That you shouldnt touch the snuff with your bare, naked fingers?
From what I’ve read, it’s about long term storage. The idea is that by pinching from a larger storage container, bacteria and fungus from the fingers could be introduced into the snuff which could spoil it. Probably not a problem if the snuff is going to be used up pretty quickly. But the longer it sits, the greater opportunity for bacteria and mold to ruin the snuff.
I think the mold/fungus hue and cry is a bit much. It happens, sure, I.e. some of the SWS tins and the occasional moist snuff/metal tin. But ive a lot of snuff stored that I take pinches directly from for years and nothing has happened.
I think it applies more to artisan snuffs intended to be put down rather than taken quickly.
Which goes back to the question: does snuff age or simply store well? But I’m thinking artisian snuff will age well, but to touch it will harm it? I think not, despite some artisianal snuffs inclination to mold.
It is important to remember that tobacco has some antibacterial effects, according to research I have read. I agree with @saucy_jack on this point for whatever it’s worth. I own a good number of snuffs that are around 20 years old and they are still wonderful, including a 20 year old F&T HDT that is so buttery (much more so than the current version) it dazzles my senses every time I try it.
Which goes back to the question: does snuff age or simply store well? But I’m thinking artisian snuff will age well, but to touch it will harm it? I think not, despite some artisianal snuffs inclination to mold.
Pardon my ignorance, as my knowledge of tobacco aging comes primarily from 13 years as a pipe smoker. If your goal is aging, wouldn’t it be better to leave the jar alone without introducing more air into the jar? I know aging PT (particularly well aging VAs) require an anaerobic environment for best effect. Reintroducing air stops/slows the process. I hope snuff stores well. The thing I like about it the most is that I can also taste the flavoring in addition to the tobacco, something missed when smoking a particularly luscious smelling aromatic PT blend. In that case smell doesn’t equal taste.
It is important to remember that tobacco has some antibacterial effects, according to research I have read. I agree with @saucy_jack on this point for whatever it’s worth. I own a good number of snuffs that are around 20 years old and they are still wonderful, including a 20 year old F&T HDT that is so buttery (much more so than the current version) it dazzles my senses every time I try it.
@fredh, I have a quite similar experience with F&T HDT. I misplaced a half full alu tin for about ten years and the remaining snuff is indeed much much nicer than the newer tins I have. It’s soft and buttery with a hint of pistachio. And I’m running out. Either the snuff has indeed improved a lot by aging, or WoS changed something in the recipe at some point. I
I own a good number of snuffs that are around 20 years old and they are still wonderful, including a 20 year old F&T HDT that is so buttery (much more so than the current version) it dazzles my senses every time I try it.
@fredh, I have a quite similar experience with F&T HDT. I misplaced a half full alu tin for about ten years and the remaining snuff is indeed much much nicer than the newer tins I have. It’s soft and buttery with a hint of pistachio. And I’m running out. Either the snuff has indeed improved a lot by aging, or WoS changed something in the recipe at some point.
Thank you @Jari_T for sharing your experience. It is interesting that you have a similar situation with your aged F&T HDT. I hadn’t noticed the hint of pistachio in there but now that I go back to it I see that you are right, that scent is in there in mine as well.
If the term aging, as applied to wine, Virginia tobaccos and some cheeses implies improvement over time, my opinion, based on some 30 year old G. Smith & Sons Cafe Royale and a few others is no. It doesn’t improve. If, on the other hand, we’re talking about the keeping qualities of properly stored snuff, as in properly canned produce, my opinion is yes. It keeps quite well. I’ll be damned how anyone could let HDT get old. That is based on 40+ years of it being my #1, go-to, always within arms reach, buy it by the barrel or 55 gallon drum, desert island snuff. The balance of the F&T line has always given me the whips and jingles to the point I feel like a dog shitting peach seeds.
I could imagine snuff with a lot of good Virginia in it maturing well. Certainly seems to be true for pipe tobacco. Even leaving it alone for a few months can improve it a lot if it. A lot of other tobacco blends need time for the flavors to marry, but you get diminishing returns pretty quickly.
@fredh @Jari_T I too, have an old HDT I still use, it’s about 20 years old or so, I bought it when I was still in school. Still good, much more buttery than the current HDT (like shoving some lurpak up your nose!) and it’s going down at an alarming rate!
To the best of my knowledge, it’s more of an infection thing… Nothing wrong with dipping into your own snuffbox but, since you are coming into contact with your nose, you may be transmitting all sorts of infectious nasties if you stick you stick your fingers in somebody elses snuffbox. Dipping into somebody elses snuffbox may spread infection. Dipping into something that contains your own snuff to be used at a later date may cause reinfection after you have gotten over a cold, the flu, etc.
Being “old”, I’d say nothing gets better with age.
It took me a while to get the technique, but I must admit dry toasts are rapidly becoming my snuffs of choice. My snuffbox has a mix of 50/50 WoS #22 and F&T HDT. It never leaves my pocket!
Interesting, On the side of caution I think I will start dumping onto the palm & then finger into the nose instead of straight from container with the finger. :bz
Even more than potential mold, I worry about inadvertently introducing an unwanted scenting agent into my snuffs. I was able to detect a smell from some hand soap I had used a few months ago in some WoS IHDT #22 that was in a snuff box I temporarily misplaced and then found the other day.
I have had several snuffs develop an off/spoiled scent from digging my fingers around in them then leaving them to sit for a few weeks but maybe I just have dirty fingers.
It’s more about keeping a snuff you intend to either lay down, or use slowly, as clean as possible. Snuff now goes all over the world to a wide variety of environments - far more than previously - so if you live in a humid rural setting for example, keeping the snuff clean and cool reduces any risk of ambient mould contamination. I believe your environment as a whole is the key to how cautious you should be, but as a default; keep it cool and clean.
To the best of my knowledge, it’s more of an infection thing… Nothing wrong with dipping into your own snuffbox but, since you are coming into contact with your nose, you may be transmitting all sorts of infectious nasties if you stick you stick your fingers in somebody elses snuffbox. Dipping into somebody elses snuffbox may spread infection. Dipping into something that contains your own snuff to be used at a later date may cause reinfection after you have gotten over a cold, the flu, etc.
The first part of that post is very true, but that last paragraph is not. Firstly, cold, flu and most every other virus cannot survive outside the body for very long. I believe it’s something like 20 minutes to a couple of hours for flu, depending on conditions. Secondly, if you have already recovered from a cold or flu, you will be immune to that specific strain of the virus, so you won’t get it again. The reason we keep getting colds and flu is that the viruses mutate.