As we all know, this is a Wilsons of Sharrow snuff under the F&T banner, based on an old recipe. Or so I should hope. The reason I bought this one was Bernard. They had a “Macuba” snuff in their line up, about ten years ago, and I loved it. This tobacco is completely different, but then again it isn’t. I like it, but I really don’t understand why. The snuff is coming in a light brown colour and it is a fine grind, almost silky and soft. The base flavour is that “dusty cardboard”, which I have come to loathe in WoS snuffs, so much so that I threw about seven of their offerings into the rubbish bin just two days ago. So what is different about this one? The top flavours must make the difference for me. But how to describe those? I have asked people at work, mostly smokers. They hated it. I got everything from “disgusting” to “rotting hair dye”, to the point that one of them was just about ready to throw up. In my opinion that snuff smells soapy with a hint of cigar and citrus when I just open the tin. And the most important thing is that the smell out of the tin is not the smell you get once it’s inside the nose. Initially I get quite a significant burn but after that the soap almost disappears, the cigar component becomes softer and the citrus very light. That is the moment when I start to like this snuff very much. This is the first burn of the first pinch. After that I find it quite easy to take a lot more at a time. I also ordered four other F&T just based on the Macouba. If somebody likes the English type, very fine, but traditional and without menthol, this is one snuff to pick up. I say that because I don’t believe this snuff has mass appeal. Some will like it, but many will not. When that tin is empty I might not buy it again for a while but I know that eventually I do.
Light brown?.. I find that odd, I’m not too acquainted with F&T, and with the exception of SD and HDT, I generally think it’s similar to snuffing ivory soap and baby powder… But with my tin of Macouba, it’s come a dark brown, noticeably brown but any darker would be black. Silky, definitely, but very moist and not even close to a WoS, in fact it’s more like a brown version of my tin of WoS Brunswick. Also, no cigar, just very heavy citrus and “baby powder & soap.” Perhaps these are batch differences? Or I misinterpreted your review? Or do I have something different, as dusty cardboard is a long shot for my tin. Either way, great reviews kiwi.
Just took a hit of Macouba–mine is lightish brown. A nice little burn and a good scent, IMHO. I don’t so much get the soap/baby powder, nor is my tin overly moist. I like it rather well, though Old Paris and Santo Domingo are still my favorite F&Ts.
Light brown?.. I find that odd, I’m not too acquainted with F&T, and with the exception of SD and HDT, I generally think it’s similar to snuffing ivory soap and baby powder… But with my tin of Macouba, it’s come a dark brown, noticeably brown but any darker would be black. Silky, definitely, but very moist and not even close to a WoS, in fact it’s more like a brown version of my tin of WoS Brunswick. Also, no cigar, just very heavy citrus and “baby powder & soap.” Perhaps these are batch differences? Or I misinterpreted your review? Or do I have something different, as dusty cardboard is a long shot for my tin. Either way, great reviews kiwi.
Thought I’d attach a picture. That’s what I call light brown…not close to black. Hm…
PS: the “dusty cardboard” is sitting so noticeably in the background for me because I’ve tried a few regular WoS and it made that impression on my mind. So I can snuff the Macouba and say “oh yes, there it is again. But it’s not so bad.” Maybe that makes a little more sense.
For heaven’s sake, I’ve just had the best pinch of Macouba in my life! Soft, rosy and so complex and persistent… it’s a treat of a perfumed snuff, like no other I’ve tried as of yet, I must say. Besides that, I associate this snuff with very good memories from the beginning of this year, when I first tasted it. Good times with my girlfriend, nice and quite afternoons and dreamy evenings, that’s what this delicately and strong scent has come to mean for me. I’m delighted… but perhaps a little bit off the discussion that’s going on here! 
Mine is light brown, moisture is medium, grind is medium, texture silky and smooth as no other. @GSoms, perhaps you got a mislabeled tin? It happened to some with WoS products!
Hmm… thanks a lot everyone! Mine is about two shades darker than your’s in the picture @Kiwi78, but grind seems the same. Dusty cardboard had me a bit confused, as I thought of the color and grind I associate with WoS toasts, so i’m sure the color difference with Macouba is all just variation in my batch, oops. However, still too perfumy for my tastes after another pinch! However, much credit for HDT and Santo Domingo, they’re fantastic. =D>