Generally would a darker tobacco be stronger nicotine wise that a lighter leaf? I just had some TAS Madras and it was quite strong and it is of med brown color. Then I tried Princes Dark. It a whole other type of feeling, strong no doubt. Maybe I should have waited longer between snuffs, but I’m not complaining 
I tried some dark RYO when I was in England and it was potent. But I don’t know if that just happened to be a strong strain or if generally the dark cured tobaccos are stronger. What do you think?
What about Dholakia White? Strongest snuff available and it’s WHITE!! But I don’t know the answer to your question because I’ve never given it a thought. I would also like to know what other members think.
My Navy sweet is a very light sandy color, yet it kicks like a mule.
Good hypothesis, but I find very little correlation between kick and color.
I think colour depends on how the tobacco is cured, if it is toasted etc. Also moisture I guess would have an impact on colour. Stefan
Too Black - Too Strong! Sorry, got a little Public Enemy there… I personally don’t think there’s any correlation between colour and strength in snuffs.
Not to go all Mr. Know-It-All, but as far as I’m aware, Walrus1985 would be correct. Nicotine content in tobacco is mostly affected byt the cultivar and purity (leaf matter vs plant matter, stalks and whatnot), colour by curing process. This isn’t absolute, just more of a guideline; curing usually evaporates water, hence upping the nicotine contents, and some tobacco’s are just plain stronger. Then again, this is off the Intterwebs, so the veracity of this is not concrete. Makes sense to me, tho.
@toffeenose…the darker, the sweeter for me.
@ Pieter: you old rogue, you!
From my knowledge of pipe smoking, not that I’m an expert by any means, Burleys are low sugar, higher nicotine, Virginias are high sugar, lower nicotine and if you want STRONG, you go to Perique which is black. But Latakia is also black because it is smoked - before it’s smoked if you know what I mean. Besides those basics there are lots of nuances and varieties and a lot of the strength is also dependent on curing and fermentation. I don’t really know if this correlates exactly to snuff, but I do know that if I wanted a cardiac moment, I’d snuff some straight Perique.
cardiac moment. Sounds like a hallmark card genre.
I’'ve been snuffing straight Perique and yes it is quite strong but not as strong as snuff made with rustica. The traditional St. James Perique (which is what I have) is made with a red burley strain of tobacco. There are other Perique style tobacco’s being made now with other varietals the makers coo that it is even better than the original Perique. Any way I’m about to make another batch this time with a pinch of salt and baking soda. I’m kicking ass with this stuff!
Juxt, can you tell me more about the salt and baking soda? I mean how you use it, how much, its purpose etc? When I wrote that I was joking, but now I think I may try it, could be just the ticket. Only home made stuff I’ve done is just pipe weed ground up, I don’t know anything about how to do it properly.
Juxtaposer, I would also like to know what kind of salt you use, how much as well as how much baking soda. I have some Rustica which I’d like to “jack up” a bit.
Why I’m using salt I’m not so sure. I think it has to do with the Sam Gawith rappee’s that I enjoyed. Salt seems to make tobacco’s more palatable. I use netti pot salt, The salt amounts I’m still toying with. Right now I’m thinking between one part per fifty and one part per one hundred is right for me. I’m just guessing. Baking soda I use an aluminum free type. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) seems to me like a good option far a freebasing agent. For the suggested amount to use I would have to search this forum. I think one part per one hundred is about right. The suggestion that the baking soda and tobacco mix should have some moisture in my opinion is a good one. There are quite a few choices for freebasing agents. These all will increase the amount of nicotine absorption. This is all dangerous stuff. I am not a doctor or a chemist. It would be nice if a profesional could chime in and give us the skinny. The ingredient in snus give me some confidence that I am heading in the right direction in these matters. Maybe with the FDA getting involved we might get a peek at what we are snuffing. @ wildwilliam… You should be able to search this forum for all advice on making your own snuff. Good luck all.
Thanks for the info Juxt.
I feel those levels are about right Juxtaposer, I have used more and then less. The salt should be Kosher salt. Baking soda is about as far alkaline as I feel safe going, and I have tried slake lime, which has to react with the leaf to lower it’s inherently high PH. Just a little gets the nic to kick. I have had my best luck with wood ash, but the health risks are another thing. I have experimented with quite a few now, and baking soda is good, and safe, but go easy as it can really cause a sharp burn in too high a dosage. Neti pot salt is a combo, does both.
Somewhere (don’t know where now and I don’t think it was this forum) I am pretty sure I’ve read “one part baking soda to 25 parts snuff” and that’s what I was thinking about trying with my ground up Rustica whenever I got around to trying this sort of thing. I’m now rethinking that, going to keep holding off on my own testing and first just read more and watch more of what Juxtposer and others do. I have dried and ground up los snus that I knew I’d never use otherwise (figuring they already had the baking soda levels right and I know they clearly use salt) and if I really let it dry out first and really take great care in my grinding, some of those results have been quite good