Oden's 79 Ginger/Lime (Original Portion) - Review. 20 January 2020.

It's rare that a snus exists that I'm not aware of, however this is one that I just learned about. I recently did an order with SnusMe.com to get some favorites, and saw a listing for Oden's Extreme: 79 Ginger Lime (Original Portion), in the regular strength format. Back in 2013, I reviewed the extreme version of this snus, but had no idea that a regular strength version existed! Fun fact, when GN Tobacco first began making snus back in 2010, one of their first products launched was one with a ginger/lime flavor - Olde Viking Ginger/Lime.  I wasn't a big fan of that one, but I did enjoy the taste of the Oden's Extreme Ginger Lime.

The flavor description for this one says, "Odens 79 Portion gives a well rounded and aromatic tobacco blend with sour lime flavor, which does not take over the classic tobacco flavor."  This particular can weighs 18g and has 18 portions for 1g portions.  However, a recent law change in Sweden says snus cans must have at least 20 portions per can, so I imagine that will change soon.  Perhaps 20 portions at a gram each.  The nicotine content for Oden's regular strength products is usually 9mg/g (0.9%) and 9mg/portion.

When you open the can, there is a lightly sweet smell of ginger with a mild hint of tart lime. The portions are plump, and moist, but not overly moist. They're also quite comfortable in the lip. They also come with a quick release of flavor! The flavor of this one is quite good. The ginger and lime pair very well together and come through in almost equal amounts. The ginger is light, and mildly sweet. The lime is tart, but natural tasting. The nicotine on this one feels to be around regular strength, and I find the flavor lasts up to about 45 minutes on average!  I really enjoyed this one.  I don't have any GN Tobacco products in my rotation, but this one might actually be the first!

Epok No7 Freeze X-Strong S5 (Norway) - Review. 19 January 2020.

Today, I'll be reviewing a product out of Norway: Epok No7 Freeze X-Strong S5. Epok may not exist in many places, but it still exists as a snus in Norway, and as chew bags in Denmark. This is one that I reviewed years ago when it was sold online to the US as Epok Freeze X-Strong. It also exists in a nicotine pouch version - Lyft Freeze X-Strong.  The flavor description for this one says it has "a flavor of intense peppermint”.  It comes in a 16.8g can with 24 portions for 0.7g portions. The nicotine content is 16mg/g (1.6%), or 11.2mg/portion.

As usual, I had to cut open portions to look at what's inside an Epok portion. Now, if you're new to Epok, you may be asking yourself what "white tobacco" is. This is how Winnington describes it: "White tobacco is produced in a patented, environmentally friendly process that gently cleanses and refines brown tobacco. In this process, unwanted substances are minimized, such as heavy metals and nitrosamines. The feeling under the lip, nicotine strength and flavor experience is the same as in a regular snus pouch - but without the snus running or coloring your teeth. White tobacco contains white tobacco, nicotine, water, stabilizer and flavoring agents. White tobacco is produced in a water-based process, ensuring the tobacco is clean of all unwanted substances. White tobacco contains no natural sugar. Instead, xylitol is used as a sweetener."

In Norway, snus cans come in this color, also known as Pantone 448 C, or 'opaque couché'. According to a survey, it is "the world's ugliest color". Also, cans in Norway have no graphics on them, they only have the name of the product.  I personally like the cans and the color. I find the design simple, and minimalist. So their effort to make snus less attractive did not work on me.

When you open the can, a sharp, mildly sweet aroma of peppermint greets you. The portions are slim, soft, and comfortable in the lip. When you put a portion under the lip, there's a mild burn, which gives way to a gentle cooling presence. The flavor is a present, focused taste of peppermint. It has a mild sweetness to it, but it's not overly sweet. The nicotine level feels to be above the extra strong level; it has a really solid kick to it! The flavor, on average, lasts around 45-55 minutes, so it has a good amount of life to it!  If you like white tobacco and are looking for a strong product with a fresh mint flavor, you may enjoy this one!

Snus.biz: Kontabas (Lös) - Review. 16 January 2019.

If you aren't familiar with them, Snus.biz is a snus manufacturer in Ukraine, making quality Swedish Snus exclusively in the loose format.  Not only that, but they keep it old school and produce snus the way God intended - in 50 gram cans.  I've been a big fan of their for years now, and have even made some great collaborations with them: Snubie Blood Orange and Goji Berry Lös, Snubie Mr. Bacon Lös, Snubie Bacon and Cheese Lös, and Snubie Cherokee Rose Lös. I've reviewed a lot of their other products, and you can check out those reviews, here.

Product Details: 

Flavor: “Kontabas was created and bottled by my friend. He and his friend bought an old house in Transcarpathian Ukraine and found several large bottles in his old barn. Each bottle was tagged with the year of bottling - 1993.  Kontabas is an ancient national Ukrainian alcoholic drink with an amazing aroma and taste. If Horilka is a well-known folk drink for the masses, then Kontabas is a drink of intellectuals and sophisticated connoisseurs.  In this snus, we used Kontabas by Kontapel, a traditional Ukrainian blended alcoholic beverage based on blackcurrant buds.”
Grind: Combo Grind
Contents: 50g
Nicotine: 15-20mg/g

To preface this, I've never had Kontabas before. So I went into this review blind, and it took me almost a week to form my impressions of it. But I like a challenge! The aroma reminds me of a dark berry, accompanied by light floral tones. The tobacco comes through in a very rich way. The loose itself is moist, and has a quick flavor release. Being the combo grind, it does have a bit of a learning curve in terms of handbaking, but it's not too hard to pick up! The flavor is very interesting; I notice the dark/mild berry taste up front, and then the light floral tones. The floral notes remind me of violet. The backing tobacco flavor is robust, rich, and well rounded. The nicotine feels to be about the strong level, and the flavor lasts about 45-55 minutes on average.  This one was pretty interesting.  I didn't know what to expect, but in the end I enjoyed the complex nature of the flavor!

General (Kardus) - Review. 12 January 2020.

Today, I'm excited to review something extremely special: General Kardus! Don't get this confused with other General Kardus limited edition releases - this is a different release. The is a product sold exclusively at the Snus and Match Museum's Museum Shop in Stockholm, and also at the Swedish Match store in Stockholm. A good friend of mine actually sent me all five varieties sold: General, Grov, Ettan, Prima Fint, and Roda Lacket.  Needless to say, I couldn't be more excited to review this product.

Kardus isn't a brand, and it isn't long cut tobacco.  Kardus actually refers to how snus used to be packaged. To explain what "Kardus" is all about, I'll quote from the Snus and Match museum's website: "The “kardus paper” used to make the boxes is a simple, coarse type of wrapping paper that was used for a variety of products as long ago as the 1600s. It was used to package not only snus but gunpowder, shot, matches, etc. The Swedish word, “kardus” comes from the French word, “cartouche”, and has been used since Napoleonic times, and refers to the ancient Egyptian seals discovered at that time in North Africa. The “kardus boxes” were often closed with a seal. The 250g weight of our contemporary boxes refers back to the old weight – a half pound – which was commonly used when buying snus. This style of packaging disappeared as cardboard portion cans became increasingly popular, and these unique, hand-packed “kardus boxes” are nowadays only made at the Snus and Match Museum. The packaging is a beautiful, retro-style one, inspired by the Art Nouveau movement of almost 100 years ago."

This is the freshest snus I've probably ever had. The label says the snus was packed 11/28. My friend picked it up, mailed it to me, and I received it 12/5.  The label is also signed by the person who packed it, making each Kardus package truly special, and unique.

As this is the same product as General Lös, I'll share that flavor description:  "A spicy tobacco taste with notes of bergamot and hints of tea, hay and leather."  Each package contains 250g of tobacco (about a half a pound), and this one has a nicotine content of 7.5mg/g (0.75%).  The same as the regular General Lös!

The aroma of this one is a robust, spicy tobacco smell with a hint of tart bergamot. The snus itself is the same as regular General loose snus, and like other Swedish Match loose products is incredibly easy to bake and work with! The flavor is a rich, earthy tobacco taste with a clear hint of bergamot, a peppery spice to it, and a light smokiness. The nicotine feels to be about the regular strength level. I find the snus itself stays well packed in the lip, and I can enjoy the flavor for up to about 45 minutes! If you like the regular loose counterpart and find yourself in Stockholm, this is certainly something special and unique to check out!

Epok No4 Purple Intense S4 (Norway) - Review. 7 January 2020.

Today, I'll be reviewing a product out of Norway: Epok No4 Purple Intense S4. Epok may not exist in many places, but it still exists as a snus in Norway, and as chew bags in Denmark. This is one that I reviewed years ago when it was sold online to the US as Epok Licorice Strong. It also exists in a nicotine pouch version - Lyft Licorice Strong.  The flavor description for this one says, "A traditional tobacco flavor with licorice and anise”.  This product comes in a 16.8 gram can with 24 portions for 0.7 gram portions. The nicotine content is 14mg/g (1.4%) for 9.8mg/portion.

As usual, I had to cut open portions to look at what's inside an Epok portion. Now, if you're new to Epok, you may be asking yourself what "white tobacco" is. This is how Winnington describes it: "White tobacco is produced in a patented, environmentally friendly process that gently cleanses and refines brown tobacco. In this process, unwanted substances are minimized, such as heavy metals and nitrosamines. The feeling under the lip, nicotine strength and flavor experience is the same as in a regular snus pouch - but without the snus running or coloring your teeth. White tobacco contains white tobacco, nicotine, water, stabilizer and flavoring agents. White tobacco is produced in a water-based process, ensuring the tobacco is clean of all unwanted substances. White tobacco contains no natural sugar. Instead, xylitol is used as a sweetener."

In Norway, snus cans come in this color, also known as Pantone 448 C, or 'opaque couché'. According to a survey, it is "the world's ugliest color". Also, cans in Norway have no graphics on them, they only have the name of the product. I personally like the cans and the color. I find the design simple, and minimalist. So their effort to make snus less attractive did not work on me.

When you open the can, a present black licorice smell greets you. I find the portions to be soft, slim, and comfortable when under the lip. The flavor is a clear, present taste of licorice. There also seems to be a light herbal taste to it, perhaps from the anise. This one has quite a kick to it. Though the nicotine level is strong, it feels to be right at the extra strong level. I find the flavor lasts around 45-55 minutes, on average!  If you're in Norway, and you like white tobacco, this would be a good one to check out.  I found myself really enjoying the licorice flavor on this product!

Snus.biz: Halloween (Lös) - Review. 6 January 2020.

If you aren't familiar with them, Snus.biz is a snus manufacturer in Ukraine, making quality Swedish Snus exclusively in the loose format.  Not only that, but they keep it old school and produce snus the way God intended - in 50 gram cans.  I've been a big fan of their for years now, and have even made some great collaborations with them: Snubie Blood Orange and Goji Berry Lös, Snubie Mr. Bacon Lös, Snubie Bacon and Cheese Lös, and Snubie Cherokee Rose Lös. I've reviewed a lot of their other products, and you can check out those reviews, here.

Product Details: 

Flavor: “Halloween Lös was aged in pumpkin jam with spices under pressure in an old oak barrel for three months. The tobacco was pasteurized in tandoor, a traditional North Caucasian and Central Asian oven, under strict control of temperature and cooking time.”
Tobacco Used: “Xanthi (also known as the Queen of Tobacco) and Turkish Basma.”
Grind: Combo Grind
Contents: 50g
Nicotine: 15-20mg/g

When you open the can, the pumpkin spice aroma is quite present; I immediately pick up tones of cinnamon and nutmeg, with a mild tobacco backing. The loose itself is soft, moist, and has a nice flavor release. The combo grind takes a little learning to get used to when it comes to handbaking, but it’s not too hard. In the flavor profile, the pumpkin spice is present, with tones of cinnamon, nutmeg, and light ginger. The tobacco is a mild, earthy taste, with a little spice to it and a mildly sweet tone. The nicotine feels to be around the strong level, and the flavor lasts about 45-50 minutes on average!  I really enjoyed this one.  I'm a big fan of pumpkin spice, and in my opinion it pairs great with tobacco.  Props to Snus.biz for finally making the elusive pumpkin spice snus!

General Omni Blue All White (Norway) - Review. 14 January 2020.

This is a really interesting review. Many of you may remember back in 2016 I reviewed General Omni, a hybrid product with a small share of tobacco. It was discontinued shortly thereafter, and that was the last I had heard of it. Well, I was browsing SnusLageret and saw it was still for sale in Norway.  Very surprising! The flavor description for this one says, "A clear and nice taste of peppermint". Each can has 20 portions in the can. The nicotine content is where it gets interesting. Each of these products is said to have "a new patented technology" which allows them to feel stronger than they are. Omni No1 Blue All White Extra Strong has a nicotine content of 6 mg/g but feels like a regular extra strong portion of 16 mg/g nicotine. Omni No2 Blue All White has a nicotine content of 3 mg/g but feels like a regular 8mg/g nicotine portion.

Here's a look inside the pouch from the last time I reviewed Omni. Omni is a little different from Zyn, and a little different from G4. Regarding what's inside the pouch, Swedish Match says "It is manufactured with a patented production technology, and the contents are made up of a mix of cellulose fibre, a smaller share of tobacco and food grade approved additives which are packed in all white pouches".  Regarding the "smaller share of tobacco", I'm assuming that's what the brown specks are.  It is dryer, so it looks similar to Zyn, except this one actually has a small amount of tobacco in it.

In Norway, snus cans come in this color, also known as Pantone 448 C, or 'opaque couché'. According to a survey, it is "the world's ugliest color". Also, cans in Norway have no graphics on them, they only have the name of the product. I personally like the cans and the color. I find the design simple, and minimalist. So their effort to make snus less attractive did not work on me.

General Omni has a light, gentle smell of peppermint with a mild sweetness. The portions remind me of Zyn portions; they're smaller, and quite dry to the touch. In the lip they're not super comfortable at first, but as they get more moist they do get more comfortable! There is a mild cooling sensation when you put a portion under the lip as well.  The flavor is a light, airy taste of peppermint with a mild sweetness to it.  It's relatively gentle, but pleasant.  The flavor on these lasts a good amount of time; usually up to about 50-55 minutes on average.  For the regular strength one (No2), the nicotine feels a little less strong than regular strength.  For the stronger one (No1), the nicotine level feels to be around the strong level.

I was surprised to see these still existed, so if you're in Norway and like the nicotine pouch/white tobacco/purified portion type of snus, check these out!