Water spots vs. mold

[ElReyDel757]

I have tried to research this as much as possible. I recently received some cigars and some have green or white dots on them that I think are water stains but I want to make sure. I have attached images. I currently have them in a ziplock bag in my tupperdor with my good smokes.

[oliverdst]

I would say it's water stain as well.

[mcease022]

I would say the white is water spot. Not sure about the green.

[skalls]

I'm with the others that the white spot is a water stain.

Green is probably a part of the wrapper that wasn't fully fermented during the aging process. Doesn't look good but it can happen.

[ThePolskiOgorki]

I would also say those are water spots. Even the green one. Maybe just smoke those ones next to be safe.

[SipIt]

Definitely not mold. Mold looks like white fuzzy spots that easily wipe off.

Edit: Deleting a previous comment where I thought green color was under fermentation. I've been told that, but also see quite a few other sources mention it's just water spots. I'm out since I'm not an expert...

[sactochris]

Water

[Corylax18]

Definitely not mold, the mold will be fuzzy and stick up ever so slightly from the surface. Most likely water spots, or imperfections in the wrapper leaf itself.

[Smallclub]

I'm with the others that the white spot is a water stain.

Green is probably a part of the wrapper that wasn't fully fermented during the aging process. Doesn't look good but it can happen.

This

[NapaNolan]

Do the pale spots only happen before resale or can it be a sign of bad storage?

[Smallclub]

Do the pale spots only happen before resale or can it be a sign of bad storage?

It has nothing to do with storage. The water spots occur when the leaf is still on the plant, and the green stains occur during the drying process just after harvest (in the casa de tabaco).

[...]

It has nothing to do with storage. The water spots occur when the leaf is still on the plant, and the green stains occur during the drying process just after harvest (in the casa de tabaco).

Agreed, think of candela wrappers. The green is maintained in the leaf when tobacco is dried at higher than usual temperature (hence faster), which fixes the chlorophyll and keeps the green colour intact. Spots like that probably occur when a thinner area of the leaf dries faster than the rest of the leaf. As far as I understand it, curing shouldn't change the colour enough for the green to disappear

[squizz]

They look fine to me. I come across green spots like that from time to time. I wouldn't worry much about it.

[luv2fly]

Hell, looks good to me. Have had that before and there has never been an issue. Enjoy!

[ElReyDel757]

Thanks so much everyone. I wanted to make sure, as I had never seen this in over 15 years of smoking Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran cigars.

[cigarbigboy]

not mold.

[Dozerhead]

It's plume...just kidding.

[MrGTO]

I'd be more than happy to test them for mold if you would like!

[TonyAccardo]

Thanks so much everyone. I wanted to make sure, as I had never seen this in over 15 years of smoking Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran cigars.

This is just one of the many reasons I love Cuban cigars and can't stand noncubans. I've always had the experience that the green spots make for a great tasting cigar. I know it has no effect on flavor but it's just one of the many things that makes a Cuban cigar. I especially love when the green spots are very defined, "frogs eyes" they call them, and have heard that there are collectors in Hong Kong that request them and go nuts for cigars with "frogs eyes".