Just wondering what peoples thoughts are about the new breed of strong snuffs. Even Wilsons is in the race now with, Dynamite. I saw this happen with Snus a few years ago and my sense was that the American market was driving this. What’s it all about? Why now?

I think the strong snuff market has become the heavy hitter in the competition to win over cigarette smokers. I thought the same about the sterks and extra sterks. I doubt it is just the American market that influences these. The word getting out that there are much healthier tobacco alternatives drives this market. Why now? More so now due to tobacco taxes and regulations. Not such a new breed though. White Elephant seems to have been very popular with the Europeans for a while now.

I think it’s also a development driven by the renewed interest in snuff, which is due to the internet of course. Before Toque there had been virtually no new flavours or styles introduced for decades in English snuff. New markets, new manufacturers, new ideas - and it was only a matter of time before hyper-strong snuffs came out as part of that dynamic. The next few years will be interesting not just for development but how the snuff industry and its market deals with the toxic legislation and enemies of free choice. The changes have driven snuff out from under the radar and it is getting more and more visible with every youtube et al review.

Sterk and Extra Sterk snus has been driven by the Norwegian market, primarily. Then they found that Swedes and Americans liked it too. At first every strong snus was marketed in Norway. Swedish Match sells more snus in Norway than the US. Actually blame Skruf, they started it.

I thought they were joking about WoS dynamite but then I saw it on Mr. Snuff. It makes perfect sense to make potent snuffs though because not only can it win over cig smokers and dippers but it also makes people like me who were just about satisfied with the state of their collection and are building a tolerance for nicotine have new things to try that might give me the nicotine rush that first attracted me to snuff. Like many I came for the nicotine and stayed for the aroma, but I do like having something to sniff for energy that is legal and won’t ruin my brain.

I’m not baffled by the variety of strong snuffs nowadays, but I am baffled by the many ultra fine grind ones that market themselves on pain. Clearly there are masochistic snufftakers that make up a significant segment of the market.

I like a stronger snuff for days I don’t work and use snuff less frequently. I get myself in trouble if I take Grunt or Taxi Blue to work with me because I take a pinch every 30 minutes. At home, I find myself reaching for Taxi Blue more often than any other snuff.

I think it is great that all these new type snuffs are coming out. As a recent ex-cig smoker it helps to have some high octane snuff on me for when I crave that. Unless some really stupid legislation is passed I can see these next few years being an exciting time for all of us snuffers.

I think that a lot of people learn to like the burn and then as they get used to snuff they don’t get it anywhere near as much from normal snuffs, so they see what the fuss about D white and the like is about.

I bet the tradition is older then it seems. Though it probably was hidden in the wording (kind of like full flavor). Or in the type of tobacco used.

I think the better question is Why not?

Well, I championed the strong snuff, and am happy to see it. But the comparison to a sterk snus does not work for me, I cannot tolerate a sterk well at all, but a stronger snuff allows me to enjoy a smaller amount. I started with Rooster and stronger American scotches, but never really enjoyed them for the flavor. The English snuffs were flavored so well, but left me longing for a bit more nic. I fell hard for Grunt, the original batch, and it has everything I wanted. I tried and tried to get along with Dwhite, but that was too much pain for my pleasure. I guess it is the balance of a stronger base tobacco, tolerable grind, and a flavor profile that is pleasant, that brings out a great snuff IMHO. I thought I had found my match with the Rusticas, but developed a strong dislike for the drip. Not that all Rusticas have to exhibit the drip. It can be moderated. Abraxas is a good example. My real insight into what a snuff could offer, was realized about a minute after my first hit of Spanish Jewel. I could feel the nicotine from that one just bloom. Not that I am a dragon chaser, I know better, but the brain defiantly wags it’s tail with the stronger snuffs. But for those looking for a snuff to help quit smoking, I believe a strong snuff is paramount at first. Not a Jeebsus Dwhite hit, but a OMG that helps hit. I have always used a smaller amount of snuff, but required a larger amount of nicotine, while trying to keep the burn tolerable. I take my hat off to those who have risen to the challenge. There is plenty of room for these snuffs, and not just to roll the socks up and down on the thrill seekers.

among my rugby mates, if it doesnt burn it isnt snuff, we like it to feel like a punch in the face and love the burn in the back of the neck! now I prefer anything medicated, cant seem to find anything i like without a bit of menthol. But i do like the idea of maximizing my nicotine uptake since i dont always have the option of taking multiple doses while at work.

Slaked lime or Calcium hydroxide gives the long intense burn. Not recommend for regular use. Will cause problems. I enjoy the strong snuff and the initial burn is lost after frequent use. Rotation is paramount to a large snuff collection. Relax & Enjoy the journey . I had just yesterday mix D White with Fubar snafu and scented with Templation Grape ratio 2/2/1. I like it. More is better !

Why strong snuffs? The Human need to alter the state of consciousness. In other words, GET HIGH.

I smoked camel filters for many years and developed what I believe is a pretty high tolerance for nicotine, so I’m glad of the high-octane snuffs. D White is indeed a bugger to take, although it’s really the only one I’ve found that delivers a strong hit. Have to try Grunt, clearly.

Consumers should have as wide a choice available to them as possible; we’ve had delicate snuffs for centuries, a few strong ones are not just a sensible move for the manufacturers; a lot of the people coming into snuff over the next few years - and there will be a whole lot if things carry on as they are - will need a whole array of choice. I believe smoking will be driven to the fringes of legality over the decades to come, maybe even beyond it - so that is a potentially massive market increase that has to be served.

waiting for that to happen!

@Abraxas as far as smoking goes, I think cigarettes NEED to be driven to the fringes of legality. Cigarette smokers need to see the light and move on to something that isn’t going to kill them. I mean, as we all know, there’s A LOT of nasty stuff in cigarettes! Using tobacco, in my mind, shouldn’t have to involve slowly killing yourself. It should be pleasurable.

the ironic part is that the most unhealthy and least enjoyable tobacco is the most expensive, (can’t blame the taxman for doing it like that I suppose) and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t go through the same kind of artistic/crafty process that any other form of tobacco would. What amazes me is how they can take something naturally sweet like Virginia, Burley, and Turkish tobacco and make it so horrendous. Now with all these really strong snuffs, smokers won’t have to choose between a quick nic fix and something enjoyable.

I won’t be sorry to see cigarettes go, but I will mourn the loss of free choice when they do.

@TomStrasbourg and @Abraxas I have to agree with you there with regard to current cigarettes - although I have not smoked one for nearly 6 years… Unfortunately I am so old that I remember the days of real cigarettes that did taste of the tobacco. Sobaranie Balkan, Sobranie oval Turkish, Sobranie Imperial Russian that were hand rolled above the Sullivan Powell shop in Burlington Arcade. Sullivan Powells, Simmonds and Fribourg & Treyer virginia. I can still remember the taste of those cigarettes and if Balkan Sobranie pipe tobacco tasted anything like the cigarette version then I understand why people rave about it. Back then you could smoke cigarettes to simply enjoy the taste and there were a wide range of flavours available that were completely down to the tobacco used.

now they are not even tobacco. Think about this the owners of most other tobacco companies use their product or it’s a family business. Cigarette company ceos don’t touch their product.

… Cigarette company ceos don’t touch their product.

That’s because they know what goes in it

They still make good cigarettes, but in my opinion the vast majority of the good ones don’t have filters (Chesterfield, English Oval, Lucky Strike, Camel, Export (for Canadians), Pall Mall, American Spirit plain). They’re all becoming harder to find, and they’re significantly more expensive because they don’t use as much filler. The discount brands are garbage.

I too am a big fan of strong tobacco, though only at times. Right now, my preference is a mixture of English apricot and apple snuffs with Rooster. I normally only use this cocktail when I’m at work or when I’m reading. I have found that the extra nicotine allows me to be sharper at work, and this is important since I live or die by the quality of the decisions I make. When I am reading dry, challenging material, I will even double-dose on this strong mixture when my mind begins to wander and my retention starts going down. At all other times, I use a straight English snuff. I have several questions to address to those who know more about this matter than I do: 1. Are these snuffs fortified with added nicotine the way cheap wines are sometimes fortified with extra alcohol? 2. If not, how is the nicotine enhanced? 3. Is it possible to get a very strong snuff with low TSNA levels? 4. Besides the American scotches, which I would prefer to avoid due to their high TSNA levels, and Toque Quit, what other strong snuffs are out there, and what is supposed to be in the pipeline soon?

I don’t think they have added nicotine. There are a few factors in the strength. One is tobacco type including curing method and useing the parts of the leaf with more nicotine (I think by removing the stem and veins). Grind is part of it too. Finer grind equals more surface area for nicotine release. I assume also a diffrent ph balance for similar reasons.

Select positions of leaf effect nicotine content, then basic plant selection, and all lamina is all it takes, then the jump to Rustica completes the picture. TSNA is a complex picture, remember that American scotches all in all contain mostly fire cured tobacco and the fire curing causes problems. That said, I do believe that sniffing snuff is a whole different exposure and reaction scenario. Brighter minds can explain this better than me. The one thing I am pretty sure of is no one is doping the snuff with additional liquid nicotine. I have lug position leaf (bottom of plant) that is really tame, and then the nicotine increases in all the higher leaf positions. The tips are wicked strong on some of the burley. Any position on Rustica is up to 2 to 5 times stronger I believe. There are a lot of factors involved. As stated, a lot of snuffs are just the stems with no lamina whatsoever.

Dang it, I didn’t know about WoS Dynamite when I placed my last order a couple days ago or I would have gotten some, I LOVE strong snuffs, and I was never a cigarette smoker so that contradicts that theory.

I’ve reduced my cig intake by over half, and for me it’s because of the strong snuffs. It gives me what I need and is a hell of a lot better than straight NRT. My $0.02

There is no added nicotine for the reasons whalen points out; it’s about potentiation not addition. Apart from crop and cure you can make a snuff seem more powerful simply by making it more efficient in delivering its nicotine. The best example of this is the effect achieved by increasing the surface area of a pinch of snuff through milling it finely. Finer, drier snuffs also give more ‘burn’ in the nose which adds to the apparent strength - these properties have been used in snuff blending since God was a lad. I have no doubt that blenders are pushing these techniques to the nth degree at the moment but strong snuffs are not entirely a modern phenomena.

Thanks for that, entirely correct, and really, the extremes all have some intense properties, Ammonia for the Africans, weaponized grinds for the white, Ultra high PH mixes. Those are what they are. I am interested in enhanced snuffs, more by careful selection of strong leaf, than something that will blow your head off. Look at what a simple yet satisfying snuff results from just grinding Thouc Lao into a fine powder, That is my kind of stronger snuff.

Dang it, I didn’t know about WoS Dynamite when I placed my last order a couple days ago or I would have gotten some, I LOVE strong snuffs, and I was never a cigarette smoker so that contradicts that theory.

I was never a regular cig smoker either but from everything I’ve heard around the forums and elsewhere it seems that snuff is becoming popular as an alternative to cigarettes so it makes sense to have so many stronger snuffs for what seems to be a considerable chunk of the current and potential market. I get the impression that most people didn’t just use tobacco occasionally until they found snuff.

Something about my current medication is making me feel something in a cig that makes me almost ill. I’m glad I just put in a big order. It may last a while now. Or not…it may be just what I need with whatever it is that is messing me up with the cigs.

My guess would be the “I wan’na be a macho man!” syndrome.

The newbie Yanks could probably save themselves quite a bit of money by simply using American Scotches!

Newbie Yanks? Hmmm, not liking that term but I get the drift. I could save money by sticking a paper clip in the wall socket every time I open up the Mr. Snuff site! Only known cure for TAD BTW.

@Whalen I might try the paper clip thing because I’m getting tired of slamming the door on my testicles.

I don’t even know what a “Yank” is. Is it a shortened version of Yankee? Is that supposed to be a derogatory jab at Americans? If so I would prefer to be called “Neo-Yank”. The term NEWBIE is far to offensive.

I’m pretty sure what dave meant was that for new snuffers (switching from cigarettes) who happen to be located in America, and who need strong snuff, it would be easier to acquire some scotch snuffs locally, rather than ordering from across the pond. There’s nothing offensive in the least about the term “Yank,” just a colloquial term of endearment often used by the “Brits” (a similar term by the way)

Oh, and by the way, Dave is from the USA so you can be pretty sure it wasn’t “a derogatory jab at Americans.”

@tybalt Hopefully you didn’t think I was being serious. It was my poke at Political Correctness. Yes, I know he didn’t mean any ill will by his statement. “I had the shot, I took it, and I wasn’t below the hard deck for more than a couple seconds.” -Top Gun-

@BigDaddySnuff Sorry, I had assumed you were serious. Hard to tell on the interwebs, what with the lack of tone and inflection and all. Good to know.

@tybalt You will have to get used to my sense of humor. There is nothing in this world that I am so attached to that would cause me to be offended. I’m about as easy going and accepting as can be. So when you see me bumping around here I do so with a light heart. Life is too short to be pissed off. All is peaceful on my end.

Us Yanks also have generations of farmers selling whole leaf tobacco by the pounds legally tax free. As a hobbyist snuff maker, pipe smoker, cigar roller it doesn’t get much better than that.

Good morning means morning WITH Toque Quit in my nose…

@tybalt - I never missed his meaning, nor was offended. And I knew Dave was a “yank”! I just thought he was calling us “Wankers”, that’s all! Just as long as he does not call us late for dinner, I am good. As a matter of fact it is all good!

I like being offended at people who are offended, for nothing more than them taking offense at something. It can really help any situation.

I am ambivalent about super strong snuffs, I have bought them on occasion but not stuck with them. My big concern is raising my tolerance to nicotine and no longer finding my regular snuffs satisfying. I guess I am lucky that the regular snuffs do the trick for me and my smoking days are long behind me.

@BigDaddySnuff For your enlightenment and edification, here is a very workable defintion that I got about 45 years ago from an old Vermont Blueblood Spinster… What is a “Yankee?” To anybody who lives outside of the USA, a Yankee is anybody who lives in the USA. To anybody who lives south of the Mason-Dixon line, a Yankee is anybody who lives NORTH of the Mason-Dixon line. To anybody who lives north of the Mason-Dixon line, a Yankee is anybody who lives in New England. To anybody who lives in New England, a Yankee is anybody who lives in Vermont. (Remember that this definition was given before all of those hippies invaded Vermont and changed it from the most conservative to the most liberal state in the union within 10 years.) To anybody who lives in Vermont, a Yankee is anybody who eats cold baked beans and apple pie for breakfast. (I was told this when I was spotted eating cold baked beans and apple pie for breakfast one morning at my granny’s house in Vermont.)

Yes that was my only problem with the “yank” reference, I do live just 12 miles south of the Mason-Dixon line. That, and the fact that in my native Texas, Yankee has at least 4 syllables in its pronunciation, and denotes one who fornicates with squirrels.

@Whalen You’re a funny guy…LMAO!!

When I took my wife to be, a Philadelphia lady, to meet my Texas family, my aunt made some inquiries as to where she was from, when I told her, My aunt exclaimed “Shes a Yankee!”, My first inclination that there could be anything wrong with that. Also the first time I knew there could be so many syllables in the pronunciation.

@Whalen - You mind spelling that out phonetically for me? I just can’t work Yankee into four syllables in my head

Yaaa aaan KKKK eeee ! Trust me! It was weird when my aunt said it too! Big Yah then definitive aaaan ( hold for effect), then a hard K sound then followed by seeing a giant mouse sound, eeeee!. Actually makes more sense if the hard K is only three k’s long.

Strange, I have no problem with my Brit friends calling me a Yankee, but when a southerner does, gets my hackels up! perhaps its something to do with being from North Dakota and not a true Northerner

@Whalen - Huh…

To all who answered my questions on how snuff is strengthened, thank you. As far as using the term Yank goes, to Europeans all Americans are Yankees the same way all Brits are English to Americans. The first time I was in England (Portsmouth), I got a fellow rather upset with me when I called him English; he told me in no uncertain terms he was Welsh. But I meant no harm or offense. It is just as inaccurate to call a Southern American a “Yank”. The peoples of the north and South have never gotten along, and still don’t to this day (though today it is called the Red/Blue state divide). My Welsh friend was just as surprised to learn this as I was to learn that he didn’t appreciate being called English. Having said this, I hope we all take such names in the spirit in which they were intended rather than assuming others understand the domestic political dynamics of foreign countries. I think if we look for offense, we will likely find it.

I hear word disputes and my inner linguist goes into overdrive! Yankee 1683, a name applied disparagingly by Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) to English colonists in neighboring Connecticut. It may be from Du. Janke, lit. “Little John,” dim. of common personal name Jan; or it may be from Jan Kes familiar form of “John Cornelius,” or perhaps an alteration of Jan Kees, dialectal variant of Jan Kaas, lit. “John Cheese,” the generic nickname the Flemings used for Dutchmen. It originally seems to have been applied insultingly to the Dutch, especially freebooters, before they turned around and slapped it on the English. A less-likely theory is that it represents some southern New England Algonquian language mangling of English. In English a term of contempt (1750s) before its use as a general term for “native of New England” (1765); during the American Revolution it became a disparaging British word for all American native or inhabitants. Shortened form Yank in reference to “an American” first recorded 1778.

Getting back to the original topic - Super Strong snuffs, Why? Because they needed to be be! And they tend to make my tail wag! I think they will play an important role in someones snuff mix. And for some it will enable snuff to be the sole means of nicotine uptake.

I understand the fact that a finer grind makes for quicker nic uptake, but what I would really like to see are more medium grind strong snuffs. Viking Dark is great in this category, but its the only medium ground/medium moisture strong snuff I am familiar with, and more variety would be nice.

@tybalt - More strong, medium grinds would make me happy. It was the Viking Peach that convinced me that snuffing was an actual alternative to cigarettes.

I have soaked some Perique and have used the liquid to hydrate a snuff. This definitely ups the nicotine. It’s easy to do if you are interested.

I feel no prejudiced toward cigarette smoker and enjoy them now and again. It my choice not to be enslaved to cancer sticks also my choice to be consumed with TAD exploring other form of tobacco for enjoyment. I love the super strong snuffs and I have them in rotation,which creates balance. Cigarettes smokers pay a lot of taxes to smoke and without smokers non smokers would have to pick up the decline of revenues. It is no concern of mine if someone smokes or skydives, they know it is dangerous and do it anyway.

I get the impression that most people didn’t just use tobacco occasionally until they found snuff.

you saying that people only use snuff occasionally or before snuff only used tobacco occasionally? sorry just confused lol

i have not boticwed any diffrence honestly

@supervape I meant that today it seems like most people were regular tobacco users of one sort or another before they tried or became accustomed to snuff. I haven’t gotten any of my non smoker/dipper friends to try snuff. i know that before snuff I only used tobacco occasionally but most people on this site, from what I’ve read were daily tobacco users before snuff. I have a buddy who I got started on snuff and now he’s using that to quit dipping. He’s also picked up a pipe habit. I’m sure the TAD will hit him shortly. Personally I can’t see anyone that wouldn’t smoke or chew deciding they’d like to take tobacco in their nose. I already liked tobacco but after snuff I love the stuff. So cigarettes are a gateway drug to TAD.

gotcha thanks… what is TAD lol?

@TomStrasbourg I have never smoked or used chew and obviously I am more than a little into snuff. Perhaps its because i am a great salesman or my double dog dare ya tactics, I find quite a few people willing to try snuff. I do run with an adventurous crowd (rugby) but I’ve found alot of non-rugby players are interested in snuff especially in the winter when they arent too keen on going outside of the bar for a smoke. Plus it helps to sing a song before you take a pinch

@Supervape It’s ‘Tobacco Acquisition Disorder’…we all tend to suffer from it. Snuff is like Pokemon.

@dogwalla lol you got that right!

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are about the new breed of strong snuffs. Even Wilsons is in the race now with, Dynamite.

because tolerance grows with use. Taxi Blue seemed kind of scary the first time or two, now I can’t get enough of the stuff.