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HEARING
With regard to cigars and pipe tobaccos, what you don’t hear matters most. Aside from the sounds of good conversation, few sounds are associated with cigar and pipe smoking. Even the “sound” of freshness is silent. But there are a few distinct sounds occasionally heard from tobacco that tell us something important. A slight rustling sound [as if fabric were rubbing together] may be heard when you squeeze a perfectly conditioned cigar. This soft sound is produced by the filler being shifted or moved. It can be heard in cigars that have been sitting and aging motionless for a long time. As long as the wrapper is not producing this sound, the cigar should be in excellent condition, and may even benefit from a slight massage to redistribute and awaken the tobacco. A cracking or crackling sound is produced when you squeeze a cigar or pipe tobacco that is too dry. Depending on the extent of dryness, both the wrapper and filler of a cigar may make a cracking or crackling sound. Dry cigars need immediate attention and should not be smoked. See Tobacco Accoutrements College: Cigar Preservation for more information.
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