I’m not a big fan of most Indian snuff with this notable exception. I am a neophyte newbie, almost a virgin, with Madras snuffs, but I am working my way through three of them in a deliberate manner. I am looking forward to hearing the wisdom and counsel from my more experience friends. NB Madras; my favorite so far. I get a nutty, browned butter note here that enhances some damn good tobacco that, to my nose, is a type of air cured burley. It has a brief bite then settles into that nice tobacco scent and beautiful, long hit of nicotine. NC Super Special; some buttery scent, but not as smooth or nutty as NB. Good, not great, tobacco also seems to be burley-esque. Nice nic delivery, but more subtle. TPS Madras; to my nose almost identical to NC with some subtle differences. I need to focus on these two. Overall I really enjoy them each in their own mood and time. NB is a great eye opener, the other two work throughout the day. None as a steady diet or a replacement for HDT, which is more refined than these journeyman snuffs IMHO. They each have their prominent place in my plain snuff rotation, the Madras are so well priced they do get a regular workout. Sometimes nicotine isn’t the point, it’s the tobacco scent, and that is where HDT gets top billing. When my heart needs a jump start the Madras snuffs are my go-to choices. Looking forward to hearing from those with more experience. Cheers
Thanks for your thoughts, @chefdaniel . I haven’t had a chance to try any Madras snuffs yet, but they certainly sound like they would be my kind of tobaccos.Cheers!
I haven’t tried 'em yet either - any idea if Indiansnuff is still offering them for sale in the UK? Also, I’m presuming, as you mention HDT that they’re like a fine, dry toast. In which case, are they similar to an American scotch? (Anyone new to snuff is going to be baffled by the above sentence… :)) )
Not similar to toasts or scotches in that they are well buttered down with ghee. They are ground finely, but the tobacco scent and the butter make them quite different IMHO.
It’s no secret that I love NB–it has a permanent place in my daily snuff use. I like the grind and moisture level. I, too, get a nice nutty scent, sometimes almost bordering on peanut butter. The nicotine level is great and I like the quick burn. It certainly borders on a toast, but as Chef says, something like #22 has more scent. TPS is OK, but the touch of rose I can only take in moderation–not one I will replace when my tin is gone. Honestly have not tried NC.
So, whilst it’s a fine snuff it’s easier to use like a medium grind would be?
@HR_pufnsnuff, I think Dholakia Sparrow is the Indian snuff closer to an American Scotch. I’d say the NB Madras is slightly easier to take, just because not so fine and dry. A good, honest snuff that you could use all day, if you like high nic snuffs. I agree with Daniel that HDT is a much more refined snuff with a strong but subtle flavor, but really only a middling nicotine level.
@mecompco I didn’t get rose in the TPS, but I did get a hint of “something”. I thought some sort of generic incense, but it could be rose. I’ll have a great time studying this 
@JakartaBoy I agree that Sparrow is close to Scotch, and is also a journeyman snuff. I want to thank you for that recommendation. I’ve pretty much finished a 50 gr tub of both Sparrow and the lightly mentholated version. Good stuff. I don’t think anything can replace HDT. It is truly a classic, and one of the few snuffs that actually improve with age. That leads me to think that there is a serious percentage of Virginia leaf or mid rib in there. One of the items in my snuff ‘bucket list’ is to figure out the rest of the F&T line before I draw the curtain and join the choir invisible. So far, no joy.
So, whilst it’s a fine snuff it’s easier to use like a medium grind would be?
I’d say it is on par with most toasts. Much easier to take than, say, White Elephant. It is on the fine side of “medium”, but it is not “flour” like WE/DW/WP. It works quite well from a bullet, which is how I usually take it.
@mecompco I didn’t get rose in the TPS, but I did get a hint of “something”. I thought some sort of generic incense, but it could be rose. I’ll have a great time studying this
Hmm, perhaps it’s not “rose”, but that is what it strikes me as. It is nowhere near as “rosey” as, say, Suhgndhshgar Rose brand is. Still, I prefer the unperfumed goodness of NB. I look forward to hearing what your much more refined nose says–I’ll be the first to admit that my nose/palette is rather wanting.
@chefdaniel Sorry to bump an old thread, but with the Dholakia trial being tainted with menthol (which pretty much ruins it for me) I am on a mission to try a Madras. Does the NB exist anywhere for order anymore? Or any of them in single tins? I can’t find them anywhere, except for the NC and TPS in distribitor packs at Hookah1. Getting frustrated here.
@Hitsuzen there was a member here from the UK username @indiansnuff who was selling hard to get indian snuffs. You could try to shoot him a PM .
@basement_shaman thanks!
786 @Hitsuzen, were you successful?
I really only enjoy the NB, and I have only 1/2 a tin of it, so I only take it once in a while. The other Madras types I’ve tried just don’t do it for me. The tobacco base of NB seems to be more flavorful. I got mine from @indiansnuff a fews ago when he was trying to get his business off the ground. Does anyone know what happened to him? I don’t see him posting any more.
786 @mrmanos, I’ve been haunting the later threads which mention him but so far nopony seems to have succeeded in contacting him. Which is a great pity.
He was last active on November 1, according to his profile.
Dholakia madras toast is a wonderful cross over. Something like an American scotch, the buttery toast, and Dholakia strength. Great flavor IMO