So, I’ll preface by saying that I’m an all-day snuser who’s enjoyed the occasional snuff for a treat for a few years now. Due to only taking a few pinches a week, I’ve had to sadly dispose of a lot of snuff often. It’s still “cheap as chips,” as they say, but the wasting breaks my heart a little.

However, my most recent (January) snuff order consisted of Bernard and 6 Photo (black) snuffs along with a few others. And while my wonderful Aniseed Extra has faded, the German and Indian snuffs have lost none of their luster.

I think this is because they are “oiled,” the Bernards with mineral oil, and the 6 Photos with ghee. So my question is, are there other snuffs out there that are hydrated with oils instead of water? (And yes, I know there is a legal issue concerning this when it comes to the British snuffs)

I’ve read that some of the new Toque USA line were made in this fashion and I’m looking forward to trying them. Any others?

Poschl snuffs are oiled iirc, they keep their scent for a long time! I found a tin of red bull the other day that must be 3 years old, was still good. Didn’t have the immediate punch a fresh tin has but, it still did the job.

I have a few snuffs made with a great hand churned butter from an Amish community in Scottsville, KY…about 20 minutes from my place.  I buy it ‘as-is’, then clarify it to different browning stages, depending on the final product.  It’s a pain in the ass, but well worth it.  It behaves like ghee, but has more of a layered toasted complexity.  Take a gander:

http://www.oldmillsnuff.com/menu.html

Thanks, @chefdaniel. Am I correct in assuming that including fats increases the “shelf-life” of snuffs? Or is it just my perception?

@Shavasana

The butter is more for flavor and comfort in these snuffs.  Mineral oil will help snuff stay “fresh” but I don’t like it, so I don’t use it.

What I do is similar to Indian Madras snuffs except I don’t fry the leaf in ghee.

Cheers

I would think that using dairy products or animal products, such as tallow, would give a limited shelf life due to the product eventually turning rancid.

Anybody out there know whether or not this is a valid point?

I thought the same as you howdydave. I was surprised to read about this.

I don’t know if all Toque USA snuffs are oiled some definitely are. Some Rosinski snuffs are oiled, as well as Sternecker.

@howdydave  You are correct.  All oils eventually go rancid.  Refrigeration slows the process but won’t prevent it.

Depending on how much you use and how much you buy and how you store it come into play.  I’ve got NB Madras that’s fried in ghee I bought five years ago. Still great. YMMV

@Jernej I’m pretty sure that Toque USA Lime and Peach include mineral oil.

Interesting. Will have to check a old stash of German snuff in the freezer. I do believe it is a lard base and is about 10 years in there. If it is a bad deal I will toss. Know it is sealed well but will test and post back to this topic. Already don’t feel good so nothing will make me any worse by ginepiging it.

And so do Toque USA Chocolate and Citrus.

@nicmizer – “ginepiging”?

ginepiging by definition means- to try something for better or worse. Sourced via the blebster dictionary.

Mineral oil is not an animal product and does not go rancid. That’s a separate issue from fats, butter, etc.

@Snuffbox  My bad.  You’re correct.  It is a petroleum distillate.

It’s also why I use it on wooden cutting boards, sharpening stones and to lube mixers, etc.

Good call.

Totally hijacking this, but @nicmizer’s “ginepiging” must be the origin of volunteering to be a “guinnea pig”? If so, that makes sense, because I always wondered how that term was related to the little furry animal, other than if it meant through being a subject in animal lab testing.

@chefdaniel I ASSumed you meant all oils based on animal products eventually go rancid. My comment was for the other members who expressed concern about mineral oil in their snuffs. I just wanted to point out the distinction between the two broad categories of what we all think of as oil, didn’t mean to dispute what you had written as I agreed with what you wrote as I understood it at the time.

@Snuffbox  All is well and good of you to add clarity to the discussion.

I’m not a fan of mineral oil in general and in snuff in particular…it doesn’t agree with me but YMMV

Cheers

OLD GERMAN STRAUBINGER SMCHMALZLER. dose age fine in freezer! Purchased from Mr. Snuff when he still resided in Canada.This will date the the age of the oiled snuff I have In the original 100 gram bag. Probably not even remember that I had a stash if I had not eyed the topic. “Guinnea pig” test is is complete and will add to rotation. Still excellent and will continue to hold as- goodness! :)>-