Can anybody tell me the nicotine content as a percentage of an average english snuff such as wilsons sp100.
I read somewhere in this forum that the Canadian labels for McChrystal’s OG state the nicotine content as 3.5 %. I figure that most SPs must be around that figure.
That’s great thankyou it would be realy good if the nicotine content was stated on the tin . Would have a better idea of what to buy and which to avoid.
Alkalinity makes more difference than nicotine content.
3.5 percent nicotine is a very strong tobacco.
Railroad Mills Plain and Navy Plain scotches both have the highest of US snuffs at 24.84 mg/g which is 2.484% However, they don’t have as big a kick of something like Bruton becuase their alkalinity is lower.
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My tin of McChrystal’s SP says: 3.4% nicotine, 0.0005% lead, and 2% nitrosamines. My tin of McChrystal’s Menthol says the same.
Both my McChrystals tins, SP and Menthol(the only snuffs my local tobacconist carries) say 3.4% nicotine
My Rustica SAYS nothing, it just hits me me like a steam engine.
@Xander: “Nicotine is an alkaloid”. So, umm, I suck at chemistry and never really paid any heed to it in school, but… Yeah?
I’ve been doing some measuring and i get about 15 pinches per gram which would be about 2mg of nicotine per pinch. That’s pretty impresive. See what you’re saying about the ph level though.
Anybody got any idea what the usual ph level of the nose usually is. Would adding say half a teaspoon of baking powder to 100 grams of snuff make it just right or would it be best to leave it alone?
@ Mittens: You are not quoting me! I did not say that. Snuff has alkaloids added to it to “free base” it (base=alkaline -as in the oppostie of acidic). Some of the US medical studies compared both raw nicotine and unprotonated nicotine levels. Increasing the alkalinity increases the uptake level of nicotine. So, with two of the same raw strength, one can hit harder. The US Smokeless snuffs, and Bruton in particular have the highest Unprotonated nicotine levels, so they are intense! Yes, pfaber11, baking soda is more or less what they use. Sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. If you do this, only add a tiny sprinkle at a time. Its very dangerous. I added some to Bruton once and nearly kiled myself. Then some newbie came one here, and tried the same thing. He was never heard from again. I did try to warn him. Poor kid. He posted a few video reviews under the name Mr. Maroon. He sent me some vintage Wit and Wisdom too. He probably should have kept the wisdom half for himself. Not sure what the normal pH of the nose is, I’m sure that’s easily looked up somewhere. Its got to be close to neutral though.
@Xander: Yes, my bad, wasn’t quoting you. I was quoting Wikipedia, which I know I shouldn’t do (and should have indicated as well, for that, you do have my apologies). Secondly, I was not aware those studies, I just remembered reading something about nicotine previously. Chuck it down to the language barrier, it just seems my english just isn’t as good as I thought. And my vocabulary is lacking outside my own field. I guess I have some reading up to do 
Alkalinity seems to makes a lot of difference. Take NTSU straight from the container, damp, reeking of ammonia (an alkali) and it has a hell of a nic hit. Let it dry out and it seems to lose some of its kick.
This topic has come up before and I was surprised to first learn that PH level is more of the deciding factor in blood/brain barrier absorption than simple nicotine content. I often wonder if the smoke flavor of the American Scotches is due to the addition of wood ash or potash for just this purpose. To a much lesser extent, I also wonder if a finer grind might contribute by exposing more membrane surface area to the tobacco thereby increasing absorption potential. Possibly not, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
“To a much lesser extent, I also wonder if a finer grind might contribute by exposing more membrane surface area to the tobacco thereby increasing absorption potential. Possibly not, but it wouldn’t surprise me.” Of course it does. Not to much lesser extent, either. Its hugely significant. Dholakia White is the most finely ground snuff I know of. The nic hit is hugely intense. Conversely, Ntsu is probably the coursest. Its nicotine is long lasting, providing the lingering “buzz”.
@Xander. That makes sense. NTSU is loaded with ammonia (an alkali) to give the rapid nic absorbtion and its ground coarse to keep it going.
Makes sense to me. Tho I have to wonder if NTSU is “loaded with ammonia” or that just happens to be a product of the fresh tobacco emitting ammonia naturally. I’ve grown fond of that ammonia smell in a good fresh can.
Me too. I’ve just had my first tin of Taxi red, and I love that ammonia aroma. While we’re on the subject, and bearing in mind that I know nothing about chemistry, anyone know the ntsa levels in Taxi? I know from experience that it is really heavy on the nicotine. If someone were to ask me which snuff to use to get off ciggies, Taxi would be my recommendation. Just love the stuff. My pipes are getting jealous and feeling neglected.