I am considering making some snuff from traditional English tobaccos. I found these at Mars Pipes and Cigars. Erinmore- Flake GH- Best Brown Flake #2 Samuel Gawith- Plugs (cob plug) Has anyone here some experience with these? I’d expect to end up with something like a Kendall Brown unscented. But lots stronger! Any thoughts appreciated. I used to smoke Erinmore years ago, and am looking forward to putting some of that in my pipe again!
Hi Stich, I’m also thinking in that direction. I used to smoke Three Nuns many years ago, don’t know if it’s still available. It was a very sweet but moist tobacco. My problem is that I don’t know how to dry the tobacco. If I should put it an oven, it might get scorched and also the oven might reek of tobacco. To leave it in the sun might be best but that might take a long time to dry to a point where it can be ground. Any of the members with some advice??
I’ve never tried any of those brands. I did read on the Gallaher documents site that Erinmore was used to make snuff in West Africa. It commanded a high price in traditional markets, so it was usually used as a blender. Pieter, for best results, you’ll have to use a fairly low temperature, no more than about 40 degrees C.
Thanks for the quick reply snuffgrinder! That is encouraging information on the Erinmore. I remember just sniffing the open can for its dark, tantalizing aroma. It should make a very special snuff.
I have made some snuff from SG Brown #4, GH Dark plug, both very good and rich. Yes, good nico kick. Flavor is kind of like kendal brown. Cob plug would be interesting, maybe similar FT Princes, due to the tonquin content. Also from Stokers air cured twist -woohhahhh, that’s some mighty strong stuff, gives a throat tickle/burn though. Erinmore and Best brown are wonderful in the pipe, I expect they would also make a nice snuff, though I have not tried those yet. I love the smell of C&D night train, been meaning to try making some snuff from it.
Pieter, you can put it in the oven, just keep it low, like 220F or so. Or under a desk lamp. Or in the microwave for 15 seconds. I sometimes pre-dry my pipe tobacco prior to loading, and enjoy the tobacco aroma even before lighting up. It really brings out the aroma when it’s heated a little. Then I just mash it in the mortar, and sieve with a strainer. It’s not as fine as it could be. I think that’s the trick, the sieving process.
I like my toaster/oven for drying. If I set it on “warm” it drys without toasting the 'baccy. For very gently drying, if you have a gas oven with a pilot light, it will dry perfectly overnight. Also works for drying bread for crumbs etc. Sprangalang - yes that air dried twist snuff can take your head clear off.
Pipe tobacco is just too expensive to grind up! Especially Sam G which isn’t cheap to start out with. As for mine, I’m smoking it!
As long as the pipe tobacco isn’t loaded with humectants, no special techniques or ovens required, spread it out on a plate and place near a sunny window. Samuel Gawith pipe tobaccos are so saturated with water (nothing like paying well over a hundred dollars a pound for water!), that I have to do that with all their flakes to smoke them. I’m intrigued by the idea of pipe tobacco snuff; a mortar and pestle set is easy to come by…hmmmmm…
“Pipe tobacco is just too expensive to grind up!” Not if it makes good snuff.
Hehehe snuffgrinder, I’ll bet you didn’t pay 500 dollars in shipping and duties. I did on my last pipe tobacco order! I’m smoking mine! Alcyon, depends a lot on what you get. My FVF comes bone dry. But I buy in bulk and have not tried the tins, that may be something else. Now I’ll say McLelland is 90% water…
Yes, snuffbox, the cost is a bit different in the US. Mars sell a 1/4lb block of the SG plugs for $10.50. I’ll probably smoke some and grind some. But considering the full cost, I might finish a pipe in an hour of leisurely puffing, but the amount of tobacco in that pipe would last me a full day of snuffing. Which is the more economical choice?
How much snuff can you get for the same 10.50?
SG snuffs are not available in the US now while we await their new packaging. I expect it will be 10 g. dispenser boxes available now overseas. I might get 30 grams for $10.50 when they are available again.
The block of SG’s Cob Plug arrived a couple days ago from Mars Cigars. The color, almost black. I’ve enjoyed it in my pipe and it makes an exceptional snuff. The piece I received was cut with a generous hand, so I got significantly more than a 1/4 pound. Anyway, I shaved off some floss, from this is a very dense, hard confection. It didn’t need any drying for the pipe. In fact it was so dry, that even with a very sharp knife, a lot of sawing was involved. I made two snuffs, a coarse moist one and a fine dry one. Both are very nice. The tobacco is already well cured and cooked, so no toasting was needed. It has a lovely smokey flavor, and a dark Virginia tobacco bite - it’s very close to “Gekachelter Virginie” and it also reminds me of the AO Latikia . The afterblow scent is full of smoke, and walking outside maybe ten minutes later, I was sure the neighbors must have lit their fireplace. But it was the snuff. This is a very stout snuff, perhaps the Guiness Stout of the snuff world. I believe that would be a terrific accompaniment. The nicotine hit is enormous. This brick is supposed to be scented with tonquin, and it well may be. I have not smelled tonquin alone, so my nose doesn’t know what it’s looking for. Anyhoo, it’s a great success in my book.
How are you grinding them?
For coarse grinding I use a marble mortar with a hardwood pestle. I got the set at an Asian grocery store, very reasonably. If I need extra fine powder, I can get dust-fine results using a very clean, chromed-ball trailer hitch as the pestle. I also employ various standardized laboratory screens to achieve a more uniform result.
Thanks Stitch. I didn’t realize you could grind off the back of a trailer!
Haw Haw
McClelland’s #2015 Made from orange and red Virginias to which enough Perique has been added to create a refreshing smoke with a satisfying richness and depth of flavor. Well-balanced, dark matured cake. After sitting airtight for a while the scent has bloomed beautifully. A little sticky in the nose but a lot of my favorite snuffs are.