Has anyone purchased and subsequently consumed snuff from sellers on ebay? I was browsing the snuff box listings the other day and found that there were a few people who were selling unopened tins of snuff. Now granted, much of what is on there is “vintage,” but there were a few that were obviously somewhat new (bar codes and tobacco warnings on the labels). Anyway, there is someone selling large tins (4+ oz.) of Tube Rose for $9 and change a piece with free shipping. They were unopened and looked recently produced and in great shape, so I bought one. It hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t be sure if it was a waste of money or not. But, for the price and with nicotinerush out of business I figured it would be worth a try. Any thoughts?
I bought 2 vintage cans of DeVoe Sweet Snuff in an eBay auction. They were indeed vintage, as the labels were quite yellowed, and the cans were solid tin, top to bottom, which (as far as I know) no American snuff manufacturer has used for years. I’ve only opened one of them, but the contents were quite well preserved. Perhaps even improved with age. But, as with anything on eBay, the watchword is “buyer beware.” I only deal with eBay vendors with plenty of good ratings from customers, and I advise others to do the same. Hope your purchase turns out well.
It is what it is, if you get a bargain, great, if not, then better luck next time.
Thoughts? About what? lol @snuffster pretty much said it all…
I have three glass jars of Levi Garrett. All for around ten dollars each, including shipping. Also, two hands full of Bruton tins. Very old age mellowed with only one being rusted out and ruined. A dollar each on that lot. I think you have made an excellent score. Try cooking an ounce with water at 125 degrees for five days (snus recipe), this makes a Kendal Brown style rappee.
@PipenSnusnSnuff: I can only hope that mine has improved with age! And I agree about being careful about who I do business with on ebay (most especially for items I plan on ingesting, lol). @snuffster and @transistor: That certainly is the reality of the situation, haha. @Juxtaposer: I’m glad to hear that you have had some similar purchases turn out in your favor. The recipe also sounds intriguing. What would you recommend using to cook the snuff at that temperature for so long? How much water should I add?
An alternate method for reviving old snuff from the classic volume: “A Pinch Of Snuff”. Of snuff, we cannot say with Lear, “Age is unnecessary;” time alone brings it to perfection. If kept in a moderate state of moisture for a lengthened period, it acquires that mellowness essential to its excellence. Dry snuff, moistened for the nonce, is usually devoid of flavour. There is much value in the following advice, given by one who knew what he was talking about:— “If you find a bottle of snuff in an old bureau or cupboard, and suspect it has been deposited there by your grandfather, don’t throw it away, because, on opening it, you find it dull and flavourless; it is almost sure to be so. Hang it in a window, where the sun may enliven it for a summer with his invigorating beams, and you will be astonished at its mellow and grateful richness in the nostril.”
That is an important point… that Scotches are very dry and therefore age very slowly. I would bet with added humidity one could affect more change in one year than the twenty something years it spent dry. I use a crock pot plugged into a light dimmer to get 125*F and the amount of water is twice that of snuff by volume. Stirring daily and adding more water as necessary. Google snus recipes for more information. I have concluded no further additives are needed or the result will be too salty, though flavoring opens a world of endless possibilities.
Here’s a basic snus recipe: Grind 1 kg tobacco to a fine powder. Intermix tobacco powder with 11 dl waters and 1/2 hk ( 50 grams) salt. Intermix, flat out and cover with plastic wrap. Set the bowl to sweat in 45-50 degrees C heat for 5 days and nights. After five days and night mix in 90 grams pot ash (Kaliumkarbonat), work it thoroughly into the snuff and let it sweat for another day and night. Stir about so that it becomes evenly damp. If you think that it is too damp, one can fluff it up and let it sit for some hours uncovered. When ready, pack in appropriate containers and freeze most of the kit. Taste subsidence can happen with everything möljigt and one can of course test itself forward on some dosor in taken. Enbär ( juniper) gives a taste similar to Gothenburg’s rapé, bergamot is comparable to General. One can of course just try a little something. For what Juxtaposer is suggesting; you certainly don’t need to add salt , potash or soda. I’ve never tried this myself, so I don’t have anything to add.
Haha, the excerpt from the old book is great. The idea of turning some into snus is interesting, and with the big tin I will certainly have enough to experiment with a little. @Juxtaposer and @snuffgrinder, thanks for the tips. I will certainly keep them in mind for when the snuff arrives.
Has anyone noticed the people who try to sell old snuff for like $50? I wonder if there are people who actually want an old Levi Garrett bottle. I lurk on ebay for good prices or things that I would use to snuff. I just can’t picture what anyone would see an empty snuff as an “antique.” Btw, I hope your Tube Rose is good, rcarrol3.
Some people actually do collect antique packaging of all sorts, and seem to find a lot of value in it. I don’t see the sense in it either, but then people collect all sorts of strange things.
The Tube Rose arrived today, and safely too until the mailman opened my front screen door and carelessly hurled the package into my apartment. Anyway, the tin looks like it’s in great shape, and aside from some minor leakage inside the shipping package (undoubtedly caused by the delivery method), it really does look like I am the first to open it. The snuff itself seems to be fine as well, the small pinch I have taken smells fresh (an attribute possibly accentuated by the 100 degree (F) weather here today) and the moisture level (dry) is right on too. I am going to let the can come down to room temperature and sample the contents more over the next day or two, but as it stands right now the purchase seems to have been a good one.
Tube Rose good buy that oughtta last you awhile. Your next purchase maybe try out some of the English or German snuffs with some moisture? I really enjoy some good SP. It’s my favorite so if you like something not TOO scented go for a plainer SP such as McChrystal’s SP snuff.
@transistor: Haha, it is funny, a few years ago when I began taking snuff I almost exclusively used English snuffs with significantly more moisture than the scotches I have now become accustomed to. I guess it began back when nicotinerush was still in business, the American scotches were just a lot cheaper and easier to get my hands on than many other varieties. Now, however, it seems as though they are on a more level playing field with all of the legislation that has taken place. I did put in an order to Toque over the weekend for a few of my old favorites (toast and marmalade being chief among them, but followed closely by violet and grapefruit). I have never tried McChrystal’s, but your recommendation is certainly cause to add it to my “must try” list.
@rcarrol3 Glad to help. I just recommended McChrystals because it’s VERY GOOD and is low priced. I think I got a 25g tin for like 2 or 3 usd’s. Lemme know what you think!