMO. If they're cheap
cigars that smell like ammonia, then toss them. If not, then I'd lay them
down for a while and see what happens.


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dave hannes

Which end? If its the foot, then, perhaps, the ammonia hasn't evaporated
and it needs more aging...might be worthwhile to clip the foot and return it
to your humidor.

D

mikeyp

While in Cuba, I toured the Vegas Robaina plantation and got an
explanation. Although my knowledge of the manufacturing process is i'm
sure very superficial, I was told that after the leaves are deveined,
the are put in a sauna to "sweat" out the harsh chemicals used in
fertilization, nicotine, etc.. Ammonia is a byproduct of this process.
The leaves are then washed afterwards. Vegas Robaina washes them with
a honey/water mixture, Cohiba with a rum,water mixture (each brand has
a proprietary washing mixture). Improperly washed cigars still have
ammonia contents, and then provide the smoker with a very unpleasant
experience.

I'm sure that aging, type of tobacco, etc.. also play big role in the
ammonia content, but probably the quality of the manufacturing also
determines high/low ammonia cigars.

Mike