Snuss - dry pouches

[TropicalBob]

Bastage and Smokindeuce, thank you so much. I had noticed your posts here, Bastage, but just hadn't gotten around to saying welcome to this parallel universe. These all go together very well, as Smokindeuce notes (big welcome to you too). I still use my Janty e-cig, snus, Stonewall, Oliver Twist, nasal snuff and pipe each day. Just whatever feels "right".

My snus order came today, Bastage, just in time. I had forgotten Monday was Columbus Day and was frantic when my cans didn't come. Your order is a good one, Dahonam. I have three of those in my frig at the moment. I always experiment with one tin, and it's Retro this time. Tolerable. Not great, but tolerable and cheap.

Bastage, I'll tell you a secret I won't post on Snuson: Wise Wine and Chef made me violently ill yesterday. It was the second time it's done that. Profuse sweating, nausea, intimate relationship with bathroom, etc. I threw out the remaining portions. Far too potent. I prefer 3mg Wise or others.

Cheers to anything that isn't deadly and keeps us from inhaling tobacco smoke!

 

[Cartoon Dude]

I just got my first order today (inspired by this thread, of course!). I have to say I was taken aback by the snus at first -- quite a tingle on the gums. And as I am getting used to positioning them and such, I think I am squeezing & swallowing more than I should. But overall, they are kind of cool. I really didn't believe it would quell my urge to smoke, as I thought the process and the actual smoking/inhaling itself was part of the addiction (hence getting into the e-cig thing).

To my surprise, the snus have indeed cut back my cravings for a cigarette.

So far I have found the minis to not be as satisfying as the regular portions (I have only tried the white versions so far). I haven't really been able to discern a significant taste difference between the different cans I ordered, but the Lucky Strike white regulars are so far my fave. Haven't had the guts to try the moist LS yet

Here's what I ordered (from Northerner):

Wise Original (3mg)
Wise Citrus & Menthol (3mg)
CatchDry White Licorice, Mini Portion
Catch White Licorice, Portion
Catch Licorice, Mini Portion
Lucky Strike, Portion
Lucky Strike White, Portion
Lucky Strike, Mini Portion
Mocca Pomegranate White, Mini Portion

Thanks for the heads up on these, interesting product and anything that cuts back the cigs and isn't as dangerous is a good thing, right?

Oh, and the Lucky Strike tins are very cool-looking. Metal with a nice matte finish. Superfluous information, yes, but the aesthetics caught my eye when I opened the package.

 

[phildo]

Here's my first order:

Göteborgs Rapé Mini White Portion

Jakobssons Ice-Fruit Snus
1847 By Philip Morris White

LD Mini Portion

Lucky Strike White Mini Portion

Mocca Pomegranate

I ordered 1 of each....how long will this much last?

 

[smokindeuce]

Bastage, I'll tell you a secret I won't post on Snuson: Wise Wine and Chef made me violently ill yesterday. It was the second time it's done that. Profuse sweating, nausea, intimate relationship with bathroom, etc. I threw out the remaining portions. Far too potent. I prefer 3mg Wise or others.

Cheers to anything that isn't deadly and keeps us from inhaling tobacco smoke!

Wow - I never had that much of a reaction to the 6mg wine & chef snus! Although definitely been close on a couple of occasions.... The trouble is they are just so damn efficient at relieving the cravings! I think you're right about the 3mg wise definitely does the job without nicotine overkill. I really want to try the 3 mg citrus & menthol wise and think this could maybe become quite a staple.

Phildo & Cartoon dude - great selections - the l/strike minis were amongst one of my first orders and certainly a nice allrounder. Used to be my regular first-in-the-morning snus.

Phildo - obviously, it depends how many you do per day, but you should get around a month out of that lot. I'd say it might be worth checking the use-by dates and freeze any (in an airtight bag) that you're not planning on using in the very near future.. They store well in the freezer and just move them to the fridge 24 hrs before you want to use them.

This is an extract from the Northerner website on storing snus:

'To keep Snus for a longer period it should be frozen and you can keep it for at least a year. To avoid frozen Snus from drying out you should freeze it in a freezing bag. Thawing of Snus in cardboard cans should be done in a refrigerat, thus eliminating the condensation water to dissolve the glue in the can. Plastic cans are not sensitive to external moisture and can be thawed in room temperature.'

I think this is more important with the moist snus - the dry snus (in my experience) seems to last pretty well and I definitely wouldn't bother freezing any of the wise snus..

 

[TropicalBob]

Just excellent advice and observation! And I agree that Phildo's order is about a month's supply. Taste is quite an individual thing, but some of his choices would not be on any list I made! I agree on the Lucky Strike, however, and prefer the cleanliness of the white mini portion. Mocca Pomegranate is another staple, as is CatchDry Peppermint. A very strange one is Offroad Coffee/Vanilla. I've tried all Offroad flavors and most are dreadful, but this one I keep coming back to.

One more note: It is the speed of nicotine delivery that makes the Wise Wine&Chef so potent. It's not the 6mg strength. I handle 6mg snus quite well. But the Wise delivers its 6mg in 10 minutes. Period. Flat. That's like inhaling 6 cigarettes in 10 minutes. I prefer snus that deliver more slowly, over 30 to 45 minutes. And 3mg is fine.

 

[dahonam]

Well, I received my order last friday. I comtemplated which flavor i should try first, and decided to try the Vertigo Bahama Velvet since its my first time. Popped one in my mouth, put it in the upper gum and within 15 secods got this nasty tasting juice that almost made me spit it out. Toughed it out, went away in a couple minutes, didn't realy feel a nic hit, but didn't taste too bad either. Later on I decided to try General Mini White, tasted a bit better than the bahama velvet, although much spicier. So far, I use about maybe 5-7 portions a day, switching between Vertigo and General until I finish these tins, i'm about 3/4 of the way through each tin now and it has gotten much better, I with from 1/2 to 3/4 a pack a day smoking to a couple a day now (if any, depends on where i am). Cant wait to try the other flavors once i finish these 2 tins off, they are never ending! I thank you guys for intriguing me onto snus and it is a good alternative to cigs. In due time, hopefully i'll quit cigs for good.

 

[phildo]

Well I got my snus today. I can't say that I exactly like it. The flavor is good at first but it gets pretty overpowering after just a little while. I'm sure its an acquired taste. I like all of the flavors I've tried so far, but it gets so strong it pretty much makes me want to hurl. Maybe it will get better over time. Pretty interesting product though. A couple of them I've tried burn my mouth as well...especially the mocca pomegranate. The lucky strike is nice...but also gets quite strong. I also like the philip morris 1874, but again...I can't keep it in my mouth for very long. Time will tell though. Its a far cry from any american made chew though...I find any that I've ever tried of that is revolting. Snus is quite different...very unique.

 

[Cartoon Dude]

@phildo: I have found that when I first started I was putting pressure on the pouch in the mouth, causing it to squeeze and maybe intensified the experience. After a few days of using them, I started just lightly placing it in the upper lip and try not to put any pressure on it.

This eliminates getting the juice in your mouth, and also the sting is less pronounced. Also, try the white and/or mini portions if it's too strong.

While I have quickly come to enjoy the snus, there still a nagging feeling in me that this direct contact to my inner lip/gum can't be good for me. I have also noticed that the areas where I put the pouch have become a bit sensitive, even without a snus in there for a few hours.

I've read that these have been studied extensively, but still I am a bit concerned.

 

[TropicalBob]

I've used snus quite awhile, but still worry, as you do. I particularly worry about the Oliver Twist tobacco bits that I use several times a day. This just can't be good for anyone. Receding gums would seem a likely outcome.

But they can be very powerful, much more so than any e-liquid we can buy (one portion snus brand is like smoking 6 regular cigarettes in 10 minutes!!!!).

Frankly, the safest thing I do for nicotine is smoke a pipe several times each day.

 

[Cartoon Dude]

I had no idea the snus were that strong! Wow.

 

[TropicalBob]

Only one I've encountered, so far. Wise Wine and Chef. 6mg that absorbs in 10 minutes. If a cig is 1mg absorption, then ... This particular product has twice made me violently ill and I've sworn off it. I can take even stronger ones that are absorbed over 30 to 45 minutes, but not this 10-minute fiend.

 

[dahonam]

Alright, slight update since its been about 2 weeks of snusing now.

Finished tins of: Vertigo Bahama Velvet, General Mini White
Currently on: Nick and Johnny East, Mocca Mint
Still to try: CatchDry White Eucalyptus Portion , Lucky Strike White Mini Portion, Mocca Pomegranate

Vertigo was a weird flavor, didn't really enjoy it as much as I enjoyed General, will not order Vertigo again (they are discontinuing it anyways), will order General again.

Nick and Johnny East... WOW, i like this one alot, will definetly order it again. It is slightly bigger than the minis, but the flavor is nice and subtle.

Mocca Mint... HOLY ****, will NOT order this again, to me it tastes disgusting, i cringe whenever i put one in my mount. The mint flavor burns my mouth, and burns my throat even more. I'm kinda glad i accidently dropped it on the ground outside and lost about half of them...

 

[smokindeuce]

I've used snus quite awhile, but still worry, as you do. I particularly worry about the Oliver Twist tobacco bits that I use several times a day. This just can't be good for anyone. Receding gums would seem a likely outcome.

Funnily enough I just decided the other day that I fancy trying some OT mint/arctic mint as they're about the only snus-type product that tobacconists in the UK (online at least) seem to be selling. It's funny I've found a few UK tobacconists that stock the twist-type oral tobacco which I thought was illegal here.. who said I was complaining?!!

Anyhow Bob, I was going to ask you what the OT is like because I've heard the TSNA levels are also really low which is pretty encouraging and to be able to get it locally, that's definitely a plus! If the kick is even half as good as the 3mg wise, I'll be in seventh heaven!!!

 

[dazzer1975]

e smoking has led me on a path of trying different nicotine hits and have placed an order for some monte christo snus and some cappelli (sp? swedish brand) and some oliver twist royal and original alongside some apricot snuff and some pigtail chewing tobacco.

I might not be reducing my nicotine intake but who cares, this is exciting times lol

I dont intend to use the chewing tobacco ever again, or indeed the snuff, but I may be willing to give the snus ago to compliment e smoking.

I am still smoking roll ups though albeit much reduced.

 

[TropicalBob]

OT has a powerful taste, and when I first quit cigs 15 months ago, it was my go-to source of a nicotine hit. To me, it was more powerful than the snus I was using at the time. I tend to chew on it too much, so it breaks down in about 30 minutes. If you don't chew on it, it will last an hour or more. Chewing, however, speeds up nicotine release. I still use it daily, but find its taste disagreeable every time I use it.

The Arctic and Mint aren't nearly as strong in tobacco taste as the regular that I use most often. I've tried most flavors, and like Tropical and Citrus, but Wintergreen makes me physically ill. To each his own. They used to have one called Senior that was "for veterans." I loved it. Extremely potent OT. Now discontinued.

 

[smokindeuce]

Thanks Bob -I was just trying to find an OT flavour without licorice as I can't stand the stuff!! Thought the mint might be a nice change, but the citrus also sounds interesting so I might go for that instead. Now just patiently waiting for my tobacconist to get the stuff in...

Wintergreen in its pure form (methyl salicylate) is toxic in relatively high doses, so I hope they don't actually use the stuff in OT-this may explain why you felt ill afterwards! 8-o

 

[phildo]

I got brave again today and decided to try the snus again so I popped open the LD mini portion can I bought....holy crap its bad. after 5 min I got a horrible rumble in my stomach...and then proceeded to barf. At least the other kinds I got haven't done that. Very unpleasant. Wouldn't recommend the LD...

On another note...whats the storage compartment on the outside of the snus containers for?

 

[smokindeuce]

It's supposed to be a snus ashtray for used snus. By the way from what I've heard, I wouldn't touch LD with a barge pole! 8-o

 

[jarvis]

I got a horrible rumble in my stomach...and then proceeded to barf.

So far the only downside to snus is when I try to use it on an empty stomach, kills me.

 

[smokindeuce]

Remember you're not really supposed to swallow the juice although sometimes this is unavoidable..

Swallowing the juice would definitely be the cause of an upset stomach - the idea is that snus is spitless, but I definitely found that it is difficult not to have at least some seepage... whether you spit or swallow that's your call!