Have been brought up on these kinds of snuffs. The first snuff tobacco I tried was Umbrella snuff. An easy to take dark Madras. Then I was introduced to TAS. It was ridiculously addictive! TAS has shut shop now. The only Madras type snuff I have access to is DS which is somewhat close to the TAS but lacks the slightly finer grind and the nicotine punch. The burn is good, like TAS.

@Gokul Wasn’t TAS just renamed TPS?

Have not seen TPS. TAS was available everywhere 5-6 years back. Mostly DS Madras is available where I stay. No TPS or TAS. If at all there was TPS, it must have had a short life.

@Gokul I’ve been using TPS here in the States for a year and a half now. I actually just ordered another case of it.

http://hookah1.com/HOOOKAH2/index.php?route=product/product&path=6\\_21&product\\_id=28

^^^^^^ Good stuff a favorite! Also like the N.C. Wasn’t thrilled with Dholakia Madras toast but is still worth trying.

TPS, NC, and my favorite NB. I’m sort of hoarding the last 100 grams of the kilo of NB I bought. All good stuff!

My box is full of Umbrella brand Madras, one of the strongest snuffs I’ve ever tried. I googled to find out more about the brand a long time ago. Apparently produced by an Indian family business that also makes umbrellas!

The TAS original was not scented. Umbrella brand snuff was the first I tried. Was medium coarse and dark.I then graduated to TAS which was way ahead in burn, taste and the nicotine. The grind was much finer. The local DS dealer has something similar to Umbrella. Wish I could get Umbrella and their strong versions of the good old Madras.

@JakartaBoy- What does your Umbrella look like? Dark brown or golden?

@gokul, dark brown, medium-fine

I haven’t tried any madras snuffs. I find the idea of the ghee offputting, and I bounce between different snuffs so much that I’m not confident I’d use it up quick enough

Treat them as an artisan snuff and store them in tightly closed glass jars and in the fridge. Had no issues with this procedure and the snuff will last for a very long time.

@50ft_trad, The ghee is clarified butter with the proteins strained off. It will not go bad. Many in this forum have old Madras snuffs that are still usable.

@JakartaBoy, Umbrella is still making snuff then. Good. I think you must have the stronger version. Will redouble my efforts to search for it.

@Gokul - I have only tried SVS Madras and NB Madras. SVS does not have any ghee in it (from what I can sense) and is as strong as the NB - no major difference in grind too. The NB of course has a more smooth and nutty feel to it. I would love to try Umbrella brand, but its not available. SVS and NB are only the ones which were available - and now with NB becoming obsolete with my retailer, I am only left with SVS.

@50ft_trad - Gokul is right. @basement_shaman has written elsewhere that his 5 year old tin too was unaffected. I too think they don’t spoil and hence want to stock up as much as I can get because its kind of an acquired taste with them. I am liking them more the more I use them.

Fresh generous sample of Madras Toast today in the mail today. This stuff is better than the past two I’ve received. Very tea toned fine grind with a good sweetness to it. Fairly easy to take despite being mostly dry with drip both ways but back is not irritating. Expecting some in tub from Mr.Snuff in the next week or so. Curious to compare the 12 day oldfactory sample next to the tub from Mr.Snuff. Thanks @Manit_Joshi at Dholakia.

@nicmizer  nice!! Would be super if you could review it vis ‘a vis the other Madras’ you’ve had.

Today went to the local DS outlet. Got sparse details of the Madras type snuff. They have two types- 1. “Varra podi” (dry powder in English, this means tobacco NOT fried in ghee), and,

2. “Nei podi” (nei means ghee. Ghee fried snuff)

The “varra podi” is golden brown, strong with a good burn and has a great tobacco taste. The “nei podi” is much darker and easy to take. It is used mainly to make the “varra podi” mellow. My mix used to be 20:80. The curing process of the tobacco leaf, is different from the N.Indian snuffs. It brings out the natural tobacco aroma. 

Amazing info @Gokul

you guys are aware that 6 Photo has a Madras type snuff, right?

They have LA Natural. Totally different from the Madras types.

I agree, LA Natural is tobacco flavored but very different. Its milder and smoother tobacco than the Madras types and doesnt have the burn the Madras types give. I think there would be people who would like either of them according to their preferences. 

I’ve only tried Dholakia’s Madras Toast and found it superb. Its irregular and unpredictable availability, however, is most frustrating and tormentous thing (apart from TPD instigated general range reduction). Curious to try other madras snuffs, but they are virtually unavailable for me. The only steady-stocked online vendor of madras (hookah1) do ship to Europe, but the shipping alone is over 70 USD and there’s a very high risk of customs seizure in my country. I would buy a case of NC and T.P.S. immediately, despite the pricey shipping, yet a fair chance of confiscation deters me from placing an order.
Dholakia’s Sparrow could be a good substitute, but sadly its a bird of equal rarity in snuffstore / mrsnuff’s depot, too.

Maybe @sixphoto could launch its own brand-new Madras snuff? It seems the demand for it is growing and the current offer doesn’t keep in step with it.
LA natural is very nice snuff on its own, but it’s really way too mild for madras-type.

Thanks @volunge , for bringing this up Infact we are already working on a new Madras type for some time now

Eager to try that Vikas!

@newbiesnuffer , I have already sent you and @ Gokul  free samples  for evaluation .

A very wise move @sixphoto, thanks for great news! I am on tiptoe with curiosity and definitely will be one of the first buyers.

Thanks @ volunge 

Thanks, Vikas! @sixphoto - eagerly waiting. 

There’s one more in the range. It just came into my mind: FUBAR Toasted is uber-roasted madras, too. I had shinkansened through some decent 75 g in my record-breaking time.

Hi people!

Been on the quest for the old time Madras type snuffs since I got back into snuffing about two years back. Missed TAS that some call TPS now. Tried most of the other types available here (in India), courtesy Vikas, Newbiesnuffer and Dholakia. Was making do with the local DS snuff. The others mildly excited me but still had the craving for the Madras types that were available in the past. Vikas finally decided to make some S. Indian type and sent samples for me to try. He sent sample A,B and C, which he’d made using the North Indian cured tobaccos. That however didn’t excite me very much. Then came D and E which got lost in transit. Next he sent me ‘the’ F and G, using the South Indian cured tobaccos. That’s when my nostrils experienced the divine scent of ghee roasted strong tobacco. Was floored. Strong nic, great burn and lingering, satisfying flavour of honest tobacco. Thank you Vikas, we owe you one for reviving the tradition. Have passed on your latest samples to the old timers, they love it!! Keep it up!!

@Gokul - thanks for the kind words. @sixphoto I am waiting for the launch of this.

Thanks Gokul and Ritesh for being first rete samplers !. We have been trying to make this Madras snuff for a long time now. It is with help of both you guys, your critical analysis and patience that we have finally got this right.

Our Madras snuff is named MG Madras snuff and is going to available  on mrsnuff.com very shortly in 8g and 100 g Tins.

Exciting news, thank you! Waiting (im)patiently to try it.

@sixphoto - Glad and honoured to be a part of this project, Vikas! I wish you all the very best. 

I remember those samples they were awesome! I still think about the one sample I got I think It was sample B, a few years back

Wow… the subject about this reminds me that I got the “B” that was tainted via the herbal. A replacement was sent out and never even opened the pouch. Will have to take inventory and see if I even can find it. I have in bulk later versions of the Madras. I presume it’s different than the B, but not certain. The new one I’d definitely try if quantity options weren’t just 8 or 100g. Something in between in size would suit my fancy tho.

I am here from umbrella brand snuff. We are new to online forum and not available online. We would love to see your feedback and start fresh from here on

http://umbrellasnuff.com/ I’d try it!

Hi! Me too!

Excellent @perumalsnuff. Have had your snuff long back, the coarse ground, black, ghee laced snuff. Been trying to source your snuff, especially the golden one. Sadly not available where I stay. Hopefully it will be available soon.

@perumalsnuff, is there a real ghee in your Madras snuff?

Yes we add real ghee in our snuff. Filled with natural ghee, give the users authentic taste and flavour.

Excellent! Please introduce your products to international market ASAP.

I’d wanna try too! I’m in Mumbai. @perumalsnuff

Anybody know if Umbrella madras is available anywhere?

NC Madras is the only type I have in my vast collection. I like Madras style snuffs, but they are rather boring. I like them because they have a lot of nicotine.