How I hand bake (hybrid bake?) lös snus

Here's a video (likely my first and last)... text below if you don't want to look at my ugly mug (and listen to me prattle on).

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QKFbPYFW4
 Step 1. Wash your fucking hands! Don't go picking your ass and touching something you're gonna put in your mouth... ya damn dirtball! Now that's outta the way... I start with a Prismaster. No, I'm not trolling you and no, it's not mandatory. That said, it's only a couple bucks and easy AF to procure. I like a portioner tool for hygiene (both pathogens and dirty finger nails), and consistency of dose/load. I still hand bake the resulting tobacco brickette/nugget. Using thumb and forefinger from both hands, I compress into a rectangular cuboid shape. Careful to apply equal and opposing pressure to each side, as firmly as possible without breaking form. Rinse repeat until I arrive at something akin to a regular portion in both size and shape. The more time/effort you invest here, the less likely it will be to break apart. When it comes to shape, the ideal is whatever requires the least amount of adjustment in your lip... I like to round the edges for comfort. Also, I don't see a lot of benefit to thick chonky prillas. Operating under the assumption nicotine is absorbed via mucosa, I aim to maximize surface area. If you don't get it just right, you'll have to squish it around in your lip. Causing the prilla to fall apart and leaving you with a mouthful of shit faster. Snus is also a little abrasive and for as much as I use, I end up with irritation if I'm constantly adjusting.

I hope you like this method. Experiment with different sizes and shapes until you find out what's comfortable in your lip.

REVIEW: General Harvest Limited Edition

 

Wow... a whole lotta hype surrounding this one.  I decided to take my sweet ass time (clocking in about a half a roll of each) just to make sure I did it justice. First thing you'll notice, I didn't specify white or original portion... because as persnickety as I am, the difference is truly just format.  Do you want the extra moisture or not? Personally, I (ever so) slightly prefer the white... because when I use portions, it's typically with discretion in mind.  The original delivers flavor faster (but drips faster) and arguably offers a little more comfort initially.  If I had my choice in format, it would be loose... in fact I dissected an entire can of each to scratch that itch (no discernable difference in taste)--yeah I'm a psycho.      

Appearance: 9/10 It's a fibrous cream label atop a plastic silver or gold can.  Gloss metallic and embossing really stand out.  It's clean, it's simple... I really like it.  Maybe it's the 'Merican in me... but I want a darker color scheme for 10/10. 
Aroma: 10/10 OMG, tobacco!!!!  Fresh earthy tobacco, with hints of straw, fallen leaves and oak.  There's faint tar and leather notes with chocolate and nuttiness buried even deeper in the background.  
Mouth Feel: 10/10 The portion material is spot on.  Gone are the days of dry and irritating white (or original) portions... now they're soft and sleek.  Oh, so comfy!
Flavor: 10/10  Surprise, surprise... everything present in the aroma is delivered in the taste.  Glorious wonderful tobacco (see above) and salt.  Additionally, there's a slight creaminess and a fair amount of spiciness.  This spiciness is often described as pepper (or horseradish) and that's accurate for the sensation, but know that it presents without the accompanying/associated flavors (i.e. black pepper is very distinct and there's none of that).  But I digress... this IS what snus should taste like.    
Nic Hit: 10/10 Regular strength, which is my preference these days.  Lasts upwards of an hour.
Drip: 9/10 This is a fairly drip resistant pouch.  That said, once it gets moist enough, it will allow some (mud)slide.  Again, a little quicker with the original.
Overall: 9.6/10 This is a phenomenal product where tobacco is the star!  I would seat this one squarely between Ettan and Grov in terms a flavor.  If you like either, I wouldn't hesitate to buy these by the roll.  Love, love,  love this shit...  definitely lives up to the hype!  Tobacco, salt and water...  just as the snus gods intended.  I sincerely hope this begets the start of a Renaissance in tobacco flavored tobacco... it's a welcomed departure from the koolaid or mouthwash flavored drivel they keep shoving down our throats en masse.  Fucking love it!     

REVIEW: Knox Red White Limited Edition

Considering I came back for a Skruf product, the release of this limited edition Knox seems serendipitous. It's billed as "tobacco with hints of red berry".  Being a huge fan of Skruf Tranbar, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this snus.  Ended up snagging rolls of it (and the new General Harvest products) despite having a fridge/freezer full of my favorites.  Thanks to a lifetime of supply chain management, my brain broke a little at the thought of running my inventory this long...  but sometimes exceptions must be made!    

Appearance: 8/10 It's an embossed metallic red label, on a plastic silver can.  The little dots remind me of a sparkling wine or craft hard seltzer product.  Not fantastic, but certainly not embarrassing either.  
Aroma: 8/10  After a big whiff, the first thing that comes to mind is Skoal Berry.  Mind you, that's a product I haven't tried in well over a decade, but this is what I remember it smelling like.  That's not a bad thing.  Despite being too sweet, it was one of my favorite Skoal flavors.  For those unfamiliar, it's largely (artificial) strawberry and raspberry.  Also, there's some similarity to Skruf Tranbar here too. 
Mouth Feel: 10/10 Again, Skruf has come a long way with their portion material.  Gone are the days of dry and irritating white portions... now they're soft and sleek.  Oh, so comfy!
Flavor: 9/10  As would be expected, much of what's present on the nose hits the tongue... only the flavor is markedly (mercifully?) less sweet.  It's berry forward... strawberry, raspberry and cranberry... the profile is tart, but well balanced, followed by tobacco and salt.  It's excellent.    
Nic Hit: 10/10 Regular strength, which is my preference these days.  Lasts upwards of an hour.
Drip: 9/10 This is a fairly drip resistant pouch.  That said, once it gets moist enough, it will allow some (mud)slide.
Overall: 9/10 An absolutely delicious limited release.  If given a slot on their permanent roster, I would probably opt for Skruf Tranbar over this (I see the artificial strawberry notes wearing on me)... but it's a really fun as a one off.  Zero buyer's remorse. 

REVIEW: Skruf Nyans Månstoft

 

Upwards of 8 years since I've bothered (read: been compelled) to review a product.  After consuming many (5+) rolls of this stuff... that's changed!  Skuf Salted Carmel!  This shit is a special kind of tasty...   TLDR; Yummy AF!

Appearance: 10/10 It's a pearlescent manila moon, embossed label that utilizes both gloss and matte finish set atop a black can.  Just screams quality (from a value line?).
Aroma: 10/10 Pipe tobacco hits the nose first. Behind that lies vanilla and caramelized sugar with hints of chocolate. There's also a confection note that reminds me of the old fashioned candy buttons.  You'll get some ammonia when it warms up (a few hours in the pocket), but aside from that... all kinds of delicious smells going on here.   
Mouth Feel: 10/10 Skruf has come a long way with their portion material.  Gone are the days of dry and irritating white portions... now they're soft and sleek.  Oh, so comfy!
Flavor: 10/10  Everything that hits the nose makes an appearance on the tongue.  Sweet vanilla, salty caramel and chocolatey pipe tobacco. This one comes on strong but mellows over time. It may be too sweet for some, but I find it complementary to the salt and bitter notes...  everything comes together in such a way that makes my mouth very, very happy.   
Nic Hit: 10/10 Regular strength, which is my preference these days.  Lasts upwards of an hour.
Drip: 9/10 This is a fairly drip resistant pouch.  That said, once it gets moist enough, it will allow some (mud)slide.
Overall: 9.8/10 Hands down one of my favorite portions.  Classic aromatic tobacco and the sweetness of vanilla caramel.  Absolutely delicious!  Pair this one with a nice chocolate, soft drink (especially cola) or a black coffee... you won't be disappointed. 

A seven (7) year hiatus?

It's been a very, very long time. 7 years... that's some next level slacker shit, to be sure. I've been snusing since 2004... wrote about the experience for a few years, but fizzled out quickly. Why? Well, there's not been a lot for me to talk about. I love tobacco. Moreover, I love tobacco flavored tobacco. During my initial run, I managed to quickly cover all the products that meet this criteria. Sadly, that list is even shorter today than it was 7 years ago. So why am I back? Erm... my therapist says I need a creative outlet (yes, I'm fucking serious). I won't even pretend my motivation is much more altruistic than that. I mean, if I help someone make the switch to snus (from cigs, vape, nic pouches or dip), I'll call it a win, or if I help someone learn to appreciate snus in it's pure (not mouthwash or koolaid flavored) form, even more so... but admittedly, I write primarily for my own amusement. Given there's not a lot I'm interested in reviewing (I do have a few on deck), I will likely be focusing on flavor posts (all puns intended). How, when and why I use snus... helpful hints, tips and tricks... pairings... if it's snus related, it's fair game. Happy snusing!