I’ve been trying ‘Spanish Jewel’ from Toque all afternoon and I have to say, another great one from Roderick! If I was any good at reviewing, I certainly would, but as I suck when it comes to this, I’ll have to leave it up to all of you once you’ve had a chance to try it. Tom

I’m lost, what’s "spanish jewel’, did I miss something?

Sorry, I meant: “Did Roderick make a new flavor?” I’ve read the threads about spanish Jewel.

@bigblue - ??? I’m lost. @bakdoor - Great… now I have to make another order. EDIT: Is Spanish Jewel medicated at all? Have any flavor?

I revised my post so as not to step on any toes. BigBlue was kind enough to point it out to me. Yes, Roderick has made a really nice snuff in Spanish Jewel. And yes, it’s flavored, but as I mentioned, I’m lousy at reviewing. Maybe Roderick will jump in here and give some insight. Tom

I don’t think that the name Spanish Jewel should have been used for this Toque product or any other. That name is already assigned to a special snuff, a name that Pedro and I came up with for that great snuff. There can only be one Spanish Jewel. If you have to stick with the spanish theme, I think it would have been better to go with a name like Spanish Delight, Spanish Tradition or even Special Spanish or just Spanish.

I have my own little clay pot Spanish Jewel solera going myself. Remind me in about ten years or so. By then I should have enough to send samples out. Thanks to all who made this possible and to whom gave me the idea of a snuff solera. yes! I am using Toque Quit for this but don’t be surprised if a little Levi Garrett ends up in there. …Now, what are these allegations about?

I look forward to trying this. This will definitely cause me to make a toque order that I’ve been putting off for while. A long time ago in a discussion about SJ I said something to the effect of “someone should send roderick some so he can make Toque- Spanish Jewel” Though I have to say I agree with Trout about the name. Maybe call it Toque - Tribute?

LOL man that was good.

I also agree with the name dilema, and i think both “Spanish Tradition”, or “Tribute” would be very appropriate and fitting names. Although on the same note most every company has a sp,kendall etc. so maybe this is just the start of a new trend with the “original spanish jewel” being that of troutsroker,pedro and the snuff makers doing. Which if you think about it in that manner is more of an honor than anything. (although i do think the afore mentioned names have quite a good sound to them).

Or even “Spanish Conquest” I don’t have a personal attachment to the name, so I really don’t mind it either way.

Spanish Armada? Cesc Fabregas snuff? (OK, I’m an Arsenal fan!)

Well, the way I see it: Pedro’s Spanish Jewel and Toque Spanish Jewel. I appreciate the fact that Pedro’s snuff is handmade and therefor it’s limited. So if Roderick can supply us with his idea of Spanish Jewel, at least we can also taste and enjoy something very close to Pedro’s Special. I doubt whether it will be exactly the same but something is better than nothing. I would love to try both these snuffs to compare but as you all know, Pedro’s snuff is rare and scares. So I can just hope that the Snuff Fairy might bring me some of this treasured jewel some day.

maybe spanglish jewel? I was thinking maybe it’s the spanish part you should change not the jewel part. Keep the theme spanish. Hispanola jewel? Catalan jewel? Well you get the point I think. Damn you Roderick for making me more anxious then ever to make a snuff order (o.k. I mean the opposite.)

Spanish Gold!

What are the real chances that there will ever be anymore real Spanish Jewel? The biggest form of flattery is imitation.

Somebody get the God forsaken fifteen kilo’s already!

“Spanish Fly”?

how about “Joya” Spanish for jewel. meh?

The name was never official so I’d say go for it.

I agree with the above post the best flattery is imitation so call it Spanish Jewel. Any news on a Toque Clove snuff? Stefan

Suggetions for names: Jewel of Spain Berwick Jewel Tweed Jewel Tweed Treasure Pedro’s Promise Pedro’s Discovery Joya de Toque I’ll suggest more as I think of them

I don’t see a problem with calling it Spanish Jewel. As someone above said, many companies produce a “Kendal brown” or “high dry toast” and whatnot. I don’t think there should be any difference with this. I think it is a great way to pay tribute to the original, and give all of us that may never get to try it a chance to get close. If anyone can do it, you can Roderick. ~Snuffy

A few more name suggestions: Spanish Gem Spanish Jewel: The Second Coming Joya de Española la Segunda Spanish Jewel Revisited Spanish Jewel Reprise Esmeralda de Pedro (Emerald of Pedro) BTW: Has anyone contacted Pedro regarding this?

I look at it in the way of gemstones since were talking about Jewel. Take something like Tanzanite for example. Its a rare precious gemstone that is highly sought after and not many can get. That gemstone is only available from one source in the world, a very very small section in Tanzania and the mines are no longer producing quality material and they expect it to run out completely within a few years. Now you don’t just find some other blue stone that looks very similar and name it Tanzanite just to fill the void of the real Tanzanite disappearing. Because if people start buying the simulated Tanzanite thinking they are getting the real thing, the value of the real Tanzanite starts to drop because now there is a supply to meet the demand. And its no longer some special thing thats hard to get.

The problem is, it isn’t made anymore, and it’s better to make a “tribute” then letting it die out completely. You can’t really compare precious stones that last forever to snuff which is perishable and has limited quantities that are used up. The real thing is still extremely rare and will continue to be extremely valuable to those that have it.

I thought you might like “Spanish Gem”, Roderick. Perhaps we can all agree on that. Perhaps a small note on the label “A tribute to a master snuffmaker” or some such. (Do I get a free tin for the idea?) Now looking back at the past postings (all of which took place before I joined) I see that the snuff originated in Catalonia, and that the master snuffmaker was Catalan not Spanish. This is why Pedro had difficulty communincating with him. Catalan is as distinct from Spanish as is Portugese or Italian. Now if you ask a Spaniard, he will tell you its part of Spain, but a Catalonian will say they are a separate country that happens to be within Spain. Roderick, you’re in Scotland, right? You can probably relate to that. So maybe the original would be Catalan or Catalonian Jewel, and the new one Scottish Jewel. Maybe that’s too complicated. I’d vote for my original idea. Shall we call an ISTA meeting to order and vote?

Just my opinion here. Unless the all tobaccos in this snuff are from Spain, any such geographic reference is … fanciful at best.

Well, unless my Blueberry snuff is made from Blueberries… It’s just the flavor/style of the snuff. Everyone is starting to read too much into this.

I’m sure I won’t be disappointed!

I’m getting mine today!!! WOoooooHOOoooooo!

This is the best news I have heard in quite some time…I really really hope it is a close reproduction of the Jewel as it is my absolute favorite and I have been craving some for a good while now. I think Spanish Gem is a great name to use as a tribute. I cannot wait for this one, I am ready to put in an order now!!! Well done Roderick!

OK Roderick, I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some “Spanish Gem” too. I am generally very enthusiastic about your snuffs and you know I am a long-standing, loyal customer. If you really succeeded with this, I will likely buy a big bag of it. Notwithstanding the above, nor to belabor the point, I’d like you to consider the following. By your logic, one could label cigars of any provenance as “Cuban Cabochons,” in tribute to Cuba’s long-standing traditions. Cigar dealers pull that crap all the time and the fine print tells the truth: grown in Honduras or Nicaragua from Cuban seed. The origin is implied by the name. So if you are going to call it Spanish anything, that’s fine as long as you also disclose the type and origin of the tobaccos in the blend. Most of your customers probably couldn’t care less about this; some apparently do. I am one, for example. Trout was good enough to send me some seeds of the actual Spanish Jewel he received from Pedro. I grew some it out and lo and behold, it was n. Rustica. That’s the native tobacco that the Spanish would have encountered in their American conquests. To my knowledge, all commercial varieties are derived from this stock. It is characterized by having 5 to 20 times more nicotine than commercial varieties. It kicks ass like no other. It stings the nose wonderfully. One of the few snuffs to still bring a tear of joy (ok, pain!) to my eye. I rather like the “old socks” or “cheese” overtones in the original and honestly hope you didn’t tame this down too much. Enough pussified snuffs out there already. (edited out) @cstokes4: Roderick has assured us that there are no synthetic flavors used in Toque snuffs. Indeed, blueberry- or the aromatic essence or real blueberry is the flavor you are enjoying.

i am curious what and where the base tobacco from toque is from anyway, maybe it has been mentioned before but i don’t recall. it would be interesting to know though if you care to divulge Roderick, perhaps the region at least, whatever you feel safe telling :).

Thanks for the grimace, lxskllr.

The flavor might be hard to replicate, but that’s not all. I’ve not tried any other snuff that hits like the Jewel. It hits in more than one way. It has a burn, it has a rush, it has a pleasing after-burn that travels. It has a unique flavor that is also complex, best of all, you can feel the nicotine coursing through your veins, in seconds. I sure hope Roderick’s version captures it.

@sprangalang … have you considered being a tobacco pusher 'cause now I just HAVE to have some of that stuff.

_ You guys are weird, you actually like the cheese aroma? _Eck… not sure about that, Roderick. I’ll post my thoughts as soon as I open my package. Not sure that a good selling point is “old socks, old cheese, sweat” might not be the best thing to put on the site.EDIT:Roderick, maybe if there is a high demand for the “socks, cheese and sweat” tones, maybe you could make a Spanish Gem strong?

Hehehe, my wife always said that the Jewel smelled like feet! I disagree with her somewhat as I tend to love the aroma of the SJ, and am not really a big fan of the smell of feet. Sprang & Stitch have described it perfectly, which is also the reason I love it so much.

Okay, just tried the Gem. Very complex. When I first opened the tin, I was instantly hit by the “cheesy” aroma. The snuff is a fine grind of tan complexion. It has a nice “cool” scent (not sure how else to explain it) it doesn’t seem to be mint or menthol. Like I said, very complex. I LOVE IT! It is possibly my favorite Toque snuff. Something tells me it will be an instant hit.

where is everyone getting these tins? I can’t find any on the home page?

I got mine from Nicotine Rush

Well, I was able to get my hands on some original Spanish Jewel about 5 months ago from a generous member here. He had gotten some and really didn’t like it so he sent it my way to try. After I received the package and opened it I discovered this strange aroma. I wouldn’t call it cheeze or old socks. My buddy and myself both agreed that it actually smell EXACTLY like dung. I grew up on a farm so I kinda know what dung smells like, instantly. Not sure from what animal, but it smells like dung. Both of us really didn’t want to mention this to anyone here because you all seem to love the stuff and we didn’t want to be bashed too much. I haven’t tried enough to really calibrate the nic hit and I didn’t detect any other tastes to it either, so far. I have alittle left and I am glad I saved some because I can now compare it to Toques Spanish Gem. It is possible that the dung aroma could be an aquired taste. Or maybe its just us, not really sure. I would certainly buy some more if I had the chance as I would like to really give it a fair shake. And I really look forward to trying Toques version. Don’t let anyones opinion of the aroma keep you from trying Roderiques version. I’m a firm believer that everyones tastes are different and that no matter what one person says about a snus or snuff you just really have to try it for yourself to know for sure. You might think it smells like anti-freeze or laundry soap, who knows. But it surely doesn’t smell like roses. BTW, IMHO, Spanish Gem is a great name. Can’t wait to try this and several others from Roderique that I haven’t ordered as of yet. OK, I’m ready…go ahead and bash me. PP

I actualy kind of like the smells of some dungs. Mostly because of good memeories actualy.

I kind of agree Bob. Dung really doesn’t smell that bad. Its not really pleasant but its not terrible either. And dried dung smells totally different than shit. Unless, of course, its really good shit.

My wife tells me that snuff smells like poop! I tell her don’t smell it, snuff it! Then I go to the doghouse.

I also agree. growing up in a farming comunity some of my favorite smells include fresh cut hay, the smell that eminates from a large dairy farm (a combo of silage and manure) and the smell of a horse barn (hay,sawdust,horsedung combo)

So do we have a new official name? ISTA approved? Roderick, ball’s in your court.

ISTA wouldnt have any influence on naming a Toque snuff or anything else regarding how Roderick runs his company.

Sure we have influence, just not the final say. Anyway, Roderick is the President, so take my comments with a grrain of salt (or pinch of snuff)

Brothers in Snuff, we have never been disappointed by Roderick and I’m pretty sure Spanish Gem will be exactly what the name says. I love cheese, so even if The Gem does smell like cheese I will still enjoy it. I’ve already asked Roderick to send me 100 grams as soon as it is available 'cause I know it will be something special.

_Sure we have influence, just not the final say._Do you have a stake in the company? I don’t think that an “organization” formed over the internet has any pull in the workings of a private company.

Well, the “‘organization’ formed over the internet” is not even organized at this point. By influence, I mean Roderick wants our approval as a good businessman. The ISTA should not have any stake in any company, but it should have an influence in the snuff community. Snuff companies want the approval of snuff takers. By this logic, they would want the approval of a snuff taking organization. Sure, they can do as they like of course, but the influence is in the seeking of approval. Look at your toothpaste, see if it doesn’t bear the label of approval of a dental organization. Look at some beers, wines and liquors, see if they don’t sometimes have little gold medal emblems or some such from a tasting contest they won. They bear those emblems proudly and use them as a selling point. Get my drift? Anyway, as the organization does not exist other than concept, the argument is academic. I only posed the question in the hypothetical as we here are all hypothetical members and make our opinion known. So again take with a grain of salt (or snuff). Cheers!

Okay, round 2. Now that I have a clean nose not tainted by 7 other snuffs, I can give this a fair shake. The cool scent I detected yesterday must have been a mirage. Not here. Cheesy aroma up front, sweet in the back. Nice little burn. The sweetness seems almost like chocolate, but maybe on the side of hot chocolate. Not overly sweet, but just sweet enough without seeming like an artificial sweet. Note to self: Don’t try and review new snuffs after snuffing all day. Good job on this, Roderick. Not sure how it stacks up to the original, but it is pretty damn tasty.

cstokes4, can the sweetness perhaps be honey??

No, it doesn’t seem to be. It’s not sweet in the sense of the American sweet snuffs. It’s just… sweet. The sweetness goes right along with, and compliments, the cheesy aroma. It’s easy to understand why the cheesy aroma is so desirable in this snuff.

I don’t know whether to look forward to this one or quiver in fear with all this talk of dung, sweat, cheese and feet of course i will try it with an open mind but i hope none of you guys work in marketing you make it sound as attractive as snuffing dog poop. Having said that i do love stinky cheese so maybe this will sit well in my nose.

You absolutely have to try Roderiques Spanish Gem to find out for yourself. Personally I can’t wait to try it. Keep in mind that I said it smelled like dung, which is far from the odor or shit. IF I thought it smelled like shit I certainly wouldn’t be interested in putting it up my nose.

I wonder if the tobacco in Spanish Jewel was cured in a barn near livestock and that’s how it got its farm smell.

If Spanish Jewel smells like dung I would be happy to be a dung beetle!! I’m pretty sure that Spanish Gem must be the most discussed snuff BEFORE it was available for sale!! Another feather in Roderick’s cap and maybe fit for the Guiness Book of Records!!

“can the sweetness perhaps be honey”?? Yes it is honey that you can taste , I found Spanish Gem an easy snuff to take, I have had a sample for nearly 2 weeks now and found it improves with age, also it leaves me with a feeling of well being. Another hit Roderick Graham

Oh boy, am I excited to try this one - can’t wait for next week!

So has anyone tried this who has also had the original Jewel? A comparison would be nice. I plan on ordering mine next week when Toque sells it on its website because I want bulk and will put my own comparison up then.

Heres a link to a GREAT selling point and health benefits for Roderick and the Spanish Gem. But thats only if hes trying to replicate the original Spanish Jewel to a T. http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4864 so from now on when you tell someone to “eat shit” you will be wishing them good health.

░░Lol! A good find░░

PP do you know how to tell someone to “kiss my arse” ? This is it… (_x_) I tight arse is (!) or you’re a real dumb arse (_?_) or a fat arse (__!__)

LOL, I knew there was a reason why i wanna keep farming.

Ha! Pieter, I just usually call them an asshole. {

HARMLESS microbes? I am all but possessed by these microbes. We humans are, like the crown of a pyramid, resting on the other life forms to the infinity of the microbes that hold us on high.

10 to the power of 13 cells in our body (10,000,000,000,000), 10 to the power 14 microbes (100,000,000,000,000) !!!

When are you releasing this officially Roderick?

To say I am getting impatient (particularly as our American cousins can already get their hands on it) would be quite an understatement!

Not rubbing it in ermtony, but it is some delicious snuff, another one I haven’t gone a day without since getting it! edit: although I don’t pick up any cheese…

@ Roderick: Sorry for making you have to change the labels. Hope its not costing too much, or delaying the release too long. If I lived near you, I’d gladly come by and help you stick them on the cans. @ ermtony: Your American cousin @ Nictoine Rush ships internationally, I believe.

@ Xander - Yes, I know Tom ships world-wide, In fact I put an order in with him last week (keen to try the new Scotches he has in), but I’d rather buy Toque direct - it saves on shipping.

And it doesn’t get sea sick crossing the pond twice!

Haha, that is pretty silly. Someone in the UK buys something made in the UK from someone in the US.

I just had my first pinch of it, and it sure is a strange beast. When I opened the tin, I got a smell that was similar to the Christmas Pudding, but when I took a pinch that sure changed. The scent in the nose somehow reminds me of fishing with my grandpa. Only a couple more months and we can start fishing again

I’ve had a few pinches now and can at least give an initial impression. The aroma from the newly opened tin is fresh, rich with a tinge of ammonia. The grind is fine, slight moisture and color mid brown. Taking a pinch, the snuff feels good in the nose. The moisture keeps the particles from going up too far. There is a sweet note in there, a strong tobacco presence and no perfumes or other flavors stand out. It is similar I think to Toque’s Quit and I presume this is a variant of that model. It has a sweetness not attached to Quit and I think it is a worthy addition to their range of products… and your snuff bar. The snuff did not exactly evoke the memory of Spanish Jewel, at least not for me. It is a move in that direction, but lacks the requisite pungency and nicotine. This is not a weak snuff by any means, but is it is less potent than the original. As Roderick mentioned, this is a blend of African and US tobaccos. The original SJ is more like a single malt scotch, whereas this is a blend of fine tobaccos that support each other very amicably.

Thanks for the comparison stitch. If it was a close match I was ordering the largest bulk bag possible, I may start off now with only a 100g’s to see. I do enjoy the Quit though so I may up that to 200g.

I’m no good with descriptions but stitch’s rounds it up quite well for what i’d say. It is indeed kind of like Quit but sweeter.After all that talk about cheese i was expecting something with more of a kick in the smell but am quite pleased with it as it is. It’s a fine snuff to try to decipher.

You are welcome. I think you will like this one if you are a fan of Quit.

It’s a goodie, Roderick. You make some damn fine snuff. Have you ever thought of making a “how it’s done” video like Bernards did? I would love to see your factory and the process the tobacco goes through.

As we’ve said before the elves don’t want to be filmed!

I’m really enjoying this one too and have used it daily since first getting it, like Quit. I don’t get any of the ‘dirty sock’ or cheesy flavors neither, as strangely good such things can sometimes be in tobaccodom. I find the nicotine level decent enough, again very similar to Quit but not like some of the more powerful snuffs out there. All in all, I’m glad I gambled and doubled my initial intended order. I wouldn’t mind a little more cheese if that’s a potential tweak but it’s nice as it is.

ignore this comment

@ cstokes4 quote “Haha, that is pretty silly. Someone in the UK buys something made in the UK from someone in the US.” I fully agree, and more a fool, who would risk a spot check and get their snuff impounded.

Hi All, Just had the ‘nod’ from Roderick that Spanish Gem is now ‘ok’ to sell. I understand the frustration not being able to get it in the UK, but Roderick wanted to allow it time to ‘mature’ and felt that it wasn’t ready for sale until today. So we’ve got Spanish Gem in 10g and 25g tins. Check the Toque Snuff section on Snuff Store. Cheers TimSnuff Store

Got my (UK) Spanish Gem delivered this morning and wow its far better than the preview sample I received. This is going to be a firm favourite with me, it has really been worth the wait. Way to go Roderick

I would have to agree with a few here definitely has a nice flavor don’t get cheese or dirty socks here. Next order will be a bulk bag for sure.

I just worked out getting this recently. I have to disregard all reviews except for it’s subtler than the original, how can I know? rice/corn cake that’s baked in banana leaves, this was my first impression.

I don’t really get that aroma Roderick - the cheesy one that is. Out of curiosity, is the Gem a work in progress or do you plan to stick with the current recipe? -edit nm I see you are debating some tweaks.

My Toque Champagne and Toque Quit have developed a distinctly cheesy taste to them over the last 2 or 3 weeks. I think I preffered them without it. I imagine the Spanish Gem will also take on a more cheese taste in a little time. I’ll be getting a tin in my next order.

My Spanish Gem did not last long enough to change the flavor. My champagne is just more like wine. I am waiting for the Dholakia wine and cheese. I think I would like cheese.

My Spanish Gem has no cheese aroma - the small sample of Spanish Jewel I have definitely does. I’m not sure which I prefer yet, both are really tasty!

Not sure you can really compare the two…after spending some time with the Gem, I think that too much much has been tamed down from the original Jewel to really compare them. I had my hopes very high for the Gem, and while it is very good in its own right and I will order more in the future, I’m a bit disappointed that it really doesn’t compare more to Spanish Jewel. Maybe one day someone will be able to do an exact replica, then I will be ordering pounds…God I miss the Jewel.

I agree. I love the Gem as an excellent snuff as it is, but a replica of the Jewel, it is not.