Ramblings of a Newcomer

[lithicus]

I have been smoking cigarettes for 20+ years. In the last few months, I picked up the pipe. In this time, I also found out about nasal snuff. I’m hoping these will help me quit cigarettes and I’ve already cut my cigarette smoking in half. I had trouble finding snuff in the US, however. And, I didn’t want to make an international purchase initially as I wasn’t sure I’d like it. Luckily, I eventually found a B&M store that carried one brand two flavors; McChrystal’s Violet and Aniseed.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of these scents/flavors. But, I still enjoyed them. Enjoyed them enough that I thought, I need to get a hold of something that better matches the flavor profiles I’m looking for. Violet and Aniseed are not something I’d normally consider. But, it was all I had readily available.

Well, I just got my first shipment of snuff. I tend to appreciate “raw” flavors; in my alcohol, coffee, steaks, and pipe tobacco. So, I ordered 6 Photo M.G. Madras, 6 Photo LA Natural, 6 Photo Cheeta, Dragon Madras, White Horse Gul, FUBAR Snafu Plain, and Snuv Black Eye. I realize now that I tended toward indian snuffs. I think this was just the easiest to find regarding “raw” tobacco flavor. Any suggestions for my next order would be very welcome!

I first tried 6 Photo M.G. Madras. It intrigued me as it had latakia in it. And, boy! This stuff is DELICIOUS and the nic hit is fantastic. Sooo much better than the Violet and Aniseed I’d tried prior. Not because I think McChrystal’s is inherently bad. I just knew I’d prefer something without any “casing”, so to speak. I wanted raw tobacco flavor and 6 Photo M.G. Madras has delivered.

I can pick up the lime in the tin note, but can’t really detect it as much in the nose. One of my favorite pipe tobaccos lately is Balkan Supreme, which is heavy on latakia. The latakia in this 6 Photo M.G. Madras is stellar. I get that smoky flavor from the latakia which I love, but also get buttery nutty earthy flavors. Very smooth with a good natural burn. I did not get any “barn notes”.

I next tried White Horse Gul. This one didn’t wow me as much as the 6P MG Madras, although I still enjoyed it. It didn’t burn as much nor have the nic hit that 6P MG Madras had. At least in my opinion. I did immediately detect that infamous (?) “barn note”. I have heard that some snuff has ammonia in it. And, I know that many pipe tobaccos have pleasant hay or grassy notes. So, I think White Horse Gul could honestly be more of a hay and ammonia smell that some could perceive as “barn”. I’d presume the hay comes from the tobacco leaf and the ammonia is added in. This “barn note” doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I find it a bit endearing as I live far from the city and it reminds me a bit of the outdoors and (ironically enough) horseback riding. The description says bitter and smoky. I can see how there might be subtle smoky notes. But, nothing like I’m picking up from the latakia in the 6P MG Madras. Either way, I can appreciate the raw tobacco flavor of White Horse Gul. I’m still trying to pick out the nuances of it as I’ve only had a few bumps. I do think this is one will grow on me with time.

Just this morning, I tried the Snuv Black Eye. I’m loving this snuff! It caught me a bit off guard as the nic hit / burn seemed delayed. I took a few bumps thinking I hadn’t gotten enough and then it all came through. The nic hit seemed much less than the 6P MG Madras and the White Horse Gul. But, it was still present and satisfying. The black coffee notes were fantastic with my morning coffee. I can see myself really enjoying this and ordering more in the future.

I have some mason jars I use for pipe tobacco. But, I think I’m going to run out to the store after work today and get more of the smaller 4oz ones. It’ll take me a while to get through all the snuff I bought with my order. So, I hope that storing them in these jars and in my office mini-fridge will prevent mold from forming. I tend to always bump with a spoon. So, I’m not too worried about contamination that way. Although, I should be better about cleaning my spoon between scoops.

I see myself enjoying this hobby for years to come. And, between snuff and pipe smoking I’m hoping I can kick cigarettes entirely. I’ve found so many good posts here. And so, I thought I’d make an account, swing by, share my experiences as a new kid on the block, and say hello!

[volunge]

Welcome aboard, @lithicus! Good to hear you find this forum interesting and are determined to kick cigarettes.

As an ex smoker who has painlessly and entirely switched to smokeless (snus and plain nasal snuff), I can confirm that such leap - may you rest assured - is possible. I use snuff mostly at home and usually limit my intake to snus when I’m in the public (I find snus cleaner / more discreet and providing milder, but longer-lasting nicotine delivery than nasal snuff). I can (and often do) live with snuff alone, though, and I always much prefer snuff to snus when I crave for an instant boost (my eye-opener of choice!).

You have nose-dived right into the stronger side opting for those Indian snuffs, which are capable to deliver plenty of nicotine, rapidly. They will do justice to your cravings! Only few snuffs come close to those of Madras-type in terms of potency. Vast majority of European snuffs are medium-strong, at best (SP-type base flour is prevalent nowadays, like that used by McChrystal’s, which you are already familiar with); besides, too many of them are flavoured and/or mentholated…

Do try South African snuff NTSU Black someday, and Samuel Gawith Silky Dark. They are plain and fall under the strongest snuff category. Come way moister and coarser than Indian snuffs. Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Plain, Wilsons of Sharrow Viking series (all bar Blonde) and Bernard Gekachelter Virginie are must-to-try for every “raw” tobacco flavour enjoyer, too (not that strong in nicotine department, yet still quite satisfying, especially when taken in larger pinches or “boxcars”).

American fine dry snuffs (aka “scotch” snuffs), if you ever happen to stumble upon any, are definitely worth trying (especially the non-sweetened, plain ones). Mind you, being made from fired tobacco, they are super smoky. They blend nicely with English and Indian snuffs. Bruton, W. E. Garrett, Tops, Superior, Starr, Navy, Railroad Mills, Dental etc.

Out of British high-dried type snuffs I would recommend Wilsons of Sharrow Irish No. 22 and Fribourg & Treyet HDT.

P. S. If you are interested in trying plain SP-type snuff, give Wilsons of Sharrow Plain or Jaxons SP Premium a whirl.

[volunge]

The lime is slaked lime, i. e. calcium hydroxide. It does have some chalky smell, rather faint, yet noticeable in the nose, especially in the so-called white snuffs, like Cheeta and White Horse. Being highly alkaline, it is to blame for that badass burn those snuffs give. Copious amount of slaked lime is present in Madras type snuffs, too, but its smell is way less upfront (thankfully) due to the pungent / roasted tobaccos which override the chalky smell of that alkali.

[ALLex]

Welcome to the snuff-taking community brother!!

[lithicus]

@volunge

Welcome aboard, @lithicus! Good to hear you find this forum interesting and are determined to kick cigarettes.

@ALLex

Welcome to the snuff-taking community brother!!

Thank you guys very much!!

@volunge

You have nose-dived right into the stronger side opting for those Indian snuffs, which are capable to deliver plenty of nicotine, rapidly. They will do justice to your cravings! Only few snuffs come close to those of Madras-type in terms of potency.

Hahaha, I’m not surprised. I seemed to have done the same thing with my first pipe tobacco purchase. Might as well jump into the deep end I guess! Sink or swim

@volunge

Do try South African snuff NTSU Black someday, and Samuel Gawith Silky Dark. They are plain and fall under the strongest snuff category. Come way moister and coarser than Indian snuffs. Samuel Gawith Kendal Brown Plain, Wilsons of Sharrow Viking series (all bar Blonde) and Bernard Gekachelter Virginie are must-to-try for every “raw” tobacco flavour enjoyer, too (not that strong in nicotine department, yet still quite satisfying, especially when taken in larger pinches or “boxcars”).

American fine dry snuffs (aka “scotch” snuffs), if you ever happen to stumble upon any, are definitely worth trying (especially the non-sweetened, plain ones). Mind you, being made from fired tobacco, they are super smoky. They blend nicely with English and Indian snuffs. Bruton, W. E. Garrett, Tops, Superior, Starr, Navy, Railroad Mills, Dental etc.

Out of British high-dried type snuffs I would recommend Wilsons of Sharrow Irish No. 22 and Fribourg & Treyet HDT.

P. S. If you are interested in trying plain SP-type snuff, give Wilsons of Sharrow Plain or Jaxons SP Premium a whirl.

Thank you very much for the suggestions!! I’ll be bookmarking this for my next purchase. When I was first getting into pipe tobacco, there was a website that listed top 25 bulk tobaccos and top 25 tinned tobaccos. I found this made it easy to find “the good stuff”. I couldn’t quite find this information for snuff and sort of went in blind. I tried to find a manufacturer that seemed to focus mostly on plain snuff; in this case 6 Photos. Got a few of their snuffs and read the reviews of ones I purchased to see if there were any “you may also like” suggestions. Followed those and ended up where I did!

Again, all of that is to say, thanks again for the suggestions! There’s a LOT of snuff out there and it isn’t easy to pick out the good from the bad.

@volunge

The lime is slaked lime, i. e. calcium hydroxide. It does have some chalky smell, rather faint, yet noticeable in the nose, especially in the so-called white snuffs, like Cheeta and White Horse. Being highly alkaline, it is to blame for that badass burn those snuffs give. Copious amount of slaked lime is present in Madras type snuffs, too, but its smell is way less upfront (thankfully) due to the pungent / roasted tobaccos which override the chalky smell of that alkali.

This is super interesting! I wonder if I “feel” the madras are more potent than they are just because of that slaked lime. They certainly pack a punch in regards to burn. Not in a bad way, though. However, I’ve taken quite a few bumps of the Snuv Black Eye and I never get anywhere even remotely close to the burn of, say, 6P MG Madras.