SNUS 101: Snusonomics

Let me preface by saying I'm writing this from a 'Merican perspective.  It assumes buying from an e-store and the (considerable) costs of shipping (UPS) from Sweden to the states. Coming up on the holidays, inflation, yada, yada... figured it would be timely to muse on the economics of this stuff.  I've spent the last 20 years as a procurement professional (miserly fuck) and snus enthusiast (evangelist?), and would like to think I'm uniquely situated to offer perspective and/or advices here.  Read: I'm about to talk out of my ass, for my own amusement.

I guess a good starting point would be my ordering habits:

I just pulled the trigger on my latest order, 40 cans for $138.30, or $3.46 per can.   Roughly half the cost of a can of (that bergamot or mouthwash bomb, and everyone's favorite) General in my area (central Ohio).  

Through trial and error, I've found 3-4 rolls to be my economic order quantity, for my rate of consumption (1 can every 2-3 days).  This is a good balance of shipping costs, storage space and shelf life for me.  All those fancy italics indicate, that this might very well be different for you.  Generally speaking, the bigger you buy, the more you save. 

Let's circle back to cost, now I get that ~$150 isn't necessarily cheap.  Here's some of the things that can be done to help mitigate snus costs.

As a procurement professional, I'm all about competition.  I will price shop multiple sources (usually 3) before ordering.  My experience with buysnus, snuscentral and snusme has been consistently solid, they're my go-to's for this shit.  I've signed up for their newsletters, leverage sales, specials (roll discounts) and discount codes (snubie10 FTW!). Gaming these factors saves me roughly the cost of shipping with every order. Of course, that means sales/specials sometimes (often?) dictate what rolls I end up with.  That said, I'm an often ridged, cantankerous, creature of habit... a little novelty here and there is probably a good thing for me. 

Another consideration is lös/loose.  You get nearly 2x the product for your buck.  Using Ettan as an example, a can of lös comes in at 42g, whereas a can of original portions are only 24g and white 21.6g--all three cost the same per can.  Since I'm a fucking math nerd, using my most recent $3.46 per can cost... that looks like $0.08/g lös vs. $0.14-0.16/g for portions. Won't pretend there isn't a learning curve for lös, it's not always as convenient (especially unloading) but it is undoubtedly the most economic (not to mention tasty) option.  

I'll admit I've lost touch with the cost of cigarettes (last bought my wife a pack of American Spirits, $10) and zero clue what vape or those nasty nicotine pouches run... but my habit comes out to around $1.50 per day, $50/month, $600 per year.  

Anyway, hope this helpful and happy snusing!

SNUS 101: Life expectancy, care and handling of Snus

Let's start with best by dates.  They are an indication of quality, not safety (i.e. expiry or use before dates*).  Typically conservative, these are an indication of how long before it begins to dry out.  Drying being the primary quality concern for snus.  

*FoodSciencebabe does a really good job explaining if you want to more on this. 

Let me reiterate, there are virtually no food safety concerns with snus.  It's pasteurized and treated with more salt(s) than bacon.  No bacteria is growing here unless you introduce some super strain yourself.  

So, why do we freeze or refrigerate?  Quality (read: moisture loss).  The cooler it's kept, the slower the moisture evaporates off.

Safe to assume your snus will be at optimal quality up to (and often beyond) the best by date when refrigerated... and it'll keep damn near indefinitely frozen.  

Whether I freeze or refrigerate, I bag my snus before storing.  I'll buy the nicest gallon freezer bags I can find.  Why?  Odor migration.  Garlic, seafood (or any other potent smell) can make for a nasty snus experience.  

I keep a can of lös and a can of portions on me at all times.  It stays at room temp until I kill the can (2-3 days for the lös and up to 10 for the portions).    Never had any quality issues at this rate of consumption.  

Beyond that... I try not to "shock" my open cans with extreme temperature fluctuations.  i.e. leaving it in a hot car, taking a can from my pocket and putting it in the fridge.  Luckily, I'm a white collar powder puff that spends 99.8% of my life at a comfortable 69⁰ F... so it's rarely a concern for the snus in my man purse.  

Only other consideration is shipping.  In the dog days of summer if my order gets stuck in a dreaded customs loop in hot trucks/warehouses... it might lose a few weeks of "best by" to the heat.  Even then, it's barely noticable. US General is no longer even refrigerated.  So, all this thought and effort might be for naught.    

That said, this has been my practice for nearly 20 years... so even if it's baseless, it's habit (ritual?) I'm likely to maintain.  

Here's what Swedish Match has to say...

https://www.swedishmatch.ch/en/what-is-snus/qa/

Hope you find this info helpful, and... Happy Snusing!

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.

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!

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!!!

SNUS 101: Portions... so... many... choices....

Really, you go to one of those snus sites I recommended and you'll see TONS of options.  I doubt this synopsis will cover every possibility but it will arm you fairly well for your initial shopping experience.  To start with, a portion is basically tobacco in a single serving pouch (like tea bag material).  They're primarily divided into to two schools, white and original... which can pretty much be summed up as dry and wet respectively.  The white portions are just your snus wrapped in material.  Depending on the brand, they run/drip a little less... and the flavor hits a little slower.  The original portions are taken through a step to moisten the material (presumably with tobacco "juice")...  the taste usually pops a little faster, some run/drip a bit more, and often the overall flavor is more pronounced.  Okay, so we've got white and original... that's kind of the "type", then you get to size and shape (offered in either wet/dry or both).  The most popular options are "regular" a typical .7-1g packet.  There are also "long" portions... which are basically an elongated regular.  Then there are mini's, which are roughly half the size of regular or long portions (possibly a little smaller depending on the brand)... and for most users will be pretty much unseen (these are great if discretion is a must)--they market a lot of these to women, so no shortage of cutesy little pink cans *grins*.  You also have Maxi portions which are roughly 1.5-2x the size of a regular portion.  I've even seen Midi's which fall somewhere between a mini and a regular in terms of size.  So, chances are you'll find a size that fits your need and your lip.  I will make it a point to say, these make a difference in taste.  Especially switching from a white to original... my estimation is that moisture content changes how the tobacco ages, and you can see some noticeable differences within the brand/flavor when moving from one to another.  Same could be said for varying strengths (i.e. I like... or should say dislike General Sterk White less than regular General Original Portions).  Keep in mind that sizes will vary with brands up to 25% and so does the fill-rate or tightness, so a regular with brand X may or may not be as comfortable as brand Y's regular.  The material/texture tends to vary from brand to brand too... some will be softer, some will be scratchy, some will be smooth... they're all fairly similar, but subtle differences can greatly alter your personal experience.  Also of note when it comes to portions (especially if you have a dipping background), is that they work just as well as loose (in terms of nicotine delivery/satisfaction)... and you have the added benefit of easy application/removal (i.e. a los can be a bit of challenge to put in when you're driving).  I know when I dipped, I hated pouches (they never felt like they got the job done)... you won't have that problem with snus.  In fact, you can find some mighty strong/ass-kicking portions if you're looking for it.  Regardless of which one you choose, placement is a matter of preference.  I recommend putting it in your upper lip, somewhere under your nose... left, right, center... I tend to switch it up... sometime's I'll even double barrel it (read: two portions... one placed on either side of the connective membrane)...  you can roll them in your fingers to loosen them up... you can fold the material vertically or horizontally to tighten it... how to do it is the fun part... play around until you get the perfect fit!  Happy Snusing!!!

SNUS 101: Wow, how do I do this stuff? (Los/Loose)

Okay, so if you're new to snus (or Loose)... this will be a brief "how to" for you.  You open the can, and an almost black paste stares back at you...  what to do with this stuff?  Well, you've got options... you can try to dip it (a pinch in the lower lip), I'm not a fan... most Swedish snus will fall apart from the drool generated from this position--btw, that bottom vs. top lip is what makes snus no-spit.  You can shovel a US smokeless product in your top lip and the need to spit will disappear (or diminish greatly)... the shit will shred  (read: irritate the hell out of) your lip, but it can be done.  Option two is the farmer's pinch, top lip... pretty simple, grab however much you want to go up there and shove it in your lip (I usually follow it up with my tongue... kinda squash it in place).  This method works well, but it will fall apart quicker than baking.  Baking?  Well, the typical jargon for snus is "baking a prilla", or forming a brick to put in your lip.  You can do this by hand, basically squash it together and form the perfect pinch to put in your lip (google "hand baking snus" and you'll find some nice videos)... once you've perfected this art, nothing compares for los... the drawbacks are;  a sizable learning curve (akin to hand rolling cigarettes), and dirty fingers/hands.  Taking this route, I recommend starting with Ettan or Roda Lacket... by far the easiest to form in my experience.  Option # 3, and most popular in my estimation... buy a portioner... a tool to bake your prilla with.  There are two on the market (that I'm aware of), the Prismaster, and the Icetool... both work in essentially the same fashion.   You stick them in your can of snus, tamp them down/tighten as desired, and then extract the prilla into your lip.  The major difference being... the prismaster is very cheap, made of plastic (sub $5), it does a fair job, but your prilla/portion will fall apart more quickly... The icetool on the other hand is made of steel or aluminum (costs upwards of $50) and makes a very tight prilla... as good as (if not better than) hand baking.  So think disposable bic lighter vs. a zippo.  Both require a fair amount of upkeep in the cleaning department. I have both (though my prismaster has been retired since getting my icetool).  Considering it's such an investment, I recommend buying the prismaster before getting an icetool... if you like the prismaster, you'll likely love the icetool (I know I do).  Videos for both of these can be googled too.  Happy snusing!!!

SNUS 101: How to quit smoking with Snus

Let me start by saying, that if you're one of those people who wants argue the semantics of "quitting smoking" vs "switching tobacco products"... and I mean this sincerely.... FUCK OFF!!!  I am a non-smoker, completely independent of cigarettes, and have been for many years thanks to Swedish snus.  My risk of pretty much EVERY adverse health effect from smoking has been dramatically reduced, or eliminated.  My clothes, my car, my home... no longer smell like an ashtray, my wallet is some $200 fuller every month.   Suffice to say, I win, and again it's ALL thanks to snus.  Now, I will say that I was a SERIOUS smoker, a pack and half a day (minimum)... and I tried many of the popular quit-smoking aids with no success.  The nicotine replacement therapy (patches/gum/lozenges) failed miserably... I simply couldn't get enough nicotine to suppress my cravings, nor was it anywhere near affordable, the antidepressants... well they just made me feel "off", but didn't stop the cravings... and given the laundry list of side effects (suicide, E.D. *ack!!*), I'm embarrassed to say I even put them in my body.  Okay, enough about what didn't work... let's talk about snus, and why it did.  The Reader's Digest version...  more nicotine!  I simply got more nicotine than I did when I smoked... therefore, I never went through nicotine withdraw.  Even a mild snus will have plenty of nicotine to satisfy cravings if you smoke the strongest full flavor cigarettes on the market.  i.e. I went from 30 Marlboro Reds to 1/2 a can of Skruf (original) daily... and never felt like I was at a shortage of nicotine... in fact, I felt like I was getting more!  BUT, there is a lot more to cigarette addiction than just nicotine.  There are plenty of other addictive substances in those things (literally hundreds of additives, thousands of chemical compounds)... and of course there's the psychological addiction.  Suffice to say, replacing the nicotine doesn't make the urge to smoke go way... only time will do that, and the urge may never completely cease (example: to this day, I still want a cigarette if I'm drinking heavily).  I'm happy to say, that with snus and a little time, it will become almost effortless to manage.  The important part for me was staying ahead of my cravings.  The hardest thing to adjust to is the fact that snus takes some 15-20 min to begin to satisfy that urge... whereas a cigarette fixes it on the first puff.  If you're thinking "it's only a 10 to 15 min difference... what's the big deal'? then you've never been a sincere smoker... those few minutes can feel like an eternity in hell when a strong craving hits... and they can make or break your success in quitting.  So know your triggers, and be as far ahead of them as humanly possible. For me, I always smoked after eating... so as soon as I finish my last bite of food, a snus is my lip.  Shortly after waking up, I smoked... so right after opening my eyes, a snus went in.  Directly after an orgasm (yes sex) I had to have a cigarette... so I got into the habit of tossing one in as soon as she shot me the doey-eyes (yes, I do the deed with a snus in my lip) *grins*--I'll take it a step further... and say if this turns her/him off, change partners, not tobacco products :P.  Hopefully you get the idea... whatever your trigger, pop a snus in a little sooner than you would normally light up.  When it comes to alcohol... I have failed so many times (and still do on rare occasion).  My suggestion is, tone it way down... or eliminate it if possible... at least for the first month or so of being smoke free.  Smoking and drinking go hand-in-hand for me, and I don't know that I'll ever shake that urge (when I'm three shades to the wind).  That said, a couple of drinks and I'm fine... it's the "time to call a cab" nights that I'm really at risk (especially if there is a smoker in the group).  While I'm on the subject... stay away from smokers!  As much as possible, stay away from people who smoke, or at the very least people who are smoking.  After about a month, or whenever your confidence is high enough that you're sure you won't cave...  try hanging out with smokers in small doses.  Also of consideration... never ever, ever, ever... run out of snus! Got that?  If you're in the US like me, there can be a 3+ day wait for a delivery from Sweden.  If you're lucky enough to have a local retailer of Swedish snus... great... now go find a back up source (in case they run out).  Availability can be a big problem... and if you're thinking you can grab a tin of Camel or other American "Snus" (see my write up of American vs. Swedish Snus) think again... not only does it taste terrible, but it doesn't pack the punch of the Swedish, I would guess you'll have to use 2-3x as much, and even then you're running the risk of failing.  I probably have 40+ cans in my freezer/refrigerator right now, and I never go below 3 cans (a 6 day supply for me) without more en route.  Bonus points if you can get a buddy to join you (I got my brother on the snus wagon), we were able to spot each other a can if cut ordering too close (not to mention swapping cans to try different brands).  So, let's review;  know your triggers and stay ahead of them, avoid alcohol and smokers, and never ever run out of snus... do this much, and you've got a very good chance of kicking that smoking habit... it worked for my brother and I, and it can work for you.  I'll also say, that if you fall off the wagon... don't sweat it, you didn't become a smoker overnight... you might not become a non-smoker overnight either... but if you have an earnest desire to quit, snus will be an invaluable aid in your quest.  If you're anything like me, you'll notice an association shift in the process.  Early on, the snus was a substitute for the cigarettes... later (about 2 weeks) it actually became a preference...  in other words, given the choice, I would take a snus over a cigarette.  Do some research on success rates of quitting smoking with snus and compare it to patches (or any other method)... you'll be surprised by the results.  I've seen them reported as high as 50% (vs 1%  for patches...)... now I'm not going to stand behind those figures (I didn't conduct the studies or put the sources under a microscope), but I will say that your chances are much, much higher with snus... I know this, because it worked for me.  Well, good luck to any would-be ex-smokers reading this...  I'm not going to say it's easy, but it's pretty damn close to it (especially when compared to other methods).  Happy Snusing!

SNUS 101: American "Snuhss" vs. Swedish Snus

Okay, so if you're in the US, you've seen Camel, Marlboro, or Skoal snus pretty much wherever cigarettes are sold... they come in pouches, can be placed in the upper lip but that's pretty much where the similarities to Swedish Snus end. I find the US products to be much weaker in terms of nicotine content, loaded with sugar and flavors, and severely lacking in terms of quality. I've also yet to find any results on the TSNA (carcinogen) content (not that I'd try, because I think they taste like shit)... to take it a step further, I find it an insult to the fine products being produced in Sweden to even label the American products snus. It's much like comparing an american cheese food product (i.e. Kraft singles) to an exquisite aged gouda or fresh mozzarella. There is THAT much difference. In other words, there is no comparing real Swedish Snus and the US products that are called snus. The redeeming factor... is that my fellow (ignorant) Americans typically mispronounce snus with a short "u"... sounding something more like "snuhss", I do hope this trend continues and the proper pronunciation, "snoose" gets reserved for quality Swedish products only. I know... you're thinking... "how xenocentric of you Adam"... well, if the shoe fits, then I'll wear it... I make buying decisions based off of value (quality vs price), NOT patriotism. If we (the US) ever begin making a product that rivals Swedish in quality and price... I'll change my tune. 'Til then, I'm carrying the blue and yellow flag for MY tobacco products.

SNUS 101: Where to buy

Maybe you're lucky enough to have a tobacco store (or even convenience store) in your area that carries real Swedish snus... but chances are, the selection will be slim and I highly doubt everything I review will be found locally (unless you're in Stockholm). So I'm going to recommend a few of my favorite websites... all of which are good sources (quality, service, variety, value etc): buysnus, snuscentral, and northerner.  Links can be found on the right side of the page.  NOTE: I'm not affiliated with these guys in any way, shape or form, short of buying from them--in fact, to my knowledge these guys are in direct competition (read: don't even like each other).  That said, some offer a referral program... (I'd be happy to supply my email address if you want to help me get "kick-backs"... just message me for it).