I searched this forum when I first started taking snuff on the topic of refrigerating snuff, as this is what is done with snus. The majority opinion that I found was that snuff is not refigerated. The following paper suggests that SNUS is refrigerated because apparently TSNAs will increase from fermentation with oxygen unless it is refrigerated. The author says snuff but means snus/oral tobacco. It made me wonder, however, would it be ideal to refrigerate our nasal snuff, or will the Toque tins work enough to seal out air? The snus I use has a pull off cap, which I assume means that it is not airtight. What follows after my post is the link to the article and an exerpt. ------ Another thing I read somewhere was that naturally fermented (non pastureized) tobacco will create ammonia. Snus is pastureized which doesn’t cause fermentation and thus no ammonia, and the snus sellers add baking soda to basify the nicotine (which ammonia does naturally). Why then does my mother say that my Toque smells like ammonia? (I personally can’t smell it, but I have a poor nose). I read on this forum that the ammonia smell is a sign of its freshness. I also read here that if you leave the Toque out over night without its cap the ammonia smell will be gone in the morning; but wouldn’t this exposure damage the snuff – and also oxidize it and create more tsnaas if the following article is true? ______ http://www.tobaccoprogram.org/pdf/TC12349.pdf [quote]The product is then packaged in cans and refrigerated during storage. In Sweden the product is also kept in refrigerators by the retailers. One study examined levels of carcinogenic TSNAs in snus kept at temperatures ranging from 220°C to +23°C for 20 weeks.9 This exposure to a variety of temperatures over time did not produce a significant increase in concentrations of TSNAs, suggesting that the exposure to heat during manufacturing may itself have prevented microbial activation of nitrites.10 This manufacturing process contrasts with that traditionally used in the USA, in which the product is fermented (rather than being subject to high temperatures), allowing the continued formation of TSNAs. In addition, North American smokeless tobacco is not typically stored in refrigerators. One study found that nitrite and TSNA levels increased significantly in US snuff stored at 37°C for four weeks [/quote]

The ammonia smell is a sign of freshness, you’re right. I definitely WOULDN’T leave the tin open over night, you’ll dry the snuff out and lose most of its scent. You won’t pick up the ammonia smell when it’s in your nose

I wouldn’t worry too much about TSNAs in snus, they are so low anyway that leaving it out of the fridge would probably only result in a negligible increase as the article says, if any. I find that the flavour of some snus increases the warmer it gets, if you don’t keep it refrigerated, once it expires, you lose some flavour and the nicotine starts to slightly decrease (tested in my own totally unscientific way of comparing a can of general ekstra sterk that was 1 yr old and frozen, not vacuum sealed, and a fresh can, the old can didn;t satisfy as much as the fresh one did and the flavour was quite muted compared tot he fresh can). Main thing is snus and snuff are the safest forms of tobacco you can use, even dip these days has quite low TSNA levels, also from what I know toque has the lowest TSNA levels of any snuff out there and (correct me if I am wrong) the lowest tsna levels of any smokeless tobacco. So snus and snuff away and get naked

The only snuff I would refrigerate are Schmalzlers and De Kralingse snuffs the stable temperature keeps them at optimum. AS for keeping snuff I don’t trust aluminum they leach so does most plastic containers. as for tins or metal containers I had rust form. Just another reason to transfer into glass jars. Aluminum Metals deposit on the brain and plastics leach BPA. Moist snuff and snus should be removed from their packaging- stainless steel , glass or plastic marked BPA free should be used to store these also.

Toque tins are very good, but not airtight. The only airtight tins are the vacuum sealed ones, but only until opened once. F&T tins seem to be reasonably airtight, if not completely with the screwtops and rubber gasket. However, if either edge should become nicked or dirty, the airtight integrity is compromised. At the end of the day you really just need to consider how fast your container exposes your snuff to air versus how fast you intend to consume it. I would not worry about refrigerating your snuff unless you know for a fact it has a particularly low salt content, such as the ones Basement_shaman mentions. Freezing is actually better for those. Anaerobic activity is slowed in cold temperatures (and by salt), and halted in deep freeze, but a negligible amount is occurring in most snuff anyway. If you want to put it away for 20-40 years then go ahead, but if its not airtight it will be futile anyway. Airtight is the most important thing. Fresh Toque does indeed smell like ammonia, as do most fresh snuffs as they are fermented. The Toque tins being superior to the majority of other English makers, you just tend to notice it more, but buy a big jar of Wilsons in bulk, fresh from the mill, and the ammonia is there as well. In time you may even learn to relish it. Yes, its a sign of freshness as it is a byproduct of the fermentation process and most snuffs use fermented tobacco. So your mom has a good nose. Women often possess superior scent sense even into old age. Don’t air your Toque unless the ammonia bothers you. It will be gone within a few days anyway from normal usage. If it does bother you, don’t air for more than an hour. Stirring the snuff should help. Any airing you do loses both moisture and flavor which are precious in snuff. Now, as to TSNAs which seems to be the focus of your question. If you’re worried about these things, don’t be. Only worry about them if you smoke, or put unpasteurized tobacco in your mouth or eat hot dogs. They are there, but your nose is much more resilient than other parts of your body, or than you might give it credit for. It tends to clean itself very well compared to other body parts. All health and medical reports (and admittedly, there are very few) show no significant risk of cancers or other ailments from exclusive nasal snuff users.

As for keeping snus cold…there is much debate between the manufacturers. Swedish Match has consumers in Sweden trained to expect snus to be sold cold. BUT in the US , we are used to our oral tobacco sitting on a shelf and 3 manufacturers (4 if you count Skoal/Marlboro as snus) have said that their snus does not require cold storage to stay fresh and low in TNSAs. SM says that is hogwash. Personally I like cold snus and after 15 years of shoving a can of Copenhagen a day in my lip I’m not overly worried about the danger of warm snus.

The funny thing is, my local snus vendor has a snus fridge which is usually well stocked with the General brand varieties. However, he keeps his backstock in the cigar humidor (but sometimes the wine fridge). If I want to buy more than one roll, I often have to retrieve it myself from one of the latter.

Am I imagining it or does WoS on their website suggest refrigerating stored snuff?

However put the snuff in a snuff box (better if large) increases its surface in contact with the air and this helps to diminish the odor of ammonia without compromising too much the scent of tobacco.

I haven’t put any snuff in the fridge that was an American Scotch for fear it might gain moisture but if I have boxes of President, the fridge is where they go because it is a medium moisture snuff

Am I imagining it or does WoS on their website suggest refrigerating stored snuff?

It says that, yes. I disagree with it. I think others here would as well.

I haven’t put any snuff in the fridge that was an American Scotch for fear it might gain moisture but if I have boxes of President, the fridge is where they go because it is a medium moisture snuff

Unnecessary for President. Its oil moistened and not likely to dry for years.

Totally unnecessary to refrigerate snuff as long as it’s airtight that’s all that matters. Stefan

Natural oils? Looks like another experimentation weekend @Xander

No, white parrafin oil. Its synthetic. You can probably find food grade paraffin in the right store though. I’m not sure if a supermarket would have it, but if they did, it would be in the baking section. Ermtony sent me a good snuff he concocted with it once.

I thought parrafin was a wax. My guess is that it was used to preserve the ingredients or help retain moisture in a drying process.

Its wax made of oil. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin\\_wax and the food preparation section here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral\\_oil#Food\\_preparation Yes, its a humectant.

I think my sister in law make peanutbutter cups with the wax