Plume or Bloom vs. Mold

[cbsmokin]

I was doing some Internet research out of my own curiosity and I thought the following information might be helpful for others as well.

CigarBloom or Plume (same meaning) is a cigar term that describes crystallization due to the rising of tobacco oils from within the cigar to the surface. The air will then dry the excretion creating the crystallized or dusty appearance. Bloom / Plume can appear slightly different on various cigars because every manufacturer will use a different wrapper leaf, filler, curing process, etc.


Cigar bloom / plume will not effect the cigar taste. The discussion, or the need for the bloom / plume, is that the cigar must be resting for a good period of time under great conditions of temperature and humidity. Meaning aging has already played a role in the cigar you are about to smoke.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/cbnat/bloom.gif

Cigar mold, like any other mold, is a fungus. Mold will generally appear on cigars when the relative humidity in the humidor surpasses 80%. Please do not get confused with the common misconception that mold is a certain color; mold can be green, blue, light yellow, and even white.

Visually cigar mold is more “fuzy” or “hairy”. If the scientist in you so wishes to see the spots up close you should really notice that there is a definitive structure to the mold. There will be stalks holding up additional spores that are waiting to “jump” and contaminate anything and everything nearby (isolate the infected cigars ASAP). Growth wise the cigar mold will grow in small clusters that causes a spotted look unlike bloom / plume that will cover the entire cigar.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/cbnat/cigar-mold.gif

[kaisersozei]

Is it true that plume only appears on the wrapper? In other words, if there are white spots on the foot of the cigar, it's likely mold?

My Beer B&M (Total Wine) has a walk-in humidor. Pretty nice selection of sticks. Stopped by yesterday and this one box of Trinidad's had dozens of sticks that were covered in spotty mold. The cellophane was very yellowed, too, so it kinda threw me until I checked the foot of the cigars and they were peppered with white splotches. Mold, right?

[pnoon]

Is it true that plume only appears on the wrapper? In other words, if there are white spots on the foot of the cigar, it's likely mold?

My Beer B&M (Total Wine) has a walk-in humidor. Pretty nice selection of sticks. Stopped by yesterday and this one box of Trinidad's had dozens of sticks that were covered in spotty mold. The cellophane was very yellowed, too, so it kinda threw me until I checked the foot of the cigars and they were peppered with white splotches. Mold, right?

Correct.

[HK3-]

That's correct Gerard. If's it's in the foot, it's athletes foot. :D

[HK3-]

I do believe that MOLD BLOOMS, and cigars develop PLUME from the oils. I do not think the term is the same. :2

[Lee]

Great information here. I've read several times that if the spots are white then the sticks aren't in danger. I didn't know what plume looked like until I read this post. I just got a box of cigars that had small white mold spots on them. Gently cleaned each one and will watch closely to see if it reappears. Does any one know of any other needed treatment?

[WyoBob]

Here's a pic of mold on the foot of a LGC (the last time I ordered from JR's. Four boxes of LGC's, all with moldy cigars.)

WyoBob

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v620/WyoBob/cigars/DSCN1162.jpg

[poker]

Mold
http://home.alltel.net/jbperry/cig1.jpg
http://home.alltel.net/jbperry/cig2.jpg
http://www.vitolas.net/albums/userpics/10002/mold_or_plume3.jpg

Plume
http://home.alltel.net/jbperry/cig5.jpg
http://home.alltel.net/jbperry/cig7.jpg
http://www.vitolas.net/albums/userpics/10002/or_1996_opus_x_plume_closeup.jpg

Bug damage

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/4941/pambeetle2fi.jpg

[HK3-]

Bug damage

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/4941/pambeetle2fi.jpg


That picture makes me want to cry. :hn

[poker]

The easiest way to tell mold vs plume is with a 10X eye loom.
Mold will appear fuzzy, and spore-like.
Plume will appear almost crystalline.

[Dgar]

Mold is what happens at home in your humidor, bloom/plume is what you'll find in the B/M's just ask them....

[mosesbotbol]

This just brings tears to my eyes :(

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/4941/pambeetle2fi.jpg

[poker]

Awww just freeze em and they'll be fine. :r:r:r

[Hardcz]

This just brings tears to my eyes :(

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/4941/pambeetle2fi.jpg

gives me chills

[Yazzie]

What a great way to start a Compost Pile :)

[Volt]

This thread is very evil and bad. Somewhere the cigar Gods are not happy with someone....

[cbsmokin]

I do believe that MOLD BLOOMS, and cigars develop PLUME from the oils. I do not think the term is the same. :2

I thought the same thing, but the term bloom and plume are used interchangeably to describe the signs of aging. :confused: And yes one of the way to tell it is mold is because it does bloom off of the cigar.

[pnoon]

the term bloom and plume are used interchangeably

:tpd:

[Sauer Grapes]

Furthermore, dust is also mistaken for ploom or bloom at times.

In fact, without a close picture or an in person examination, the first picture could be dust. Of course, it could also be a wicked case of bloom or plume.

[HK3-]

Some information I did not know about mold-

Mold will stop growing and become inactive or dormant in a controlled environment, however the spores will remain viable on the host material. Increases in relative humidity or other moisture will facilitate a mold bloom.

[Sauer Grapes]

Really, the only way to truly know what plume looks like is to see it yourself. It's hard to take a picture of, and even then you really only get the light reflecting off of it.

It's one of those things that until I saw it, I wasn't even sure what it looked like.

I'm of the thought that most B&M employees have never seen it either and that's why they improperly insist that mold is plume. That and some lie so they don't lose a sale.

[tedrodgerscpa]

Not my original analogy, but 100% true.

Plume looks like well applied stripper glitter

Mold looks like poorly applied blind stripper glitter.

[ucla695]

The easiest way to tell mold vs plume is with a 10X eye loom.
Mold will appear fuzzy, and spore-like.
Plume will appear almost crystalline.

:tpd:

I think that plume also reflects like light due to its crystalline nature. The eye loop is a great tip and I have used it in the past. A must have for cigar enthusiasts.

[md4958]

Not my original analogy, but 100% true.

Plume looks like well applied stripper glitter

Mold looks like poorly applied blind stripper glitter.

this post explained it perfectly... at least for me anyway!:D




now, I better go check and make sure I remember what stripper glitter looks like!!!

[cmitch]

I found this thread interesting and thought it deserved a bump.
I've run into this discussion with my local B&M shop. I pretty much had my head took off for even suggesting that there was mold on their cigars. But, as demonstrated here, I was right. Mold is fuzzy looking while plume is crystalline. It was definitely mold I seen on their sticks though some of them were plume, as well.

[issues]

I found this thread interesting and thought it deserved a bump.
I've run into this discussion with my local B&M shop. I pretty much had my head took off for even suggesting that there was mold on their cigars. But, as demonstrated here, I was right. Mold is fuzzy looking while plume is crystalline. It was definitely mold I seen on their sticks though some of them were plume, as well.

Had the same thing happen to me recently. I went to a B&M I don't go into often and saw a bunch of La Riqueza covered in nice round mold blooms. I told the guy at the counter that he may want to get those out of the case so customers don't see it but he insisted that it was plume and not mold...

He even told me he had one of them tested chemically to see if it was mold and it came back negative.

[cmitch]

Had the same thing happen to me recently. I went to a B&M I don't go into often and saw a bunch of La Riqueza covered in nice round mold blooms. I told the guy at the counter that he may want to get those out of the case so customers don't see it but he insisted that it was plume and not mold...

He even told me he had one of them tested chemically to see if it was mold and it came back negative.
That's funny. There is no 'chemical' test you can do unless the mold has spored and become toxic. Even Stachybotrys is harmless until it reaches the 'toxicity' stage. The sure way to tell is to grow a culture. Not hard to do if you have sterile petri dishes to grow it in a humid environment. As I said, I reached the same resistance from them when I suggested they get them out of the humidor. I think the present manager will be more vigilant since he is very knowledgeable about these things. He did get rid of them.

[CRIMPS]

I feel left out. I don't expect to have enough age on anything in my humidor for a long time. For me, I expect Plume will be nothing more than a myth for the foreseeable future.

As far as mold goes... I refuse to acknowledge the possibility of this type of growth on something I put in my mouth.

Hope IS a strategy...

[cmitch]

I feel left out. I don't expect to have enough age on anything in my humidor for a long time. For me, I expect Plume will be nothing more than a myth for the foreseeable future.

As far as mold goes... I refuse to acknowledge the possibility of this type of growth on something I put in my mouth.

Hope IS a strategy...
The mold I identified on some of the sticks at another tobacco shop was hair mold. It's relatively harmless, being that it's not toxic, but it does not look good to be on a tobacco product and it will spread- rapidly. Other mold I seen was the round, fuzzy kind.

[cmitch]

Look at attached pic. Plume or Mold?

[BlkDrew]

Look at attached pic. Plume or Mold?

mold, wipe it off and smoke it....

[mosesbotbol]

Look at attached pic. Plume or Mold?

mold 100%

Is there any mold near the foot? If so, I'd consider tossing the cigar, if not; wipe and smoke.

I would toast the foot of the cigar before clipping it. Better safe to burn off any mold near the foot and keep it from travelling through the cigar.

[CigarNut]

Mold is fuzzy and plume or bloom is crystalline -- imagine little crystals of salt...

[OLS]

Great information here. I've read several times that if the spots are white then the sticks aren't in danger.

In fact most of the mold you are like to encounter is going to BE white....Blue green is probably
the second most likely followed by light yellow. If you get the purple $hi+, just throw your
humidor out the window and DUCK.

[OLS]

Mold is fuzzy and plume or bloom is crystalline -- imagine little crystals of salt...

Not table salt however, more like the crystals you would grow in a science experiment.
Although it is often so small that I guess you could say salt and be pretty close. Definitely not like
some kind of plant that has fuzzy branches, although plume can stalk a little as crystals grow
undisturbed, but they would not look fuzzy.

[BlkDrew]

plume...

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy93/vorand58/IMG_1138.jpg

[688sonarmen]

Mold every time.

[Adriftpanda]

plume...

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy93/vorand58/IMG_1138.jpg

I might be blind but it looks just like tobacco to me... what am i looking for?

[bobarian]

I might be blind but it looks just like tobacco to me... what am i looking for?

Maybe it's the slanted eyes? :sh





























Cause I dont see nothin either! :r

[Adriftpanda]

Us focking asians!

[BlkDrew]

The lighter color is the plume

[cmitch]

Sorry about the size of the picture. But both spots look round and fuzzy. I did not want to bias anyone's opinion as to what I thought it was (I said mold on this and several other sticks this BOTL says is plume). Not really worth arguing about but he is supposed to know the difference. From my experience, plume has always been somewhat scattered all over the stick with tiny crystalline specks. Not huge, round fuzzballs.

[TheGiver]

I'm new here and the original examples pictures now are dead links. So I thought I'd update with some rather epic plume pics.

http://vvcap.net/db/sgCFeCKdX7rlsuj4petd.pnghttp://vvcap.net/db/Lv754Ab26Usz1NwMh-Jr.png

Flawless cigar
http://vvcap.net/db/nLlBAXwwNoue_Hl2-NwB.png

Empty yellow plumed out cello
http://vvcap.net/db/-FDavzrSqT-uDukaf7FJ.png

[pnoon]

Uh, that would be mold.

[RevSmoke]

I'm new here and the original examples pictures now are dead links. So I thought I'd update with some rather epic plume pics.

http://vvcap.net/db/sgCFeCKdX7rlsuj4petd.pnghttp://vvcap.net/db/Lv754Ab26Usz1NwMh-Jr.png
Flawless cigar
http://vvcap.net/db/nLlBAXwwNoue_Hl2-NwB.png
Empty yellow plumed out cello
http://vvcap.net/db/-FDavzrSqT-uDukaf7FJ.png

Ummmm, sorry to disappoint, but plume does not grow on cellophane, mold does however.

[TheGiver]

Absolutely not. The cigar was perfect. New to the forum, not new to smoke'n.

[T.G]

Never seen patchy plume before. Mold, on the other hand...

[AdamJoshua]

Uh, that would be epic mold.

:tpd:

[CigarNut]

bishes

[icehog3]

Absolutely not. The cigar was perfect. New to the forum, not new to smoke'n.

A more suspicious BOTL would see that this was your first post, and think that possibly you were trolling for a reaction, and know that it is indeed mold. But like you, I am a giver, so I will just assume you are mistaken. :)

[TheGiver]

A more suspicious BOTL would see that this was your first post, and think that possibly you were trolling for a reaction, and know that it is indeed mold. But like you, I am a giver, so I will just assume you are mistaken. :)

Yea icehog3, I hear ya but definitely not the case.

So I'm clear here, the consensus is that mold will grow inside and outside of cello while never ever being on the cigars? Because that is exactly the case here. Rub the stuff with your finger and it comes right off. I'm not trying to argue here. Just asking more questions.

I've had mold on my cigars in the past(humi too full and too close to the humidifier) and this looks nothing like it. It's like a sticky dusty film on the cello. The cello actually feels dirty/sticky.

Here is a high res photo of another cigar, diff vitola but same year/blend. Again, the cigar is perfect with regards to any growth on it.
http://lookpic.com/O/i2/943/AWqPuIEp.jpeg

--TG :)

[T.G]

So I'm clear here, the consensus is that mold will grow inside and outside of cello while never ever being on the cigars?
No. Not sure where you got that from, but mold can occur on both the cello and the cigar. Plume, on the other hand, can only occur on the cigar.

Because that is exactly the case here. Rub the stuff with your finger and it comes right off. I'm not trying to argue here. Just asking more questions.
The rub test isn't a definitive test. If the surface is smooth, it's pretty much worthless.


I've had mold on my cigars in the past(humi too full and too close to the humidifier) and this looks nothing like it. It's like a sticky dusty film on the cello. The cello actually feels dirty/sticky.
Plume is crystalline, not sticky.


Here is a high res photo of another cigar, diff vitola but same year/blend. Again, the cigar is perfect with regards to any growth on it.
http://lookpic.com/O/i2/943/AWqPuIEp.jpeg

--TG :)

403 - forbidden error.

[dwoodward]

Your new link is dead. But your old links look like mold... it's patchy, plume isn't patchy, mold tho.....

[TheGiver]

FFS!!!!!!!! no idea why that link is dead.

http://vvcap.net/db/JBv-IQPgj8MgFYM8nNSJ.png

[T.G]

FFS!!!!!!!! no idea why that link is dead.

http://vvcap.net/db/JBv-IQPgj8MgFYM8nNSJ.png


Maybe it's just a bad photo, but I see nothing in this photo that would indicate the existence of plume or mold.

[TheGiver]

Maybe it's just a bad photo, but I see nothing in this photo that would indicate the existence of plume or mold.

A darker background may bring out the residue that is now in question. The top cell is from the original photos above, the lonsdale. The bottom is cello from the figurado, pic above.

http://vvcap.net/db/ywKA_gm6Vz75VriFL0vK.png

[RobR1205]

bishes

:po

[T.G]

A darker background may bring out the residue that is now in question. The top cell is from the original photos above, the lonsdale. The bottom is cello from the figurado, pic above.

http://vvcap.net/db/ywKA_gm6Vz75VriFL0vK.png


Could be water spots or other deposits, possibly old/dead mold colonies.

Plume is a very fine crystalline deposit that will typically occur evenly across the entire capa (wrapper) leaf of a cigar. It can, in theory occur on any tobacco, but for obvious reasons, if it occurs elsewhere in the cigar, we won't be able to see it. It's oil/mineral/sugars coming out of the leaf and crystallizing on it's surface.

[pnoon]

:bh

[bobarian]

Plume or bloom is are crystalline structures formed by the oils of tobacco. There is no evidence positive or negative that show any benefits to taste or flavor. Even light mold really has no detrimental effect unless it has penetrated the foot and corrupted the filler or binder. :2

[Loon]

I'm new here and the original examples pictures now are dead links. So I thought I'd update with some rather epic plume pics.

http://vvcap.net/db/sgCFeCKdX7rlsuj4petd.pnghttp://vvcap.net/db/Lv754Ab26Usz1NwMh-Jr.png

Flawless cigar
http://vvcap.net/db/nLlBAXwwNoue_Hl2-NwB.png

Empty yellow plumed out cello
http://vvcap.net/db/-FDavzrSqT-uDukaf7FJ.png

Plume?!?!?!

:=:

Good one.

[CigarNut]

Hi Loon! Welcome back! How was your vacation??

[RevSmoke]

I will concede this, that I cannot tell what is on the cellophane.

Having said that, what follows is not an attempt to start an argument, simply is some observations.

Whatever is growing on the cellophane though, might have nothing to do with what is in the cigar. Cellophane is mildly porous, so something that attached itself/grew on the outside of the cellophane could have passed to the inside. It might be caused from minerals in the water of the humidification system. And, if they changed water types, they may have stopped attaching/growing on the cellophane.

This I can say, in 33 years of smoking cigars, I have never seen plume on a cellophane. In fact, plume on a cigar is a very rare occurrence. I cannot say how many I have seen in my cigars smoking career, but is not very many. And those that did have it, it was an even coated dusting. (I have seen many, many more instances of sugar crystals on aged flake tobacco than I have plume on cigars.)

As has been stated, plume is a crystalline structure.

Flakes of pipe tobacco will grow sugar crystals, and if it is a mixed blend, you will see the crystal growing only on certain leaves (Virginia) that have been pressed into the flake, but even they are not spots (round splotches), but will follow the placements of the particular leaf in the flake. If it is a single crop of Virginia, then possibly you will see crystals over the whole flake.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

What is on the celloph

[bighairlogo]

I know very little about plume but I do know a lot about mold, and from the small pics it looks like mold...I have seen cigars with mineral deposits on it and none of it was inside the cello. Mold will rub off if touched and will grow on anything including the band.

[hazydat620]

I've been reading the posts here and I'm a little confused now.Most of you are saying that plume is dried oils that have left sugar crystal behind, or have they grown them? If a cigar is in cello and has bounced around a humi long enough to develop plume, wouldn't some of those oils make it to the inside of the cello and crystallize over time? After plume develops and your cigar is covered with it, wouldn't it leave a sticky, sugary film on the cello as you remove it? The oils that make it up to the surface of the wrapper that make the plume, all make it there at the same time and start the process of crystallization exactly at the same moment, hence that plume only happens in a even distribution and not spotty?

[cmitch]

I've been reading the posts here and I'm a little confused now.Most of you are saying that plume is dried oils that have left sugar crystal behind, or have they grown them? If a cigar is in cello and has bounced around a humi long enough to develop plume, wouldn't some of those oils make it to the inside of the cello and crystallize over time? After plume develops and your cigar is covered with it, wouldn't it leave a sticky, sugary film on the cello as you remove it? The oils that make it up to the surface of the wrapper that make the plume, all make it there at the same time and start the process of crystallization exactly at the same moment, hence that plume only happens in a even distribution and not spotty?
Plume is tiny crystals that sparkle in the light so it's not going to leave huge splotches all over the cellophane.

[CigarNut]

I've been reading the posts here and I'm a little confused now.Most of you are saying that plume is dried oils that have left sugar crystal behind, or have they grown them? If a cigar is in cello and has bounced around a humi long enough to develop plume, wouldn't some of those oils make it to the inside of the cello and crystallize over time? After plume develops and your cigar is covered with it, wouldn't it leave a sticky, sugary film on the cello as you remove it? The oils that make it up to the surface of the wrapper that make the plume, all make it there at the same time and start the process of crystallization exactly at the same moment, hence that plume only happens in a even distribution and not spotty?I have never had Plume or Bloom on any of my cigars. I have had mold. Mold will get everywhere -- the cigar, the cello and the wood in your humidor. Mold spreads fast and easy.

From what I understand of Plume the crystals are the result of the oils in the cigar. They take a long time to form and do not easily spread/ I am guessing that while is is possible to get crystals on the cello it is less likely as the direct source of the oils is the cigar, not the cello.

[RevSmoke]

I've been reading the posts here and I'm a little confused now.Most of you are saying that plume is dried oils that have left sugar crystal behind, or have they grown them? If a cigar is in cello and has bounced around a humi long enough to develop plume, wouldn't some of those oils make it to the inside of the cello and crystallize over time? After plume develops and your cigar is covered with it, wouldn't it leave a sticky, sugary film on the cello as you remove it? The oils that make it up to the surface of the wrapper that make the plume, all make it there at the same time and start the process of crystallization exactly at the same moment, hence that plume only happens in a even distribution and not spotty?

While oils will adhere to other things, crystals will not. The oils are coming out of the cigar (and here's where maybe I am not explaining it scientifically), but there is an unusual process that takes place - as the oils come to the surface they form crystals. The oils on the surface do not crystallize. That is why you do not see many cigars with plume. It is almost as if the oils in the cigar are squeezed out as crystals.

And yes, if you have seen real plume, it is dispersed in distribution. It may not be the whole cigar, but I personally have never seen it as spotty as the pictures shown.

[TheGiver]

Well I must admit, this is the most interesting way I have ever entered a new forum. :) I appreciate everyone's input. I also understand this is a 'msg board' and being new here the immediate reaction is to cry "idiot, you've got mold". I would never enter a forum posting an extremely moldy cigar calling it plume. :) I do respect the accuracy of information within the board.

RevSmoke, I appreciate your words and I think your assessment seems the most accurate.

Couple of interesting points...

The humidor contains approx 20K cigars, and only a handful have this substance in/on the cello. No pattern of cigar location within the walk-in or cigar type. No outbreak of mold. Certain aged cigars all feel the same, dirty/dusty/sticky and very yellow cello.
All these cigars are vintage at 9+yrs
Nobody can answer why/how IF it was mold, how it can grow on both sides of the cello and not be on the cigar.:sh
All cigars come out of the cello 100% perfect. Light plume dusting on each one.
The cigars are flawless and taste amazing.:) Everything you'd expect from a well kept and aged cigar.

[RevSmoke]

Well I must admit, this is the most interesting way I have ever entered a new forum. :) I appreciate everyone's input. I also understand this is a 'msg board' and being new here the immediate reaction is to cry "idiot, you've got mold". I would never enter a forum posting an extremely moldy cigar calling it plume. :) I do respect the accuracy of information within the board.

RevSmoke, I appreciate your words and I think your assessment seems the most accurate.

Couple of interesting points...

The humidor contains approx 20K cigars, and only a handful have this substance in/on the cello. No pattern of cigar location within the walk-in or cigar type. No outbreak of mold. Certain aged cigars all feel the same, dirty/dusty/sticky and very yellow cello.
All these cigars are vintage at 9+yrs Nobody can answer why/how IF it was mold, how it can grow on both sides of the cello and not be on the cigar.:sh
All cigars come out of the cello 100% perfect. Light plume dusting on each one.
The cigars are flawless and taste amazing.:) Everything you'd expect from a well kept and aged cigar.


Could this be part of your explanation? These older cigars are the ones exhibiting the "stuff" (whatever it might be), hence they have had opportunity to see the most change in the chemical make-up of whatever when through the humidifier in the humidor.

I am at a loss as to what it is if it isn't mold. Although, I will concede it might be something else. I am not sold that it is plume however as the pattern that it produced on the cellophane is too much like what would be exhibited as mold.

I have a number of cigars which have aged over 9 years. In fact, had a few which were aged 18 years this past November. The cello was no longer yellow, it was brown. The cigar were/are perfect. There is nothing else on the cello, and the cigars exhibit nothing on them as well. The light oily sheen that might have been exhibited by these when younger is also gone.

On another note, have you checked in as a newbie and introduced yourself? You should go do so.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[hazydat620]

Will CC exhibit " possibly" more plume because these have been rolled with fresher cigars, with more oils to marry through the layers of the cigar? As I understand it NC cigar components are aged prior to rolling and moistened for the process of making a cigar. Can the plume happen in the bundle while aging already and be " washed" away with with moistening, and hence you will never see plume in that cigar.... This is a hobby to me, and I like to educate myself as much as I can about my hobbies. These aren't Q's for the sake of argument, these are Q's that I have come up with while trying to grasp this portion of the hobby. It's just picking the brains of all the collective knowledge here. Maybe I'm reading too much into the whole plume thing, LMK if I am, thanks for the inputs of everyone.

[cmitch]

Considering there are more than 400,000 types of mold in existence, it would be plausible that cellophane could attract certain species because of it's organic make-up. Cellophane is made from processed cellulose, a medium that mold just loves to grow on/in. Here's more about mold: http://www.advancedmoldinspections.com/types_of_mold.html

[xxx_busa]

hungry little buggers


[

Bug damage

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/4941/pambeetle2fi.jpg[/QUOTE]

[AdamJoshua]

I would hope this is closer to plume or bloom or even dust. :2

Not a very good pic I was busy trying to light it :r

[Bax]

I would hope this is closer to plume or bloom or even dust. :2

Not a very good pic I was busy trying to light it :r

Looks dusty, but get a magnifying glass and take a closer look yourself. All these arguments/opinions can easily be confirmed.

IMHO that Oliva is 100% mold. I really don't consider 9 years vintage, either. 15-20? That's a different story. The oldest I've had was from 1911, now that was vintage :D

Just think of mold vs. plume like a winning lottery ticket. 1 in a million cigars develop plume. (I'm not even sure it's that high) Any cigar with a little too much moisture will develop mold. If it's too good to be true, it usually is. :2

[AdamJoshua]

lol that's why i added the 'even dust' line, it's only a cab from '11 ... haha but boy was it a tasty stick