Snus - A Second Newbies Perspective

[sanfrantreat]

I had asked Bostonmark about snus, and he was the great gorilla who sent me a package of snus to try. It smelled weird, was the word to describe it. It tasted very distinct, I can't place it. But within 30 seconds of putting it behind your upper lip it starts to burn because of the salt content. Actually placing it behind your upper lip and having it stay there is actually kinda hard. After a while once you have the act of leaving it there it is not so noticeable. I don't know how people actually have conversation while using this snus. The package is actually quite small, its a small rectangular white bag. After about 4-5 mins, I had to take it out because of the burning sensation and I didn't want to get too much vitamin N as I had to drive home, well I could've had my gf drive. But i took it out before I got dizzy as others have mentioned. After I took it out, it took another 5 mins or so and the nic hit and you can feel it throughout your body. I have to say its not bad, the flavour could be better. As im told there are flavours you can get. I'll be willing to give it another try, I'll update everyone as I give it another go.


Again Thanks bostonmark....

[Cruiscin90]

Your experience is akin to most I have heard from friends and acquaintances; they didn't like it either, but seemed willing to try it again.

I'm curious: what brand of snus did you try? was it marlboro? camel? or a different variety?

[Pac]

As a snus-user for 20+ years maybe I can fill in some gaps..

Snus is wet tobacco (if I remember correctly it is up to 50% water content in the swedish variety called 'mat-snus', which roughly translates to food-snus) and is basically only produced in Sweden.

The kind you described above is called 'portionsnus' (which translates to 'portion-snus' ) simply because it is packed in the little bags and easy to use. The other kind is called 'lössnus' (loose snus) and you have to 'bake' your own 'prilla' (prilla is what a ball of snus is called, and what you get when you press the loose snus together with your fingers, commonly called 'baka', bake in english). This way you can take as much snus as you want, and you can also get your fingers stained in a lovely yellow nicotine tint.

Die-hards claim that loose snus is the only way and the little white bags are 'diapers', and that they take away much of the taste.

I used to use lössnus when I started (back in -82) but after living in the US for two years, during which I got snus sent to me, I got used to the portion snus (basically because it was easier to use even when it had dried some) and now I use only portion because I'm lazy.. and don't think it affects the taste that much.

Snus gives you a high and continous nicotine intake, and my personal experience is that it is more addictive than cigarettes.. and a lot harder to kick the habit.
On the positive side you don't get all the bad stuff from cigarette smoke into your lungs, so it is a lot better than cigarettes.. and that said you should know that nicotine also is not good for your body, but if you already have the addiction it is better to use snus.

There are a lot of different flavors, the most popular brands are 'General' (which I use) and 'Grov' (roughly 'rough' in english), both are strong in tobacco taste but General is a bit smokier, I think.
New flavors that have hit the market are often geared towards women, as Swedish Match (the biggest manufacturer, also owns General Cigar and all the cuban trademarks outside of the US) would like ppl to start using snus instead of just quitting cigarettes.
Another new 'thing' in snus is luxury/premium snus, like the three brands from Habanos: Monte cristo, RyJ, and one more that I don't even remember.. Swedish Match has also tried some premium snus'es, but none of the names has stuck with me.

Marlboro/Camel has never made snus as far as I know.

If you have any questions I'll try to answer them as best I can!

(and since I'm going to the US at the end of May I might be able to bring some and send out, if anyone's interested )

/Pac

[Virginia Gent]

Are these snus just another name for dip or snuff? If so why are you putting it in your upper lip? Every dipper I know puts it in their lower lip. I did too when I dipped.

[Pac]

Originally Posted by Virginia Gent

Are these snus just another name for dip or snuff? If so why are you putting it in your upper lip? Every dipper I know puts it in their lower lip. I did too when I dipped.

No, it's not the same.

The american snuff/dip is less wet than swedish snus, and if you try to put a portion of snus (the bags of portion-snus are similar to some american snuff, for example Skoal used to pack snuff/dip in small pouches) in your lower lip or in the cheek you will get too much tobacco juice in your mouth and down your throat.

Snus goes behind your upper lip, on either side of the little divider (I alternate sides). This way it doesn't get soaked with saliva and you won't get flooded with the juices.

/Pac

[Cruiscin90]

A lot of good information up there Pac. I'm no expert, but I know a little.

General is good snus. They sell it at a tobacco store up where I live - there's a little fridge over in the corner of the store that has it. I'm fairly certain I'm one of about a handful of people who actually knows about it, and has bought some. 4.50 for 25 bags- that's not bad, right?

Camel and Marlboro do make snus, although I should have probably clarified a bit. Apparently, they're doing it in "test markets" - I live in a city outside of Dallas, so I guess Dallas (and it's surrounding area) is one of the markets.

Comparing the camel and marlboro varieties to General is like comparing a Black and Mild to an Opus (well, maybe not that far, but you get the idea.) The packets are twice as small, obviously made with lower quality tobacco, and to top it all off, they're more expensive!

Pac, you know more about Snus than me. How long do you leave a pack in your mouth? Half an hour is the general rule of thumb, I've heard, but I get a buzz for a while longer sometimes. What's your consensus?

[JacksonCognac]

My buddy is getting into Snus and I've tried a little. It's enjoyable enough but I prefer smoking a pipe given the option. I can see where Snus has it's place tho and I like how you don't have to spit all the time like with dip. Plus the pouches mean I don't make a mess which is great if you are trying to be discreet.

I imagine it's going to get real popular in the states with all of this anti-cigarette stuff going on.

[Seanohue]

I just got into snus. I picked up a tin of General white portion at Cigar King at the MoB herf. I don't really get a taste out of these though; mostly smells. I bought an 8 tin sampler at swedish-snus.com and have been trying a few different ones. Right now I have a mini portion of Goteborgs Rape in, which I'm liking. My favorite so far is Roda Lacket white portion. The buzz on certain blends is heavier than on others, so you can get stuff that won't make your head spin to stuff that is probably comparable with dip. I've never dipped because the damage to the teeth I've seen is not worth the money that my parents have spent fixing mine. Snus on the otherhand does not seem to have that affect. Plus there's no spitting or anything, which is nice.

Also, another difference that I've read about between snus and dip is that snus is made with unfermented tobacco, which lowers the content of nitrosamines. I also found out that despite the troubles of the Swedish government and the WHO, no adverse affects have been found in snus.

Well done Swedes

[Pac]

Originally Posted by Cruiscin90

General is good snus. They sell it at a tobacco store up where I live - there's a little fridge over in the corner of the store that has it. I'm fairly certain I'm one of about a handful of people who actually knows about it, and has bought some. 4.50 for 25 bags- that's not bad, right?

I had no idea they've started selling snus in the US! Back when I lived in NJ (-84 thru -86) one could only get it directly from Sweden.
And 4.50 for a tin, that's almost half the price that I pay here.. :/
(or at least 2/3 of the price.. if the dollar rate stays like this )

Originally Posted by Cruiscin90

Camel and Marlboro do make snus, although I should have probably clarified a bit. Apparently, they're doing it in "test markets" - I live in a city outside of Dallas, so I guess Dallas (and it's surrounding area) is one of the markets.

Not surprising, they (the tobacco companies) are trying to secure their revenue when more and more ppl quit cigarettes.
Would love to try some, though.. I hope I can find it in Atlanta when I go there at the end of May.

Originally Posted by Cruiscin90

Pac, you know more about Snus than me. How long do you leave a pack in your mouth? Half an hour is the general rule of thumb, I've heard, but I get a buzz for a while longer sometimes. What's your consensus?

I usually have mine in for about half an hour.. since I am really hooked I have a bag under my lip almost all the time, spitting out the used one and replacing it (a lot of time without even thinking about it) with a fresh one just minutes later. Sometimes when I'm focused on something I might forget it and have it in for up to an hour, but then the inside of your lip feels kinda funny for a while.

I am trying to cut back on this addiction, and am using cigars to reward myself .. not as a replacement source of nicotine, 'cause not much can match the nic intake you get from snus, just as a carrot to get me to use less snus.
The last 3-4 weeks I have been using about half, or even less, the amount of snus as I usually do (normal for me would be just over a tin (24 bags) per day). Now a tin can last as long as three days, when things go right..

Originally Posted by Seanohue

I just got into snus. I picked up a tin of General white portion at Cigar King at the MoB herf. I don't really get a taste out of these though; mostly smells. I bought an 8 tin sampler at swedish-snus.com and have been trying a few different ones. Right now I have a mini portion of Goteborgs Rape in, which I'm liking. My favorite so far is Roda Lacket white portion. The buzz on certain blends is heavier than on others, so you can get stuff that won't make your head spin to stuff that is probably comparable with dip.

My impression is that the 'white' portion is weaker in taste and the amount of juice you get in your mouth, I don't like them at all personally.
As far as I know the nic-content is about the same in the different brands, it is just different flavorings, and in some cases differences in the consistency of the snus (in the 'loose' kind, you don't notice the difference in the portion bags ).
Roda lacket is, in the loose variety, sort of like a doughy consistency, making it easy to bake and keep it together under the lip, but with a strange taste which is not that popular here.

The difference to dip is that with dip you get a lot more juices into your mouth and throat due to the placement in the mouth.. there's more saliva wetting the dip in the cheek or the lower lip, than with snus under the upper lip. Try using snus in the lower lip and you'll notice it is much 'stronger' than dip

Originally Posted by Seanohue

I've never dipped because the damage to the teeth I've seen is not worth the money that my parents have spent fixing mine. Snus on the otherhand does not seem to have that affect. Plus there's no spitting or anything, which is nice.

Snus can hurt your teeth too.. or as it has done with me, saved me from a lot of cavities (it has something to do both with the Ph of the wet snus and the fact that it makes the mouth produce more saliva which helps keep teeth healthier.
I don't think anyone would recommend it for medical purposes though, it is still bad for you to get all that nicotine into your system.. and it is _very_ hard to kick the habit, harder than cigarettes.

Originally Posted by Seanohue

Also, another difference that I've read about between snus and dip is that snus is made with unfermented tobacco, which lowers the content of nitrosamines. I also found out that despite the troubles of the Swedish government and the WHO, no adverse affects have been found in snus.

Well done Swedes

I do think they ferment the tobacco some, but I'm not sure.. I think the Habanos brands use fermented tobacco though.

We used to have the "this sh*t can cause cancer and KILL you" stickers on snus here, but that got overturned as someone complained and they didn't have any research that proved that snus caused cancer, just cigarette smoking. It still says that it is addictive and could damage your health, but not the "smoking kills" that we (and you) have on cigarette packs.

It is still nicotine, and nicotine is a poison. It causes contractions in the smallest of blood veins, making all kinds of things happen with your body. I believe that the decrease in blood flow could be responsible for part of my back aches, an old wrestling accident in high school where I ripped the muscles almost completely off in my lower back comes back to haunt me at times, and I've read stuff about how the nicotine makes the blood flow decrease, out in the finest of the capillaries (spelling?), which in turn makes healing harder and can cause inflammations that halts the healing process. This is the main reason I wan't to cut back on my snus use.. won't give up on cigars though, as long as one doesn't inhale the smoke the amount of nicotine entering the system is not much.. and if I keep it to a couple of sticks a week it's probably a lot better for me and my body!

Still like the taste of snus, and am still heavily addicted to it.. but hopefully on the right path.

/Pac

[Seanohue]

Really? I don't feel an addiction to it at all. I've only been doing it for about a week and a half though, so I can't really tell I suppose.

[Pac]

Originally Posted by Seanohue

Really? I don't feel an addiction to it at all. I've only been doing it for about a week and a half though, so I can't really tell I suppose.

We're not talking crack cocaine here, it's still nicotine.

(why isn't there a snusing smiley? )

You'll (probably) get hooked if you keep it up, all of a sudden you'll notice that you have to have a snus, and you can't think of anything else until you get it.. kinda like any other addiction.
I would prefer not to be addicted to it, or anything for that matter, but there is probably a lot worse things to be hooked on. Cigarette smoking, for example. Or crack.

/Pac

[Cruiscin90]

Agh! so many quotes to respond to. I'm just gonna go the lazy road and not quote any. Yeah, that's the way

Anyway, there are 3 tobacco stores within a few miles of my home, and only one of them has snus. But (as you've confirmed), it's good snus for a cheap price, and there's 5 different flavors.

Anyway, I don't think snus is going to be able to take a foot hold in the U.S. I've given a pack to several cigarette smokers, and they HATED it! I think it's decent stuff, but damn, they just couldn't stand it, I swear.

As for the health effects of snus, there's no such thing as healthy tobacco. But as far as the forms of it go, snus is the least harmful. It has been linked to pancreatic cancer and diabetes, but it's still not going to do the number on your lungs, teeth (to an extent), and arteries that cigarettes do. It's a good alternative to cigarettes, but it's certainly not better than quitting.

Anyway, Seanohue, listen to Pac. You'll get hooked. Steam-cured tobacco, as is found in snus, has a lot of nicotine. You'll start to enjoy it more, and at the same time, you'll find yourself getting hooked. The two are linked.

One final note: you can try the American snus if you want, but god, it's just no good. Camel's frost flavor tastes like toothpaste! I do like the tins though. And snus IS snus...

[croatan]

Snus has become my "mid-afternoon pick-me-up" at work. I've tried a few different ones, not sure if I have a favorite yet. Today, it was Retro by Fiedler & Lundgren--pretty good stuff.

[RUJohnny99]

When the original Snus post appeared, I went on the marlborosnus.com website and requested more info. Yesterday (two months later) I got a postcard from them:

"Thank you for your interest in Marlboro Snus. Unfortunately, Marlboro Snus is not currently available in your area, so we cannot send you any further mail from Marlboro Snus."

Today I read something on the reason these American companies are rolling it out in limited test markets. With the pending FDA regulation of tobacco, current products will be grandfathered from further regulation, and new products will need to get FDA approval before they can come on the market. By selling a few dozen snus in Dallas, Marlboro is able to roll this out in the future with limited problems. Probably the same reason Camel has about 50 "limited edition" varieties of cigarettes on the market right now.

[FN in MT]

Dip tobbaco is used heavily out here in the West. Have many friends ADDICTED to the stuff. Have a friend who contracted some sort of reaction to the constant chew in the lower lip....ended up having 8 lower teeth pulled and had to quit dipping.

Bad stuff.

FN