So I recently got some Toque Spanish Gem in the mail. Upon opening the tin, I pinched it between my fingers and realized that the grind was very fine. Now, I have not been snuffing for very long, and I am not very adept at taking finer grinds. The first pinch I took got sucked straight into my throat and had very little flavor to it. I thought I was sniffing as lightly as I could, and I mulled over in my mind how I could take this snuff easier, and then a weird solution hit me. Now this may sound a little odd and slightly gross, but bear with me: I just took the snuff, once it had been warmed in the fingertips, then took my finger and just sort of wiped the snuff into the inside of my nostril. I have to say that it worked pretty well, and while I still don’t really get the full flavor of it just yet, this seems to be the easiest way for me to take finer grinds. What do you guys think?
I think you did the right thing.
I tried to learn circular breathing for didgeridoo playing. I tried, and tried, and tried. Of course the didgeridoo can be played without such technique and playing it is relatively easy and rewarding. Once achieved, circular breathing became quite natural, like riding a bicycle. Still, it takes constant practice as it is NOT natural.
So too is snuffing.
That’s basically stuffing in a nutshell. Most schmalzlers are best when using the stuffing method. Also what @Juxtaposer said. When I finally found the perfect way to sniff I felt like I really accomplished something! Also check out mrmichaelsnuff’s videos on youtube, he has some good howto vids posted.
I started thinking that the point of snuff was to stay inside the nostrils so the scent remains pleasant, and I figured that wiping on the inside of the nostril was the best way to get the snuff to stick so I could smell it better and not sniff it up too far. Glad you agreed with me on this one!
I didnt know there was a method called stuffing, but I suppose in a way, it makes sense. I didnt know if anyone else had thought of this as it seemed a pretty strange alternative, but it seems to work best for me when taking finer snuffs.
@Juxtaposer Paying a didgeridoo is quite fun. I’m still working on the circular breathing (I can maintain it so I can play for a good two minutes maybe, but each cycle it gets progressively weaker and then I crap out), but at least I got the vocalisations down on it now. I need to get a proper didge of my own now, though. I’ve been using a friends, as all I’ve got it a bamboo one, and the hole on it is much too large for me to get a proper seal on it, even if I were to wax it up. Out of interest, how do you position yourself when you play? I can’t play worth a damn if I just hold it straight in front of me, and have the hole completely around my lips, but I can do pretty well for myself just playing with the corner of my mouth. I’ll have to look and see if I can find it, but there was a pretty great video on youtube of one guy. He’d made himself a slide-didgeridoo out of PVC, and he would play that while he was also playing the drums. It was quite the impresive feat of coordination, sure puts me to shame.
I just went to MrMichaelSnuffs channel and saw the video that he has about the stuffing method, which looks pretty much like what Ive been doing. If only I would have checked youtube sooner.
you could always just lick your finger and thumb for the fine snuff
@shikitohno I have a bamboo didge. I have also made a few PVC pipes with elbows so that I can play back towards myself. These also can be played while driving. It has been a while since I’ve played. I never did try playing side ways. The crapping out is all too common so well timed cheats are the norm. It seems any effort requires a cheat and that only the effortless playing in a Zen like state carries the “breathless” momentum.
All this applies to snuffing as well, the didge being the snuff box, the different snuffing methods, the all to common back of the throat or too high up when snuffing outside of a Zen like state, the dream, effortless snuffing.
I once tried playing a 100 plus yr old set of bagpipes, really good ones too. but alas this scots irish bloke did not have the thing figured out. sounded terrible. I can only imagine trying a didge…afraid all my days as a cigarette/pipe/cigar smoker ruined that idea. I did toy with the idea of growing some bamboo of the type which they make the famed japanese flutes from. but it would have taken five or more yrs. even here in missouri where stuff grows quick…alas.
as for snuffing the finer snuff…like say WE Garrett sweet or american scot style. I always try to put it in something like a glass container, or stonewear and add something like a slice of apple or whatever you like and the moisture makes it less of a hassle to use…the grains swell i suspect.
Another suggestion is to use the posh pinch method. This involves taking the pinch and holding it say half an inch or slightly less from ther nose and sniffing gently at it from there. This gentle method releases the flavour, but you might need to sniff gently to or three times per nostril to get a good amount up.
didge is pretty easy to play. You put it over your lips and make farting noises. It’s that simple. I love playing my didge too.