Building spreadsheets, especially in budgetary times, requires a special kind of concentration and masochistic auto-flagellation. Many hours spent dissecting numbers is hard on the eyes, mind and soul. Various stimulants, such as coffee and spirulina, are used as to remain vigilant amidst the cascading jumble of numbers. At times, these crutches are insufficient for one simultaneously striving to remain focused on minutia while being acutely cognisant of the whole. Having just survived that actuarial purgatory, salvation came through the flotsam of Janta’s Indian Rustica “Standard”, whilst drowning in a sea of numbers. Flue cured, this unaltered Rustica tobacco tastes of sweet grass, rosewater, mushroom, leather and civet. Cloaked in ammonia, this lifebuoy stings like a bee and punches nicotine like a prize fighter in heat. Although ground into a fine powder, its oil finish keeps it from being dusty like other Indian snuffs, reducing incidents throat-drip. Essential to keeping the mind sharp under the duress of endless hours of toil, this “Standard” offering is all business.

Sounds marvelous to me…

How does it compare to Janta’s Dragon Brand Madras, Eric?

A side-by-side phote comparison would be much appreciated, too.

Thank you for your question. Sadly I do not know because I have not tried Dragon Brand Madras and do not have a tin in reserve. I can compare it to Khan Chacha Afghan White Snuff, which gives you a similar nicotine hit but smells like goat rather than mushroom infused rosewater. It is also less dusty and easier to pinch.

This is my review of the Afghan White: FATA MORGANA

Dusty like Peachy Carnehan returning from Kafiristan in Rudyard Kipling’s The Man who would be King, this snuff is a testament to all the roads traveled in its journey to my door. Sold in a can that arrived so dented and rusty that I sliced my hand while prying the lid. I was happy that my tetanus booster was recent and hopefully still offered protection. It is so dry that using it makes a bit of a mess. Smelling of goat, Afghan White is a pure nicotine hit unencumbered by any artifices flavouring. Producing symptoms of fever, it draws mucus into your sinuses at such a rate that it is hard to hold and avoid blowing your nose. Rogue & renegade, it is an unmitigated pleasure to consume and has rapidly become one of my favourites. A tin Afghan White is nothing less that a voyage of discovery akin to the first time I heard the Dissidenten on a ‘80s mix tape.

Eric, you HAVE to try Dragon Brand Madras! It’s a killer, and one of the strongest snuffs I’ve had. I want to hear your review of it, also. I just got a 100g tin of the Dragon today and it’s already one of my favorite snuffs. I waited too long to try this! So strong and you get that toasted tinge of ghee they fried the tobacco in. I got the Rustica Standard today and it’s great also, nice pure Rustica blend and hefty Vitamin N.

Thank you for reaching out. I’ll have to order a tin.