SNUS 101: Snus and value

Reflecting on my order today, I can't help but notice a trend in snus... that should be readily apparent, but since I'm a huge fan of redundancy... I'm going to point it out. I'm going to point it out.  I'm going to point it out *grins*  What am I pointing out?  The cost of convenience... that's what.  Namely, that the cost of los/loose, portions, and mini portions are essentially the same, but the amount of tobacco you get drops substantially as you move down that list.  Assuming the cost of a can is $5, you pay the same $5 for 40-45g of los ($0.125/g), that you do for 24 1g ($0.21/g) of standard portions, that you do for 24 .5g ($0.42/g) of mini portions.  In other words, the hands down best value in regards to snus will be found in los, the lowest value ($ per gram anyway) will be found in mini's.  That said, I'm sure this is fair, working for a manufacturer I know all too well the cost involved in packaging... and relatively speaking when you buy loose, you're buying in bulk. That said, each has it's place, and when needed... I certainly don't mind the respective cost... but it's something to be mindful of when placing orders.  Let's examine the merits of all three.  Beginning with los, again the highest g:$ ratio... easily the best flavor delivery and most comfortable.  You can choose the size of your pris, so (at least for a time) it can be very discreet.  Where los begins losing the value war is in "drip", the tobacco particles will eventually begin to migrate (regardless of how tight your pris is) and in time you will get mudmouth.  Then there is also the trouble of forming a pris, and it's a good deal more difficult to get it out of your lip once it's in there, long story short, you've got the potential to be messy.  In fact, in a professional or social setting... getting that pris out will likely require a trip to the bathroom... a fair amount of spitting, and a follow up rinse of the mouth.  This is where portions rule... the old adage "no assembly required".  You pop it in when you want it, and pop it out when you're done... your can even has a nice catch lid if no trashcan is nearby.  That said, the portion is (close to) 1g, and fairly limited (as far as spreading out goes) by the size of the teabag material.  So it's often difficult (if not impossible) to be completely discreet with it's positioning... this is doubly true if you have a small mouth (ladies, little guys).  Which is where mini's shine... they're tiny enough that they remain completely invisible under lip, on pretty much anyone, under pretty much any circumstance (smiling etc).  Given the taboo of women and smokeless, I can see why mini's are more popular among the finer sex. With a mini in, literally no one will know.  So you pay for the respective convenience of each.  For me, I use los when I'm at home, or have few appointments at the office...  regular portions when I'm out and about, white's if am concerned about mudmouth, and mini portions when I want absolutely no one to know I'm getting my fix.  Don't get me wrong... for all the discretion talk... los and regular portions can be kept discreet under the right conditions (i.e. avoiding big toothy grins, properly managing your pris/portion etc)... but it requires some management and attention on your part.  In fact, I began using los, and my boss (who I talk to multiple times daily) didn't know I was using it for years until I told her... but the more observant may pick up on it... and it all depends on how "secret" you want your tobacco habit to be.  Definitely something to consider when you're buying your snus.  Til next time, happy snusing!

REVIEW: NEW Catch Madison Avenue White Mini

I just got back from a lunch out with my sweetie--a wonderful break in my work day.  Anyway, as we were wrapping up our meal, and I went for my snus (Grov Stark... today), I noticed... "oh, shit" it's in my snus fridge at the office :(  Lucky for me the little redhead had a few of these in her purse, even luckier for me, she was willing to spare two (of the three in her can).  I know, I know... how does an ass like me get so lucky? *grins* I figured I'd honor her sacrifice with a review of her snus.  One look at the can, and all I think is "awe, how cute"... it's a teeny tiny can (easily half the size of typical), with a little catch lid, and the portions are typical white mini (wait for it... about 1/2 or less the size of normal).  The portions come in that ever so familiar Swedish Match blossom/spiral... so neatly arranged.  Upon opening the can, you're met with a sweet mint smell.  The mint is mild, nothing like american dip.  It's described as a caramel mint, and while I can definitely see that... when blended with tobacco, the flavor I pick up is more akin to Girl Scout's... Thin Mints!  Of course, with plenty of savory and tobacco notes.  These are again teeny tiny and uber discreet.  Me, being used to strong (or at least) full-sized portions... well, I have to double barrel them (read: two at a time) for any hope of getting my accustomed nicotine fix.  Considering they're mint and sweet... they're not my thing... and as such I'm not going to give these a stellar review... but I will say that it's very pleasing, and it did do a good job of getting me back to the office (sans nicotine fit) where I promptly spit it out in favor of the yummy Grov in my snus fridge.  That said, I know she absolutely loves these... so I'm going to give them a big thumbs up on her behalf.   Til next time... happy snusing!

Appearance: 10/10 For what it is (a cute mini can) it's really good looking.

Aroma: 10/10 

Mouth Feel: 7/10 Between the white, and the mini... just doesn't feel enjoyable, or fill up the lip like one would hope.

Flavor: 8/10 Too sweet for my taste, but otherwise yummy.

Nic Hit: 6/10 Get's the job done (with two), all mini's would need to be a minimum of sterk/strong to ever be considered a regular user.

Drip: 9/10 

Overall: 8.3/10

IMHO: PACT Act (alternative title: ...suck my balls)

Disdain among the snus community regarding the PACT Act is nothing new... since it's enactment we've seen the price of snus skyrocket, the cost of shipping from Sweden nearly tripled... the net effect, I end up paying twice what I did when I began snusing.  That said, cigarettes have followed a similar course so the relative savings is still there, but it's been a swift kick in the wallet none the less. As a professional buyer/miser this has been quiet irksome, but even more irritating is all the stuff I'm no longer allowed to get.  My snus orders used to come with all kinds of "prizes".  For instance, I have plenty of General and Ettan apparel from the good ol' days, a GB Rape neoprene laptop sleeve...  and all kinds of other cool shit (bottle openers, pens etc).  I also used to get surprise sample snus with every order (usually new flavors, etc)... and sadly all that has come to and end.  I know what you're thinking... "Adam it's been this way for years why are you bitching now?"  Well, I'm bitching now because of a peripheral seen on buysnus, the General waterproof can, that has a "not for sale in the US" disclosure.  It can't be sold here because it sports a tobacco brand logo... and of course if you've been following my blog, you know that I don't even especially like General... but this piece seems a very practical, affordable and utilitarian alternative to the icetool snusboxes... that I'd happily pay to own, but I'm not allowed to have it, because it bares the name of a tobacco brand that 99.8% of Americans have never even heard of.  As an ode to the douchebags who enact such policy, I sarcastically leave you with the lyrics to the theme song of Team America, World Police *winks*... because shit like this has it playing on a continuous loop in my head... well,   enjoy:

America...
America...

America, FUCK YEAH!

Coming again, to save the mother fucking day yeah,
America, FUCK YEAH!

Freedom is the only way yeah,
Terrorists your game is through cause now you have to answer too,
America, FUCK YEAH!

So lick my butt, and suck on my balls,
America, FUCK YEAH!
What you going to do when we come for you now,
it’s the dream that we all share; it’s the hope for tomorrow

FUCK YEAH!

McDonalds, FUCK YEAH!
Wal-Mart, FUCK YEAH!
The Gap, FUCK YEAH!
Baseball, FUCK YEAH!
NFL, FUCK YEAH!
Rock and roll, FUCK YEAH!
The Internet, FUCK YEAH!
Slavery, FUCK YEAH!

FUCK YEAH!

Starbucks, FUCK YEAH!
Disney world, FUCK YEAH!
Porno, FUCK YEAH!
Valium, FUCK YEAH!
Reeboks, FUCK YEAH!
Fake Tits, FUCK YEAH!
Sushi, FUCK YEAH!
Taco Bell, FUCK YEAH!
Rodeos, FUCK YEAH!
Bed Bath And Beyond (fuck yeah?, fuck yeah)

Liberty, FUCK YEAH!
White Slips, FUCK YEAH!
The Alamo, FUCK YEAH!
Band-aids, FUCK YEAH!
Las Vegas, FUCK YEAH!
Christmas, FUCK YEAH!
Immigrants, FUCK YEAH!
Popeye, FUCK YEAH!
Democrats, FUCK YEAH!
Republicans (.....fuck yeah?, ....fuck yeah)
Sportsmanship, (....)Books, (......)  

NEWS: More reviews coming soon!

Here's a teaser on my latest snus order...  expect reviews to begin trickling in next week.

CatchDry Eucalyptus White Mini Portion

General Classic Licorice Portion

Göteborgs Prima Fint loose

Göteborgs Rapé Summer Edition 2013 Havtorn

Mocca Mint Mini Portion

nord66° Nordic Breeze Strong Portion

nord66° Strong White Portion

I'm really excited about getting all of these on my gums *grins*  With the new Skruf line... opted to not try the chili flavor... don't get me wrong, Adam IS a pepper head (of epic proportions), but for whatever reason, mixing that sensation with snus just doesn't sound up my alley (more like gag a maggot), I could be wrong... and may revisit after favorable reviews by someone else brave enough to test those waters.  Anyway, the mini's are for my little lady, but I'll make sure to steal a portion or two of each to give you a review... or maybe I can talk her into reviewing?  Prima Fint is one I haven't had in a very very very long time (like 06 or earlier), so I'm looking forward to giving it a closer look... based on what snus girl had to say about it, I'm expecting a new favorite.  Regardless, a few flavors in the bunch (so stepping outside my comfort zone a bit)... especially with the GB summer edition, but it's promised not be too sweet, so I've got high hopes for it too.   Til next time, happy snusing!

REVIEW: Lab Series 05

While Lab Series has been covered in my "Living Favorites" series, I didn't include 05... and I didn't write my initial review with a portion in mouth.  So, this post will work to remedy both points.  Let's start with appearance.  The  packaging for Lab Series is a fantastic, no frills approach to snus.  It's a silver plastic can, with a slight metallic speckle in the resin, an average sized catch lid, with clear printed labels.  This gives a nice illusion for the print to "stand" atop the can, almost giving it a mirrored look... an illusion of depth often seen in automotive painting.  The overall presentation is very clean, very modern.  05 is the strong white version of the Lab Series...  all of which being long portions, all of which being "non-drip".  My primary aversion to many whites, is that they are too dry, and lend to lip irritation... that said, you will not have this problem with 05 (or any in this line).  The portion material used is unique, it lends itself to a soft mouth feel... with just enough slack in the portion for it to easily mold to your lip and gums.  The non-drip aspect is excellent... it's all too rare to find a snus that leaves your teeth white by the end of the day (assuming you chain snus as I do)...  but Lab Series manages to deliver in this department... second to none.  The shape of the portion is also unique... even as long's grow in popularity, I haven't seen another done this way.  It's thinner than a regular portion, of course longer, but also has a slightly cylindrical shape... which in my opinion adds to the great mouth feel of this snus.  That said, the 05 is a strong, and as with most increased nicotine products... is very alkaline (or basic).... which does cause I mild burning sensation on the lip... but it's mild and does not lead to irritation (swelling, rough patches etc).  On to taste... which is enjoyable, but I stand behind my initial verdict of it being a bit too present to be my everyday snus (again, that speaks to my taste... I wager others will find palatable for daily consumption).  It's medium to low on "saltiness" for Swedish brands, but still very savory in that respect.  The flavors are very natural... first is tobacco, and then wood... I detect oak and cedar... even some fresh mossy or grassy notes, and the finest hint of tea.  If I had to sum it up in as few words as possible, it would be; "salt, tobacco, and deciduous forest"... in that order.  I don't notice any of the herbal, nutty, or floral notes that Swedish Match (and many vendors) have described... but that's not a bad thing in my eyes--in fact, I had to go back and edit "nutty" out of my original review (replaced by yummy *grins*).   I've fallen in love with this line for it's function... great nicotine hit, discreet, and of course keeps your teeth whiter than any other brand.  The taste is solid and unoffensive... refreshing, earthy, but just a bit too pungent and present to be my everyday brand.  That said, there are times I CRAVE this taste.... when nothing else will do.  So if you take nothing else away from this review, let it be: this snus has way too many merits to be overlooked... it's a staple in my ordering rotation, and I encourage you to give it a shot.  Til next time, happy snusing!!!

Appearance: 10/10

Aroma: 9/10

Mouth Feel: 10/10

Flavor: 8/10

Nic Hit: 10/10

Drip: 10/10

Overall: 9.5/10

NEWS: Pics added... FINALLY

As promised (a month ago or so)... some pics have been added to (some) previous posts.  See, I'm not a total half-assed-slacker... now am I?

DIYS: My process so far

Found this in my search, pretty much sums it up *grins*

EDIT 5/31/2013 So you might have noticed... I killed all the rest of my DIYS (do it yourself snus) posts.  The reason being, my trials are coming along exceptionally well.  While my blog may not be for the aim of making $$$, I am not without my fair share of greed, and I may just try to sell this stuff at some point in the distant future.  Granted today it's no more than a pipe-dream, but being all forward thinking and what not, it would be counter productive to share my methods with the world. See, I can be a self serving douche too *evil grins* That said, I will leave you with this inane little video, and a teaser that a review of MY SNUS will follow soon!!!  Til next time, happy snusing!

TASTE: Snus and Absinthe

I really wanted to wait til my order of General Classic Licorice landed before writing this... but alas, my inventory is too large to justify the purchase (damn those sales, and their appeal to my thrifty--read: miserly--side *grins*)... and I'm just too impatient to wait.  Also, I figure a break is need from hearing about my DIYS project.  Anyway, this pairing feature is another for the booze hounds... where my favorite European tasty beverage meets my favorite European tobacco product.  That's right, we're going to give our snus some "green fairy wings" in this post.  For anyone unfamiliar with absinthe, it is a legendary anise (black licorice) and herbal spirit praised by artists such as Hemingway and Van Gogh... only to be later stigmatized and banned for nearly a century (longer in some places) due to driving people "mad".  Contrary to popular myth, absinthe does NOT make one hallucinate (or incite murderous rampages)... that said, the effects are quite different from any other alcohol I've tried.... in that, it does have some stimulant properties.  When drank responsibly, I find it tends to make colors (primarily red and green) a bit more vibrant... AND makes me a bit more social, but unlike common alcohol... it's an articulate, refined sort of social (vs. the typical obnoxious, "what happened to my pants" kind of social).  Take care when consuming en mass quantities... I'm a fairly big guy, who handles alcohol well... and I've blacked out (and conducted all manner of foolishness) on more than one occasion. Read: proceed with caution, and don't say I didn't warn ya.   To keep it simple, I'm going to recommend two brands of the green fairy: Delaware Phoenix Meadow of Love (MoL), and Kubler.  MoL being quite possibly the finest available for human consumption, and Kubler being hands down the best value (quality vs. price).  You won't go wrong with either of these.  If you're lucky, you might find Kubler in your local specialty liquor store ... but chances are you'll need to buy online.  Regardless of which you choose, the preparation is an art.  You'll need ice water, and (optional) sugar cubes/absinthe spoon.  DO NOT attempt to drink it neat (i.e. shots), it's HIGHLY concentrated shit... and you'll have an 80-90% chance of vomiting if you disregard this warning.   I suggest a 4:1 water to spirit ratio to start... maybe even 5:1 if you want to be conservative.... as the night progresses, I often stiffen them to 3:1... any stronger, and you're asking for trouble.  On to the art... start with a "dose" in your glass... a dose being an ounce of absinthe (2/3 of a shot), and SLOWLY, slowly, slowly trickle your cold water into it.  You'll see a beautiful louche (whitening/clouding) effect.  If you rush this process, the essential oils of the concoction don't open up properly, and you won't get the desired taste... it should take a minimum of 1 min to pour your water in.   If you want to go the traditional "ritual" route, place an absinthe spoon and sugar cube on your glass prior to adding water.  I find adding sugar unnecessary ... but it's fun to watch the cube slowly melt as your water drips, and likely should be tried at least once... for nostalgia's sake.  Once completed, you'll be met with a velvety-smooth, fresh/herbal/predominantly licorice beverage of pure yumminess... that drinks exceptionally well.  Given the anise/fennel notes, I'm going to start by recommending licorice snus to pair it with--my favorite being Roda Lacket... I know, I know... RL barely (if at all) tastes like licorice BUT absinthe does bring it out... licorice snus is far from your only option... herbal snuses line up well too--such as Lab Series and Tre Ankre.  Of course, "pure tobacco" snus (Grov, Ettan, GB Prima Fint) do very well with absinthe too.  In other words, there are a lot of delicious flavor pairings to be made with the green fairy.... and I can't encourage you enough to try some (assuming alcohol is your thing).  Regardless of your choice, you're in for a fine night of imbibing I guarantee... just be careful *grins*   Til next time, happy snusing!!!

TASTE: Sake and Skruf

I did promise to get around to alcoholic beverage/snus pairings... this is a favorite.  Perfect for Samurai movie nights... If you don't have those at your house... epic fail my friend.  Few things compare to the awesome of a Japanese dinner (sushi takeout, miso soup) copious amounts of fine Sake and a yummy Skruf finisher. *grins*  Toss in pissy martial arts masters gut-checking one another with 3 foot long, fancy pig-stickers... (sorry, I might have gotten a little aroused there *winks*... er... not to mention off track). As with all things... I'm gong to choose to pair with the absolute best.  In terms of sake, that means a ginjo or daiginjo grade sake.  If you have a Japanese grocery in your area, I'd start there... otherwise you'll need to look online.  Now, I chose Skruf due to the floral notes of sake.  If you've never picked these notes out, it's likely you're not drinking the sake properly.  To start with, I recommend you drink it chilled.  Next, is the art of getting it into your belly.  Namely, timing your breath... the nuances of sake come to life only when this is done correctly.  The process is as follows; exhale completely, pound it back like a shot, then inhale through your mouth. A fine sake will pop like a firecracker when executed properly. Fresh, floral, and ever so tasty.  Then add in the rose oil notes of Skruf... and they (the flowery tastes) line up exceptionally well.  You may even want to swish the sake around and moisten your portion... since both the sake and snus are exceedingly mild, you're at no risk for gut-rot in the morning (I've got a VERY sensitive stomach, I would know).   Well that's the first installment of boozing with snus... If for any reason sake isn't your drink... don't you worry, there are many more to follow.  Til next time, happy snusing!!!

TASTE: Dark Chocolate and Snus pairing

Eating and tobacco use don't typically go hand-in-hand.  In fact, under most circumstances I would urge you to avoid it (especially with los).  But, I've found an exception in small squares of pure dark chocolate... specifically FINE dark chocolate with a low melt point... the kind that melts in your mouth.  In fact, I'm only going to recommend two brands to attempt this with.  First is Godiva (the wide thin bars)... these can be found nationally at just about any drug store (Walgreens/CVS for sure)... calling this fine chocolate might be a bit of a stretch, but it's readily available... and is at the very least, worthy of the title "good".  Next, is Scharffen Berger (again the wide thin bars), definitely the best commercial chocolate on the market.  If you can get something better (i.e. you're in Europe, or have a true gourmet market like Fox and Obel near by), by all means go for it.  Whatever the case, aim for something in the neighborhood of 70% cocoa/cacao.  I'm not going to give you a laundry list of which snus will go well with it (*cough* my favorites *cough*), just avoid the overly sweetened/flavored stuff.  In fact, I'm not even going to try to do justice to the party in your mouth which results...  All I'm going to say is... try this:  Pop a snus in (ideally a portion), and then break off a small piece (enough to cover half your tongue) place it in your mouth.  Don't suck or chew... just apply a little pressure, and agitate it slightly between our tongue and the roof of your mouth... until the chocolate melts/disperses.... swallow, smile, say "Mmmm"...  rinse/repeat. *grins* If you don't enjoy this... you have no business reading my blog *shakes fist*   Happy Snusing!!!

NEWS: Not news

just a mysterious blogger experiment...  Ooooo!

NEWS: Upgraded look and functionality

So I googled up (read: pirated... arg!) a slick back drop... did some reformatting... added labels and links.  The result (I hope) is a more aesthetically pleasing, easier to browse/navigate Snus Tastings.  For the moment, adding photos to my posts eludes me (read: user error, or more concisely user laziness)... but I will remedy it in due course.  If you see any improvements... let me know, and I'll certainly consider and or accommodate them.   Disclaimer... the bit about "pirating" is a joke, admittedly in poor (read: my) taste, if you happen to be the owner of this fine piece of art (or any others appearing here) and are offended by it's use... just let me know, and I'll happily take it down.  Same goes for the links.

IMHO: Snusgirl.com

Just as an aside/follow up to my previous post (about more resources). I wanted to make special mention of snusgirl.com. I recently stumbled on them when researching products for my girlfriend (yep she snuses too). Anyway I was very impressed... and they have since played an important part in conceiving the misadventure that is Snustastings... yeah, I probably could have phrased that a little better, but what I mean is that their reviews and niche concept were a great inspiration for my brainchild (again, phrasing). *evil grins* All joking (and failed attempts at misogyny) aside, tons of really accurate reviews to be had there... Josie (one of their writers) has been especially friendly, helpful, and just all around cool as I got this project off the ground. Also, very refreshing to have a woman's perspective on snus.  As a way of saying "thanks", they get the top seat in my links section.  Anyway... lots of fun/cool/exciting stuff going on there, and I can't encourage you enough to check their site out, those ladies really are doing something special. Happy Snusing!!! P.S. I will get some pictures up on here soon Josie :)

SNUS 101: Where to find more reviews/news etc

In the event you're not a snob/purist like me, don't appreciate my taste preferences, or just don't like the way I write (read: you simpleton)... joking... I've compiled a list of other sites that I frequent for reviews/previews/news etc. Considering this is a fledgling blog, and I have an aversion to a significant portion of the products on the market (many flavored/sweetened snuses), these should be especially helpful. Of course, google will land you most of these... which I encourage, but I know these are good starting places: snubie.com, snuscentral.org, snusgirl.com.  Links on the right side of the page.  They will probably lead you to even more great snus resources. Happy Snusing!!!