I got a box of Flor Fina 85 SG's that had that same decal on the outside of the box's shrink wrap ... it does not 'measure the humidity' though ...
What 'X' said ...
Fuente Cigars Will Stay Fresher
By: JEROME R. STOCKFISCH of The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Premium cigars are aged for months in cedar vaults at precise humidity levels. When moisture content and oils yield peak flavor, they are boxed and shipped.
To the frozen North. Across the parched Southwestern deserts. Throughout the steamy South.
The climatic chaos isn't exactly ideal for pampered tobacco.
Carlos Fuente Jr. thinks he has an answer.
Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. is working with Humidipak Inc., a Minnetonka, Minn., start-up, to add a patented, natural two-way humidification system to Fuente cigar boxes. It will keep the contents at the sought-after 70 percent humidity from factory to cigar-store humidor.
"Somewhere along the line of distribution, something happens," said Tim Swail, executive vice president of Humidipak. "It's not drastic. Carlito can tell the difference. Most people can't."
"Carlito" - that's Carlos Jr. - is legendary for his exacting standards for the Arturo Fuente, Montesino and other family brands. "We think it will make our products that much better," Fuente said.
Family patriarch Arturo Fuente established his first factory in Tampa in 1912 and made cigars here for 60 years. Production now takes place in the Dominican Republic, but the family maintains strong local ties.
Humidipak's technology appears simple - a small packet containing salts in a gel employing what Swail calls "intelligent films." But it can maintain humidity at any level from 10 percent to 96 percent. Previous humidification devices could add moisture to containers, but couldn't absorb excess moisture.
The Humidipak was recently lauded by Cigar Insider, an industry newsletter. It won't add to the cost of a box, Fuente said, and should start appearing this fall.
