I find this TAS R. Madras snuff to be amazing, and ridiculously addictive. Everything about it is perfect to me. Its burn, its aroma, the whole feel of it. It gives you a nice nicotine lift too, doesn’t take too much. I am surprised there’s not much mention of it here. Anyone else think or feel the same of it? Or is it just me?
I like it just fine. Its not really easy to get, nor well known, so perhaps most members here have not had it. I would not have ever tried it except for tom502 finding it locally a few months ago. Nice and spicy. There was some chatter back then about it.
I suppose I am fortunate then that Brookline News and Gift Store, right next to Boston, sells it. It’s the only snuff I’ve tried quite like it. It’s not an Indian shop, but I wonder if it is a common product in Indian Shops. It is unfortunate that more of the folks here haven’t had experience with it… I hope that changes at some point. It is most definitely spicy. I find it hard to describe exactly what it smells of. It has a very potent tobacco smell to it, and something odd that makes me think of Indian incense( but subtle), and soil. I really wish I could identify it. I know that you and tom have tried, and I think some others also tried it. I wonder if anyone knows what it is that makes up its scent…
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You are indeed lucky to have found it then. The Indian markets near me that I have tried so far only have Indian chewing tobacco. Your shop may carry some other exotic brands if they carry that. I’d be curious to know. You could also find yourself having some good trading material. I took a pinch just now to remind myself and give some descriptions. It reminds me mostly of Indian spiced tea, so cardamom and a touch of clove perhaps is in it.
I am not surprised, since to date so far, this shop has more variety in tobacco than any I’ve been in. They do claim to be New England’s largest tobacco selection, maybe there is truth in. They are dedicated to pipe tobacco(with an awesome selection) but they also sell just about any other type of tobacco as well as a bunch of other awesome manly stuff(canes, wet shaving equipment, etc…). They have some common snuffs as well as snuffs which I don’t really hear about. Some of them look very old. I wouldn’t be surprised if some tins are 20+ years old, since I know that pipe tobacco tins that old have been found there. My friend bought an unused peterson pipe there from the 70s I believe, that had been just sitting there for years. He only paid about 60usd for it and it’s an excellent smoke. Any of you who are from Boston, or if you ever happen to be in the area, I strongly suggest visiting there. The shop even attracted a visit from Bill Clinton back in the day.
Sorry for the overly long response that almost seems like an ad. I am not sure what cardamom single handly smells/tastes like, but as for cloves, perhaps that is part of what makes up the scent. It seems to be some blend of various spices, but to me it is a bit hard to pinpoint exactly what. It reminds me of Indian incense in the background, but darker.
I think it must be somewhat popular, as I saw it listed on an online Indian grocery in NY.
Brookline News and Gift! Good lord, that’s where it all started for me back in the '60’s. There was a fellow there named Mike, I believe. He would let me, a teenager at the time, peruse their humidor and after agonizing for half an hour buy one or two cigars, pipe or cigarettes tobaccos. If I’m thinking of the same place, it was on Harvard St, near Coolidge Corner. I hope it’s the same place and glad to think they are still in business.
I got mine from Tom502 as well. It’s a very nice snuff and probably the only Indain snuff that I like. I know this is weird but to me it smells like a veterinarian’s office but I like it. The scent is very crisp, the burn is good, and it lasts in my nose a long time but that might be due to my sensitivity of the scent(s). I’ve got to check out this shop in Brookline now…the curiosity is going to kill me otherwise.
This is a “Madras Snuff”; the tobacco is cooked in ghee before grinding & lime is added. There aren’t any other flavours added.
@Stitch. Yeah it’s the same place, unfortunately Mike sold the place a year ago to an Indian man(though the new owner is friendly). When I was first getting into pipes I learned alot going there. It use to be a hangout for me and I would just smoke my pipe with Mike and his employee and socialize. He didn’t care that you need permission to allow smoking in businesses(in Mass). He was very old school. It still good these days, just not the same because you don’t have Mike around anymore. It is still the best tobacco store I know around. @Wickedkitchen I def recommend you visit Brookline News&Gifts. You’d be missing out on alot. Stitch is right, Brookline News&Gifts is by Coolridge Corner. It’s on a corner between Harvard St. and Babcock St. @Snuffgrinder What is ghee? And what kind of scent does ghee and lime give tobacco? How would you describe it?
Ghee is clarified butter. Lime is calcium carbonate and is generally added to Indian snuffs. The ghee doesn’t really seem to have a big impact on the scent. It does improve the texture and make the snuff easier to take.
Ghee is a special clarified butter that is important in ayurveda(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarified\_butter) my mother cooks with it some times. Scent i have no idea 
Won’t that go rancid?
That is really interesting. I never knew I was putting butter in my nose haha. Perhaps the lime would keep the butter from going rancid?
Protein solids are removed with clarification.
That would make sense.
@Xander: I *think* that since it is clarified butter, it has a much loooooonger shelf life.
Well I suspect that the lime would prob prevent it from going rancid, plus the fact that these snuffs are pretty dry. I could be wrong of course but just a thought.
I just got some of this today! WOW this is pretty good snuff! Thanks Tom502!