A method of maintaining the quality of cigar oil

Abstract

The present application relates to cigar production and maintenance technical field, disclose a kind of maintenance method for improving cigar oil fraction.The present application selects one or several of rum, brandy and whiskey as maintenance medium, promotes the synthesis and release of oil in cigar in high temperature and high humidity environment with temperature of 22~24 ℃ and relative humidity of 55~70%, improves the oil fraction of cigar, to improve cigar quality by maintenance process, and further, for the maintenance steps of the present application, especially, after the maintenance aging step, add the resting treatment step, improve the aroma quality and taste of cigar smoking.The cigar provided by the maintenance method of the present application has the advantages of sufficient oil fraction and good luster, the hand feeling of the cigarette is full and elastic, the aroma is more rich, and the smoke is more smooth and delicate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cigar production and maintenance technology, and in particular to a maintenance method for increasing the oil content of cigars. Background Technology

[0002] Consumers are also demanding higher quality from domestically produced cigars. To address this, domestic cigar manufacturers are continuously innovating, tackling technological challenges, breaking through technical barriers, and promoting the high-quality development of Chinese-style cigars.

[0003] Cigar aging and storage, also known as the tobacco leaf maturation process or "aging," is a slow and gentle fermentation method. Its purpose is to eliminate off-flavors, reduce harshness, and improve the aftertaste. Cigar aging and storage is a crucial step in improving the quality of cigar tobacco leaves. Proper aging and storage treatment has a positive impact on the aroma, off-flavors, harshness, and aftertaste of cigars.

[0004] Currently, cigar maintenance generally involves adjusting the temperature and humidity of the maintenance environment. Specifically, the temperature and humidity of the maintenance environment are controlled within a certain range, and the cigars rely on the microorganisms they carry to age in this environment. The advantage of this method is that it is relatively low cost, but the improvement in the quality of cigars after maintenance is not obvious. The quality improvement effect varies depending on the raw materials of different cigars, and it also has the disadvantage of a long maintenance and aging cycle.

[0005] In existing technologies, other cigar conditioning methods have emerged to improve the conditioning effect. For example, Chinese patent application CN116617959A discloses a method for preparing aroma-slow-release microcapsules based on microfluidics and provides the application of these aroma-slow-release microcapsules in cigar conditioning. This patent stores flavorings using microcapsule technology and then continuously releases them in the conditioning environment, allowing the cigar to absorb the aroma during the conditioning and aging process, resulting in cigars with different flavors and improved cigar quality. However, this patent's method of adding aroma-slow-release microcapsules for cigar conditioning relies solely on the free diffusion of aroma into the cigar. The resulting cigars still suffer from poor quality improvement, with lower oil content, weaker aroma, and insufficient flavor when smoked. Furthermore, the large amount of aroma-slow-release microcapsules required results in high costs, making it unsuitable for industrial use.

[0006] The oil content of a cigar plays a crucial role in its smoking experience. A cigar with good oil content will appear dark brown or black. A cigar with ample oil content will have a rich aroma, complex flavor, and mellow smoke. Current research on improving the oil content of cigars primarily focuses on the aging stage before curing. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To enhance the quality-improving effect of cigar aging and curing, specifically, to further increase the oil content of cigars during the aging and curing stage, this invention provides a method for enhancing cigar oil content. This invention uses one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey as aging media to promote the synthesis and release of oils in cigars in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment of 22-24°C and 55-70% relative humidity, thereby increasing the oil content of the cigars and improving cigar quality through the aging and curing process. Furthermore, specifically, a resting treatment step is added after the aging and curing step to improve the aroma quality and taste of the cigars.

[0008] The specific technical solution of this invention is as follows:

[0009] This invention provides a method for enhancing the oil content of cigars, comprising the following steps:

[0010] Step S1: Provide a maintenance medium, wherein the maintenance medium is one or more of rum, brandy and whiskey;

[0011] Step S2: Place the curing medium and the cigars to be cured into the curing container, wherein the curing medium and the cigars to be cured are placed separately.

[0012] Step S3: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 22~24℃ and the relative humidity to 55~70% for curing and maturation;

[0013] Step S4: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 12~16℃ and the relative humidity to 63~67% for resting treatment.

[0014] Existing cigar conditioning methods have limited effectiveness in improving cigar quality. This invention utilizes one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey as conditioning media to promote the synthesis and release of oils in cigars under high temperature and high humidity conditions (22-24°C, 55-70% relative humidity), thereby increasing the oil content of the cigars and improving cigar quality through the conditioning process. Furthermore, specifically, a resting treatment step is added after the conditioning and aging step to enhance the aroma and flavor of the cigars. Cigars conditioned using the method provided by this invention have the advantages of abundant oil content, good luster, a full and elastic feel, a richer aroma, and a smoother, more delicate smoke.

[0015] In this invention, one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey are selected as the aging medium. This promotes the enzyme production capacity of microorganisms in the cigar during the aging process and provides an alcoholic environment for the hydrolysis of lipids and oil precursors in the cigar tobacco, thereby accelerating the enzymatic chemical reaction process. Therefore, after aging in step S3, the cigar tobacco can generate more free oils, increasing its oil content. During this aging process, a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of 22-24°C and 55-70% relative humidity is required to ensure the activity and growth capacity of microorganisms in the cigar. However, the ambient temperature should not exceed 25°C, as temperatures above 25°C pose a risk of insect infestation.

[0016] After the conditioning and aging process in step S3, the oil content in the cigar increases significantly. However, the oil is not yet fully integrated with the cigar. If the conditioning is stopped immediately and the cigar is smoked, the high temperature during smoking will cause a large amount of oil to burn off rapidly, resulting in significant differences in aroma and taste between the initial and final stages of smoking, with insufficient aroma at the end. The researchers of this invention discovered that adding a resting treatment step after the conditioning and aging process—placing the cigar in a low-temperature environment of 12-16°C for a period of time—can promote the integration of oil and cigar, improve the uniformity of oil burning between the initial and final stages of smoking, and enhance the aroma quality and taste of the cigar. During the resting treatment step, the relative humidity of the conditioning environment is 63-67%.

[0017] While rum, whiskey, and brandy all promote the conversion of oils in cigar smoke, each has its own distinct aroma. Rum has a sweet aroma with caramel notes; whiskey is rich in aroma, with a long finish and a strong spiciness; and brandy has a strong fruity aroma, smooth and rich. Therefore, using different proportions of these spirits as a conditioning medium can result in different aroma enhancements for the cigars being cured. Specifically, adding whiskey to the conditioning medium has a better effect on the smoking aroma of the cigars being cured. This is because the lingering spiciness of whiskey blends better with the aroma of the cigar smoke, and this transition and fusion of aromas improves the overall quality of the cigar's aroma when smoked.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts rum and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts brandy and 4-7 parts whiskey.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts rum, 10-14 parts brandy, and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, step S2 is as follows:

[0022] Fill a cup with the curing medium and add cigar tobacco leaves or cigar dust. Then place the cup and the cigar to be cured into the curing container.

[0023] In this invention, one or more of rum, brandy and whiskey are used as the curing medium. In order to further harmonize the aroma of the curing medium with the aroma of the cigar, the cigar tobacco leaves or cigar tobacco dust can be soaked in the curing medium in advance to better enhance the aroma quality of the cigar.

[0024] Further preferably, the size of the cigar tobacco leaf is less than 2.36 mm.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, in step S3, the curing and aging time is not less than 60 days.

[0026] Step S3, the aging and conditioning step, is the process of oil formation in cigars and is crucial for enhancing the oil content of the cigar to be aged. In this step, the aging and conditioning period is no less than 60 days, allowing for effective oil accumulation in the cigar to be aged.

[0027] Further preferred, the aging and conditioning time is 60-70 days.

[0028] After 70 days of maintenance and aging, the production of oils will reach a plateau. Extending the maintenance and aging time will not have a significant effect on improving the oil content. To save time, the maintenance and aging time can be controlled within 60 to 70 days.

[0029] As a preferred embodiment of the above method, in step S4, the resting period is 7 to 14 days.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following technical effects:

[0031] (1) To improve cigar quality during the curing process, this invention uses one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey as curing media to promote the synthesis and release of oils in cigars in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of 22-24°C and 55-70% relative humidity, thereby increasing the oil content of the cigars and improving their quality through the curing process. Furthermore, specifically, a resting treatment step is added after the curing and aging step to improve the aroma quality and taste of the cigars. Cigars cured using the curing method provided by this invention have the advantages of sufficient oil content, good luster, a full and elastic feel, richer aroma, and smoother, more delicate smoke. This effectively improves the appearance and sensory quality of cigars.

[0032] (2) In order to solve the problem of large differences in aroma and taste at the beginning and end of cigar smoking and insufficient aroma at the end, the present invention places the cigar in a low temperature environment of 12~16℃ for a period of time to promote the fusion of oil and cigar, which effectively improves the uniformity of oil burning at the beginning and end of cigar smoking, and ensures the retention of a large amount of oil in the cigar, greatly improving the aroma quality and taste of cigar smoking.

[0033] (3) The curing medium used in the curing method of the present invention is readily available, and no additional curing medium preparation steps are required. Furthermore, the curing environment can be controlled using existing commercially available methods, without the need to modify the curing container. Commonly available humidifying tablets can be used, making the method simple, convenient, and suitable for industrialization. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for enhancing the oil content of cigars according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 The images show the appearance of the cigar in Example 1 before and after resting treatment. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement the present invention based on these descriptions. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention described below are generally only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] This embodiment provides a method for enhancing the oil content of cigars, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0039] Step S1: Provide a maintenance medium, wherein the maintenance medium is one or more of rum, brandy and whiskey;

[0040] Step S2: Place the curing medium and the cigars to be cured into the curing container, wherein the curing medium and the cigars to be cured are placed separately.

[0041] Step S3: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 22~24℃ and the relative humidity to 55~70% for curing and maturation;

[0042] Step S4: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 12~16℃ and the relative humidity to 63~67% for resting treatment.

[0043] Existing cigar conditioning methods have limited effectiveness in improving cigar quality. This embodiment uses one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey as conditioning media to promote the synthesis and release of oils in cigars under high temperature and high humidity conditions of 22-24°C and 55-70% relative humidity, thereby increasing the oil content of the cigars and improving cigar quality through the conditioning process. Furthermore, specifically, a resting treatment step is added after the conditioning and aging step to enhance the aroma quality and taste of the cigars. Cigars conditioned using the method provided in this embodiment have the advantages of sufficient oil content, good luster, a full and elastic feel, a richer aroma, and a smoother and more delicate smoke.

[0044] In this embodiment, one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey are selected as the aging medium. This can promote the enzyme production ability of microorganisms in the cigar during the aging process and provide an alcoholic environment for the hydrolysis of lipids and oil precursors in the cigar tobacco, thereby promoting the enzymatic chemical reaction process. Therefore, after aging in step S3, the cigar tobacco can generate more free oils, increasing the oil content of the cigar tobacco. During this aging process, a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of 22-24°C and 55-70% is required to ensure the activity and growth capacity of microorganisms in the cigar. However, the ambient temperature should not exceed 25°C, as temperatures above 25°C may lead to insect infestation.

[0045] After the conditioning and aging process in step S3, the oil content in the cigar increases significantly. However, the oil is not yet fully integrated with the cigar. If the conditioning process ends and the cigar is smoked immediately, the increased temperature during smoking causes a large amount of oil to burn off rapidly, resulting in significant differences in aroma and taste between the initial and final stages of smoking, with insufficient aroma at the end. Researchers in this embodiment found that adding a resting treatment step after the conditioning and aging process—placing the cigar in a low-temperature environment of 12-16°C for a period of time—promotes the integration of oil and cigar, improves the uniformity of oil burning between the initial and final stages of smoking, and enhances the aroma quality and taste of the cigar. During the resting treatment step, the relative humidity of the conditioning environment is 63-67%.

[0046] While rum, whiskey, and brandy all promote the conversion of oils in cigar smoke, each has its own distinct aroma. Rum has a sweet aroma with caramel notes; whiskey is rich in aroma, with a long finish and a strong spiciness; and brandy has a strong fruity aroma, smooth and rich. Therefore, using different proportions of these spirits as a conditioning medium can result in different aroma enhancements for the cigars being cured. Specifically, adding whiskey to the conditioning medium has a better effect on the smoking aroma of the cigars being cured. This is because the lingering spiciness of whiskey blends better with the aroma of the cigar smoke, and this transition and fusion of aromas improves the overall quality of the cigar's aroma when smoked.

[0047] Preferably, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts rum and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0048] Preferably, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts brandy and 4-7 parts whiskey.

[0049] Preferably, the maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts rum, 10-14 parts brandy, and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0050] Specifically, in step S2, the above-mentioned maintenance medium is placed separately from the cigar to be maintained, which can be understood as the maintenance medium and the cigar to be maintained not being in direct contact.

[0051] Preferably, step S2 is as follows:

[0052] Fill a cup with the curing medium and add cigar tobacco leaves or cigar dust. Then place the cup and the cigar to be cured into the curing container.

[0053] In this embodiment, one or more of rum, brandy and whiskey are used as the curing medium. In order to further harmonize the aroma of the curing medium with the aroma of the cigar, the cigar tobacco leaves or cigar tobacco dust can be soaked in the curing medium in advance to better enhance the aroma quality of the cigar.

[0054] Further preferably, the size of the cigar tobacco leaf is less than 2.36 mm.

[0055] Preferably, in step S3, the curing and aging time is no less than 60 days.

[0056] Step S3, the aging and conditioning step, is the process of oil formation in cigars and is crucial for enhancing the oil content of the cigar to be aged. In this step, the aging and conditioning period is no less than 60 days, allowing for effective oil accumulation in the cigar to be aged.

[0057] Further preferred, the aging and conditioning time is 60-70 days.

[0058] After 70 days of maintenance and aging, the production of oils will reach a plateau. Extending the maintenance and aging time will not have a significant effect on improving the oil content. To save time, the maintenance and aging time can be controlled within 60 to 70 days.

[0059] Preferably, in step S4, the resting period is 7 to 14 days.

[0060] Specifically, Lock & Lock containers can be used as the storage containers.

[0061] Specifically, the maintenance medium, namely the amount of the above-mentioned wine, is 4-6L per cubic meter of the maintenance container volume. During maintenance, simply place the wine in a cup or other container inside the maintenance container.

[0062] Specifically, before placing the cigars to be cured into the curing container, the packaging materials such as cigar boxes and sleeves must be removed. The container holding the curing medium serves to isolate the cigars from the curing medium.

[0063] Specifically, in this embodiment, the humidity inside the curing container, i.e. the humidity of the curing environment, can be controlled by adding or removing humidifier pads.

[0064] Compared with the prior art, this embodiment has the following technical effects:

[0065] (1) In order to improve the quality of cigars during the curing process, this embodiment uses one or more of rum, brandy, and whiskey as curing media to promote the synthesis and release of oils in cigars in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of 22-24°C and 55-70% relative humidity, thereby increasing the oil content of the cigars and improving the quality of the cigars through the curing process. Furthermore, specifically, a resting treatment step is added after the curing and aging step in this embodiment to improve the aroma quality and taste of the cigars. Cigars cured by the curing method provided in this embodiment have the advantages of sufficient oil content, good luster, full and elastic feel, richer aroma, and smoother and more delicate smoke. This effectively improves the appearance and sensory quality of cigars.

[0066] (2) In order to solve the problem of large differences in aroma and taste at the beginning and end of cigar smoking and insufficient aroma at the end, this embodiment places the cigar in a low temperature environment of 12~16℃ for a period of time to promote the fusion of oil and cigar, which effectively improves the uniformity of oil burning at the beginning and end of cigar smoking, and ensures the retention of a large amount of oil in the cigar, greatly improving the aroma quality and taste of cigar smoking.

[0067] (3) The curing medium used in this embodiment is readily available, and there is no need to add an extra curing medium preparation step. The curing environment can be controlled using existing commercially available methods, without the need to improve the curing container. Commonly available humidifying tablets can be used, making it simple and convenient to implement and suitable for industrialization.

[0068] Example 2

[0069] Here is a cigar with good oil content, which is maintained according to the following steps:

[0070] Step S1: Provide a maintenance medium, wherein the maintenance medium is a mixture of rum, brandy and whiskey, wherein, by volume parts, the maintenance medium is: 10 parts rum, 10-14 parts brandy and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0071] Step S2: Fill a cup with the curing medium and add cigar tobacco leaves smaller than 2.36mm. Then place the cup and the cigars to be cured into the curing container for the next step of curing and aging. The cup containing the curing medium serves to separate the medium from the cigars. The amount of curing medium used is 5L per cubic meter of curing container. The volume of the cigars to be cured is half the volume of the curing container.

[0072] Step S3: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 22~24℃ and the relative humidity to 55~70% for curing and aging, which takes 60 days.

[0073] After maintenance through steps S1 to S3, a cigar with better oil content is finally obtained.

[0074] Compared to before maintenance, cigars maintained using the maintenance method provided in this embodiment have the advantages of sufficient oil content, good luster, full and elastic feel, richer aroma, and smoother and more delicate smoke.

[0075] in:

[0076] In this embodiment, the curing container is a Lock & Lock box.

[0077] In this embodiment, the humidity inside the curing container, i.e. the humidity of the curing environment, is controlled by adding or removing humidifier pads.

[0078] In this embodiment, the cigars to be cured had their packaging, such as the cigarette box and cigarette sleeve, removed before being placed into the curing container.

[0079] Example 3

[0080] Here is a cigar with good oil content, which is maintained according to the following steps:

[0081] Step S1: Provide a maintenance medium, wherein the maintenance medium is a mixture of rum, brandy and whiskey, wherein, by volume parts, the maintenance medium is: 10 parts rum, 10-14 parts brandy and 5-8 parts whiskey.

[0082] Step S2: Fill a cup with the curing medium and add cigar tobacco leaves smaller than 2.36mm. Then place the cup and the cigars to be cured into the curing container for the next step of curing and aging. The cup containing the curing medium serves to separate the medium from the cigars. The amount of curing medium used is 5L per cubic meter of curing container. The volume of the cigars to be cured is half the volume of the curing container.

[0083] Step S3: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 22~24℃ and the relative humidity to 55~70% for curing and aging, which takes 60 days.

[0084] Step S4: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 12~16℃ and the relative humidity to 63~67% for resting treatment for 7~14 days.

[0085] After maintenance through steps S1 to S4, a cigar with better oil content is finally obtained.

[0086] Compared to before maintenance, cigars maintained using the maintenance method provided in this embodiment have the advantages of sufficient oil content, good luster, full and elastic feel, richer aroma, and smoother and more delicate smoke.

[0087] in:

[0088] In this embodiment, the curing container is a Lock & Lock box.

[0089] In this embodiment, the humidity inside the curing container, i.e. the humidity of the curing environment, is controlled by adding or removing humidifier pads.

[0090] In this embodiment, the cigars to be cured had their packaging, such as the cigarette box and cigarette sleeve, removed before being placed into the curing container.

[0091] Effect evaluation

[0092] Take the cigars before curing, and the cigars obtained after curing in Examples 2 and 3, and place them in a well-ventilated environment at 25°C and 70% RH for one month (30 days). Take pictures of the appearance of the cigars. Figure 2 As shown, the appearance of the cigar before maintenance is as follows: Figure 2 The leftmost cigarette is shown, the middle cigarette is the cigar placed in Example 2, and the rightmost cigarette is the cigar placed in Example 3.

[0093] Depend on Figure 2 As can be seen, in Example 3, the cigar that underwent the resting treatment step S4 appeared nearly black. Compared to the leftmost cigar before curing, the oil content increased significantly. Compared to the middle cigar from Example 2, the color was slightly darker, and the oil content was also increased. This indicates that if cigars are placed in a normal environment without the resting treatment step, the oil content will be lost. Furthermore, the resting treatment step can improve the stability of the cigar's oil content.

[0094] Unless otherwise specified, the raw materials and equipment used in this invention are all commonly used in the field; unless otherwise specified, the methods used in this invention are all conventional methods in the field.

[0095] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, alterations, and equivalent transformations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the oil content of cigars, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: Step S1: Provide a maintenance medium, wherein the maintenance medium is one or more of rum, brandy and whiskey; Step S2: Place the curing medium and the cigars to be cured into the curing container, wherein the curing medium and the cigars to be cured are placed separately. Step S3: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 22~24℃ and the relative humidity to 55~70% for curing and aging, and the curing and aging time shall not be less than 60 days; Step S4: Adjust the temperature inside the curing container to 12~16℃ and the relative humidity to 63~67% for resting treatment, which lasts for 7~14 days.

2. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 1, characterized in that: By volume, the maintenance medium is: 10 parts rum and 5-8 parts whiskey.

3. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 1, characterized in that: By volume, the maintenance medium is: 10 parts brandy and 4-7 parts whiskey.

4. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The maintenance medium, by volume, is: 10 parts rum, 10-14 parts brandy, and 5-8 parts whiskey.

5. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Step S2 is as follows: Fill a cup with the curing medium and add cigar tobacco leaves or cigar dust. Then place the cup and the cigar to be cured into the curing container.

6. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The cigar tobacco leaves are less than 2.36 mm in size.

7. The method for enhancing the oil content of cigars as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The curing and aging process takes 60 to 70 days.

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