Haven’t been able to find anything about this. I think it would be cool to know how Toque came about. Roderick, what led you to this revelation of snuff? what made you start toque? We have history for many other companies.

Roderick talks about his history a bit in this ancient thread from the archives.

That thread made me re-visit the chocolate which I haven’t touched in probably a year!! Awesome! One of my favorite things about this forum, it reminds me about forgotten snuffs. Yesterday it was red seal…

The Early Days! Working Hard At The Snuff Mill

nice!

Once upon a time there were these elfs…

He should make a nice video documentary, maybe a half hour long, decent but affordable production value, and post it on youtube and the website. I think it’d be an aid in advertisement too.

You’ll not get much out of him. He works the site like a good businessman works a room (and before I get jumped on thats NOT an insult)

When I first discovered Toque, Roderick had 3 kinds of snuff: Original, Natural, and Snus Ice — which I believe is now called menthol. How far he’s come!

Snus Ice is a bit different (as far as I know), it was marketed for the Swedish clientele. Only 1 retailer that I know of still sells it.

I should have said peppermint, not menthol.

I don’t think it is the same as Peppermint either. Xander’s review from Snuffreviews: “This is Toque’s long forgotten second child. This was released just after, or about the same time as Toque’s Original. Things have evolved a lot in these last few years, and this one seems to have been quietly left behind. Perhaps the name “snus” in the title was confusing. It was supposed to be something to compete in the Scandinavian market, but this is a true nasal snuff. It is only “snus” by a literal translation of the word. In fact this can be recreated with some accuracy by simply combining Toque Menthol with the excellent Toqe Peppermint. Its pretty good, though as usual for me personally the menthol is a bit strong. It mixes well with Toque Vanilla to tone it down a bit. If you are so inclined, this can still be found in a few online snuff merchants, but all new stock is sold exclusively through Snuff Store UK.”

Regarding Snus Ice: I don’t think Snuff Store even has any left. That’s between Roderick and Tim if they want to keep the product going. I think My Smoking Shop has some of the old bullets of it. It’s really more of a collector’s item now. Roderick may have a few left, but they’re not sold on the Toque shop. Just mix the menthol & peppermint half and half and you have it.

I can testify that Roderick´s an expert when it comes to wine Also I predict that Toque will grow drastically in 2011. Pöschl really need some serious competition to become creative again, so this will just be great.

Expansion is a good thing, Roderick. With a bit of luck, you may attract the attention of some venture capitalists who see the potential in helping you build your snuff empire.

I can see a Roderick on Dragon’s Den now

@Rodrick"I’ve put on a few pounds since those were taken." Yep your a true heavy weight in the Snuff Industry !!! Now Keep up the good work !

Interesting story,im glad he shared that with us its always nice to hear how somebody started from practically nothing then built his mini empire and became successful,itd be cool to a see a pic of that old 1730 town house,that house stood the test of time no doubt…im looking forward to trying Toque for the first time very soon(its in the mail now)and i hope someday you’ll be able to pass down the company to your kids or grand kids to take over,just dont forget to drop by and say hello to us after you become a multi-millionaire

It’s one of the brands I always have around. Wilsons and dholakia are the others.

@Roderick While it’s true that an Eighteenth Century townhouse is a more romantic place to make Snuff, time marches on as they say. I place you in the same category as Jim Marshall and Berry Gordy. The quality continues even though the venue may change a bit, as it always does with success. What you have, you’ve earned by intelligence, sheer determination and hard work. As Claude Debussy used to say: “Tojours plus haute”. In other words “Onward and upward.”

Thanks for sharing Roderick. Now we at least have a clue to how your universe Expanding product came about. Were you making it yourself for personal use before you started selling?

He’s a liar. It’s made in the north pole. He wasn’t in the wine bussiness he was in the free toy bussiness then he realized there was no money in it and that there where better use for coal then shaming bad children.

I’ve got evidence that Roderick let his old life as santa claus to start toque snuff. I’ll show you when I get some decent access to photoshop.

Not really on topic just want to highly recommend the grape (for some reason it always says champagne, it’s probably french for grape that’s my theory). I should order some tonight.

Raisin is French for grape.

then what’s champagne? Itallian for grape?

The place´s name where the grapes are raised.

Champagne is a region of France where champagne (the drink) was invented.

Champagne was invented in Accrington in Lancashire.

by Dom Perigon or how ever it is spelled. I just have a running joke about the champagne being mislabeled grape snuff. I don’t get any champagneness from it but I do get a really nice grape scent. Reminds me actualy of eating the wild grapes.

Is eating the wild grapes anything like sowing the wild oats?

nah

When I first recieved my tin of Absinthe I was overpowered by it, not the nic, just the aroma. It may have been very fresh with ammonia, but I couldn’t take it. I used a couple grams in a large pill bottle I keep some of the snuffs I don’t like. Now, upon re-opening the tin, it’s mellowed out a bit, and I like it. I don’t use the “candy” snuffs all day because of my allergies, but I think this one is going to be one I use more often now. Even my mix of “reject” snuff’s is getting better. I’ve mixed a ton of things in it, as well as leaving cotton swabs that were soaked in vanilla and anise in it. I guess it aged well. Maybe Toque will come up with a white, similar to White Elephant and Dholakia. Please please please.

That’s a good idea Mcguyver. Toque white would kick some serious arse, Dholakia White certainly does but I’ll go for a Toque Clove and a Camphor snuff by Toque. I know I’m playing the same old tune but keep asking and you shall receive lol. Stefan

I just tried to make a small order. YOU DON’T HAVE PAYPAL! I’m “cutting up” my cards. Maybe I’ll figure it out.

Paypal will not let you use an account for tobacco products. If they find out, they will suspend your account for quite some time and it’s a bitch to get it reinstated.

Oh, thanks. Pre-paid card time for me then. I will NOT use my cards, I will NOT use my cards, I will NOT use my cards…

LOL! Been there…done that!

not sure this is the discussion thread for it, but since they have problems smoking in london in public if that is how it is, I am surprized that snuff clubs, along the lines of cigar clubs over here in the colonies has not caught on. That would be nice, go into a pub, grab a pint of porter and have a pinch of your favorite snuff. Maybe at the bar they have one of those fancy goats head mulls with the house snuff in it and sell of course all brands, especially toque and other english blends. Sounds like a good idea to me. Perhaps if I win the lotto I will do that. Not the best of ideas, me running a liquor establishment…ooops there goes the profits.

@Roderick PayPal lost me a couple of years ago. I dumped them over their ridiculous “moral objections” over anything related to both Tobacco and Cannabis. When I see online vendors that use it, I always e-mail the site and offer to write a checque. Count me in for the anti-PayPal revolution!

Viva la revolution!

To me, Paypal has it’s purpose…just tobacco isn’t one of them.

Or you can not mention Tobacco at all on the Paypal form and use “gift” instead. It worked for me While ordering from some Dutch windmill place.

@Roderick: Hear, hear! I have the exact problem with ebay (paypal is easy enough to deal with). I think their policy toward tobacco products is absurd. After all, we are all here to make a few dollars, let’s cut the moral crap and let capitalism runs its course.

Well, we are letting capitalism run its course. Both PayPal and Ebay are private corporations that have decided to not permit the purchase of certain items with their services. This is their choice. I do not know of any government mandate that does not permit for the purchase of tobacco products through ebay or with payment through PayPal. As private entities, they have exercised their right to self-regulate what they allow to be sold or what they allow money to be sent for.

I’m not sure they have the “right”. They fear litigation that someone would hold them responsible if someone should happen to get tobacco that shouldn’t. Should they be held accountable if this occurs? Its a gray area, in the law and they are avoiding dealing with it by issuing a blanket policy. However, there is also a case to be made against them in the courts for what they are doing in hindering business. A class action law suit could make them sing a different tune, but these things cost money. Also since they have no direct competition, there is a case to file anti-trust suits against them.

@cstokes4 You’re quite right. It’s also the choice of consumers to not use a good or service made by or run by a company who’s corporate culture doesn’t mesh with theirs. It’s why I’ve been boycotting Kellogg’s, Sarah Lee, AT&T and Disney for years.

So does this mean that stores like Target could be sued because they do not sell tobacco? I doubt it.

@Mr_Snuffy: Boycott away. Just because I feel that they have the right to run their business as they choose, does not mean that I like their choice.

cement trucks are really heavy and have huge tires. I especally like the thingy that spinds around.

@cstokes4 I certainly wasn’t disagreeing with you. In fact, quite the opposite. Companies are definitely entitled to support causes that their CEO’s or board of directors feel are important. Keeping my pennies away from companies that offend me isn’t going to bring them to their knees, but at least I can sleep a little easier knowing that they didn’t get any richer from my hard earned pay.

@ cstokes: I’m saying that if you have limited options to pay for an item that you legally have the right to buy, but a private party stands in your way, and essentially says, “you can’t do that here”, but that private party is your only means of conducting a transaction, then there is a case for both suing for loss of potential revenue, and trust-busting for having a virtual monopoly. Target does not have a monopoly, its not really relevant. Paypal and ebay pretty much do. Government issues legal tender (cash): all other forms of payment are equivalants of that. If $20 cash is worth $20 everywhere but worth 0 dollars on paypal, you have a private corporation stating they will not accept legal tender, even though they are not the direct recpient. Who are they to decide such things? They have no authority other than the power of marketing. That’s too much power for a bank to wield, because they are interfereing in our private lives. Their stated pupose is to facillitate e-commerce. E-commerce is a very new area, and escapes a lot of our traditional laws in many ways. In time such things may get worked out. Laws in many areas have a hard time keeping up with technology, such as digital downloads and so forth. It doesn’t make me right, I’m just saying its a gray area, and gray areas are decided in courts. I could easily make the case for them and the status quo as well, as you are doing as I see their point of view.

That would be very curious indeed. I’m not familiar with their policy, really, but that would add to the case since its discrimination.

I definatly think you could get them on not allowing a person to use their service based off of their e-mail address.

and its really neat how the concrete comes out the tub and down the shoot.

I think Premium Parrots brings the real issue to the table. I think what he is trying to say is that PayPal and Ebay are the large cement truck. They are so full of concrete that… wait what? Premium Parrots can you clarify?

He’s stating that this is mildly off topic, and I agree, but I also agree that paypal sucks.

I know. I am just stating that Premium Parrots is NUTZ! Oh… and paypal sucks indeed.

Come on now. Please don’t judge me because I’m stunningly beautifull and utterly bright. Besides concrete trucks don’t even travel that fast.

I don’t see why people think PP is nutz. Cement trucks are nearly as aesthetically pleasing as stop signs and some such.

Cut the guy a break. He’s the only parrot I’ve ever met that could snuff me under the table.

@bob…I could never get you up my nose bud. under the table or anywhere else. Besides, I’m not into snuffing dudes. not that theres anything wrong with that.

@ Premium Parrots But what if concrete trucks were fast… extremely fast? PayPal would be the least of our problems then.

Yet pp you can fit more snuff in your beak holes then I go through in a week.

If they were that fast I would be sure to stay on my perch. And do my part to crap on paypal.

Ok, and I get chewed out for off-topic. Cigars International, where I order from, at least took paypal last April. They offer this service now; http://www.ebillme.com/learn/cigarsinternational Back to Toque… I’m placing an order today or tomorrow. I’m looking at replacing the Dean Swift Apricot in my fathers snuff diet with Toque Apricot. Has anyone compared the two? I might take a pinch of Apricot a day, but it’s my dad’s favorite. I know that it isn’t mentholated, which is what we want, but I imagine as with the other snuff’s Roderick makes, his is probably better than the Dean Swift not to mention much cheaper as the D.S. is only sold in 1/6 ounce tins that I know of. I’m placing a couple of orders this week, and would like to keep my shipping rates down, seeing as how I know I’ll be ordering form Toque, getting the Apricot from him would be best. I’m thinking of 2 25gram tins, one for me, one for dad, so if anyone has tried it, let me know.

I imagine paypal and ebay are concerned with the P.A.C.T. stuff and are worried about being liable for taxes?

How would either one be liable for payment of taxes? They are not the sellers.

I understand that, it’s just being paranoid. My families factory still get’s lawsuits over injection molding machine’s we havn’t built in 30 years. It’s amazing what someone tries to sue for. Let’s just say that someone get’s pinched by the IRS or ATF, blame the websites… Just my theory… I had the county sherriff’s dept. beat the hell out of me in June. Hell, I’m filing suit against them, and the village that pays them to patrol when we don’t have cops on duty. What the hell right. Any advice on the Apricot? I’ll have to look a little closer and see if there is a Toque t-shirt available.

There are indeed Toque t-shirts available in the accessories section.

Found them. Unfortionatly I’m having issues with a pre-paid card. I’ve got everything in my basket, but for some reason Toque declines and Mr. Snuff accepted the other? I’ve gotta figure this out.

my hovercraft is full of eels

my eel is full of hovercrafts

My sock is empty of snails¿

my wife is full of crap

My wife could give a crap…

My wife did not renew her vehicle registration like I asked and got pulled over today at a stop light when a cop pulled up behind her and noticed her sticker was expired… I’m tired of her crap.

yeah, i don’t like carp. gimme your toque t-shirt.

My nipples explode with delight.

Roderick, back on topic - are you the blender for Toque or did you employ someone?

enten-eller "yeah, i don’t like carp. gimme your toque t-shirt. "

@street carp You can turn that frown upside down, street carp, because I’m here to clarify I was only referring to river carp. Street carp I like alot! I run a rescue mission for them, right next door to the Salvation Army.

Friggen nice pic! On our local lake, we have bow-fishing for carp and spearing for carp contests to get the numbers down. I occasionally hook them when walleye or catfishing. The are one hell of a fight, but I club them before throwing them back. I can’t wait for my puddin’!

Roderick - its a pretty esoteric subject; how did you pick it up?

roderick if you ever want to cut corners and turn you’re company into one that runs on reputation only you can always employee me as “master” blender. Sure quality will go down but you’ll have free time and it will be years before it kills your bussiness. Just saying it’s an open offer.

Like Bob wrote, if you want someone in the US to help, I’m here for you too. You can take payment’s via the UK, and have it drop shipped in the US for half the shipping rates. Hmm, idea’s. My cousin (atty.) is still reading the P.A.C.T. legislation for loop-holes and it’s looking promising. Drop shipping isn’t the same as direct shipping.

Hopefully you’re not ready to help like me. My help comes with a promise of failure.

Great self-esteem bob. Like me. Added a few esspresso beans to my toque esspresso to liven it up a bit. I hope it works. I’m just wondering how I can freshen up my Peanut Butter. Any advise?

nothing to do with self esteem. I hold my self in high esteem. I just know that my skill set and level of dedication would be not fit properly with toques mission of providing the world with premium snuff. However if they need a spokesperson I’d be a fit. If they want help testing snuffs I’d be great at that. If they started a medical office in less then two years I could help them out. If they need someone to write a theme song or design logos or the such. I just like teasing roder cause he’s a good sport so I offered the most worthless help I can.

I’m on my way to ship some Thouc Lao right now.

I hate to be a downer, but I’m thinking that’s a loophole you’d have a hard time guiding a needle through, let alone a business. It’s been a while since I did the requisite reading on the Act, but I seem to recall that there was no distinction made between different shipping methods. The only exemption granted was business-to-business shipping.

And person to person shipping, shipping within the state of Hawaii (or was it Alaska?), and of course private courier is allowed so long as the packages are marked according to specifications and age verification of recipient is ensured.

Bags I get the job of master blender Bob. Every snuff would be course grained and smell of Port.

I purchased two 25g tins of Toque Apricot to replace the Dean Swift Apricot as it’s my fathers favorite. Not as big of an Apricot blast, but I’m liking it more than the Dean Swift. I can see myself using this much faster. It doesn’t bother my sinus as much as the Dean Swift, my father is also impressed. Thanks Toque!

One thing I would like to see in Toque’s future is the day I can walk into any petrol/gas station or convenience store and see Toque sold in all of them.