Which is the oldest snuff known? I think it must be Levi because it was mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible already!
I guess that would have to be the tobacco snuff used by South American Indians. It’s made from heat dried green tabacum or rustica leaves mixed with alkaline plant ashes.
Sure, but what is the oldest branded/marketed snuff?
Most likely Samuel Gawith Irish D Light.
I love the pic above…it’s all jungle and tribal…that is, all except the new digital sports watch the native is wearing
@Snifs: Maybe he’s an oldskool headhunter, and that’s his supper. Front leg of the other other white meat. With tobacco rub.
I wonder if they sniff or snort?
"Sure, but what is the oldest branded/marketed snuff? " Might be wrong but out of the non-propriety names such as Rappee, Irish or S.P that distinction, in the UK, probably goes to ‘Original Kendal Brown’ 1792 recipe. It is two hundred and eighteen years old. In response to other Kendal Browns by competitors is was registered with the Intellectual Property Office on 11 July 1877 (TM 12679) and is the only KB that can use the word ‘Original’ (formerly ‘Genuine‘). The next renewal date is 13th July 2013. Neither the Sharrow or Fribourg & Treyer versions are, in my opinion, Kendal Browns at all. They are not made in Kendal, reek of perfume and are not gros. It’s like marketing a sparkling wine made in Kent as Champagne.
I agree, Philip. I find the Sharrow and Treyer Kendal Browns to be an insult to the name. I should have thought about Kendal Brown by Sam Gawith. Philip, any idea how old the Irish D Light recipe is? I remember you saying that it is the original Fribourg & Treyer toast.
Very good, Original Kendal Brown it is!
Yes, but I highly doubt that the blend mentioned is still being made. And I doubt that anyone at the mill would know the name of it.
"Philip, any idea how old the Irish D Light recipe is? I remember you saying that it is the original Fribourg & Treyer toast. " No, unfortunately I don’t. The original and celebrated Lundyfoot must have been invented sometime after 1758, which was when the maker set himself up in business. However, it more probably dates to sometime after 1774 when he moved to Essex Bridge as sources mention the blackguard, Michael Larey, in connection with this location. What is undisputable, however, is that by the turn of the century it had become a famous snuff. Grant’s, Gawith Hoggarth, Illingworth, PJ Carroll and Gallaher each manufactured Irish Light with that by Carroll, who took over Lundy Foot‘s final establishment in Westmorland Street, being very similar to Sam Gawith’s version. The latter snuff plays on the word ‘Delight’ although the ‘D’ actually stands for Dry. I believe that it was so named to avoid confusion with ‘Irish D High Toast’ by Gawith, Hoggath & Co. The characteristics of Irish Light are that it is extremely fine, dry, light biscuit in colour and left unscented. Irish toast, on the other hand, refers only to the scorching process and the final product is not necessarily fine in mill or colour at all. Grant’s High Toast, for example, was not light but medium coarse and the colour of S.P. These days all toasts are dry and light although none are currently made in Ireland. BTW - All this chat has just inspired me to open a tin of ‘Irish High Toast No.22’. Although Sheffield has no historic connection with this type of snuff they have really excelled with this one.
I’ll join you in a pinch of 22.
@ snifs: that picture was probably taken in Brooklyn, New York! lol
MY first snuff was just like the one in that picture. I was in Arabia and had to take the course green tobacco smoked by bedouin and grind it myself, and walked around with an Omani tribesman looking for a Rimth bush to burn up for the woodash to blend it with. Went straight to the head, causing me to have to sit down for a minute after a pinch. Glad I’m back in Brooklyn getting nice orders of McCrystals Hops and other assorted pleasantries.
My tin of Pöschl’s Kloster Andechs says “seit 1455”. With Seit translated as since, that seems to be the oldest claim I can find on any of my tins.
1455 would be 37 years (1492) before Europeans found the Americas and began to use tobacco. Could 1455 be the date of the monastary?
Check this out! I Found a big listing of OLD SNUFFs being sold feb27 1834 Many I have never heard of before and are probably lost in history . Take trip back in Time! 1834 snuff listing
We had this discussion a few months back. Two other contenders for oldest snuffs are those from W.E. Garrett (1726) and Bernard (1733). The latter claims that at least Cardinal and Pariser date back to the founding of the company (although as Xander pointed out, the current Pariser is No2 and No1 is no longer produced). As for WE Garrett, would their current scotches be original recipes ?