Skruf Solbær (Super White) #3 - Review. 28 February 2020.

Back in 2018, I reviewed Skruf Cassice (Super White) #2, a nicotine pouch product with the flavor of black currant. While I don't personally enjoy mixing mint with other flavors like berry, I found myself really enjoying this one. I've kept some in stock in my freezer ever since! Now, Skruf has launched a new version, at the #3 (Stark/Strong) level. I recently grabbed some on a recent order from SnusMe.com and I've really been enjoying it!  The flavor description says it has a "fresh taste of black currant and sweet mint". This product comes in a 17.3 gram can with 24 portions for 0.72 grams each. At the #3 level, this product would rank as a strong in terms of nicotine strength, so probably between 12mg/g-14mg/g.

If you're new to the Skruf Super White brand, it's part of the growing category of products that contain nicotine but no tobacco! The pouches are moist, and feel like regular snus in the lip. Looking inside the pouch you can see it looks somewhat similar to snus, but is completely white. It contains plant fibers and nicotine. It feels like tobacco, looks like tobacco (other than being white), and feels like a snus portion in the lip, but isn't actually tobacco. This is an interesting product, because there are a lot of people who want to quit smoking, and many of them want to quit tobacco all together, but don't want to give up nicotine. That's where products like this, and Zyn for example, become important.

When you open the can, the aroma of black currant is quite present, and accompanied by a mild freshness reminding me of menthol. The portions are slim, soft, and comfortable under the lip. I also notice a mild cooling presence under the lip with this one. The black currant flavor is present, natural, and lightly sweet. There’s a mild freshness with this one in the taste due to the presence of menthol. The nicotine level feels to be a little stronger than a regular strength, but not too strong. The flavor, on average, lasts about 40-50 minutes.  If you like Cassice, you'll enjoy this one.  It has the same taste, but more nicotine!

Baccoff Coffee Pouches - Review. 26 February 2020.

Back in 2018, I reviewed Baccoff Pouches, a tobacco-free dip alternative, made of black tea. Now, they've launched a new product: Baccoff Coffee Pouches. I'm a big fan of Grinds Coffee Pouches, so I was pretty excited to try these! This is how Baccoff describes them: "If you are a coffee lover, a dipper, or just looking for the best coffee pouches on the market, look no further. BaccOff has the most satisfying coffee pouches on the market. They’re sweet, they’re rich, they’re just right. For dippers and non-dippers alike, our coffee pouches are plain good. If you are a dipper looking an alternative when you quit, look no further."

Here's a look at what's inside the pouch itself.  Of course, this is a tobacco-free product, so inside the pouch you'll find moist, ground coffee.  While it may look similar to tobacco, it isn't! Baccoff Coffee Pouches also contain sugar, natural and artificial flavors, glycerin, salt, water, caramel coloring, sodium benzoate (to assure the flavor), and cellulose fiber.  Baccoff contains 25mg of caffeine per pouch, or about 1/4 cup of coffee.  This is about the same amount Grinds also has in their products, for those wondering.  With these products, you can use them if you want to quit tobacco, or, use them if you like the taste of coffee!  My wife has never used tobacco, but uses Grinds quite a bit for the caffeine.

In this review, I'll be reviewing four products.  There are some parts of them that are the same, so to not sound redundant I'll tell you about those parts.  The portions are pretty plump, moist, and have a quick release of flavor.  The effect feels, to me, like a quick little caffeine jolt.  And for the flavor longevity, they seem to last about 35-45 minutes on average!  Now, on to the flavor reviews!

Baccoff Coffee Pouches (Caramel):

Flavor Description: "Buttery sweet caramel blended with a dark, satisfying coffee roast."


Contents:  16 gram can weight with 20 portions, for 0.8g each.

When you open the can of this one, it’s a pretty buttery presence. I notice hints of caramel, and dark coffee. The taste is quite buttery, accompanied by a smooth, sweet mix of caramel. There’s also well rounded hints of dark coffee in the background!

Baccoff Coffee Pouches (Mocha):

Flavor Description: "Dark, creamy chocolate mixed with a sweet, smooth coffee blend."

Contents:  16 gram can weight with 20 portions, for 0.8g each.

When you open the can, the aroma that greets you is a dark, sweet, chocolatey coffee smell. The flavor of this one is a dark, robust coffee taste. There’s also a light, creamy sweetness to this one. In the background, I also notice a hint of dark chocolate.

Baccoff Coffee Pouches (Vanilla):

Flavor Description: "Sweet, satisfying pure vanilla bean flavor with undertones of bold coffee and cream."

Contents:  16 gram can weight with 20 portions, for 0.8g each.

This one has a present, dark coffee smell. There’s also a smooth, lightly sweet vanilla presence in the aroma. The flavor is a well rounded, robust coffee flavor. It’s accompanied by a smooth, creamy, lightly sweet vanilla flavor!

Baccoff Coffee Pouches (Wintergreen):

Flavor Description: "Wintergreen and Coffee. A surprisingly perfect combination."

Contents:  16 gram can weight with 20 portions, for 0.8g each.

The aroma of wintergreen is quite present. It is a lightly sweet, present smell of American wintergreen. There’s a dark, coffee smell in the background. The flavor is predominantly American wintergreen, and it’s accompanied by a light sweetness, and a dark, robust coffee flavor! I'm not a fan of the wintergreen flavor, but I find the coffee makes it more enjoyable for me.

So, what are my final thoughts on these?  I enjoyed them.  I don't use this type of product much, but I do enjoy it from time to time.  I find them comparable to Grinds, and of a good quality, as well.  They have a great, natural taste, and a long lasting flavor!  If you're looking to quit tobacco, or just a coffee lover looking for something new to try out, check these out!  They're available at DipStop.com!

Cannadips (CBD Pouches) - Review. 25 February 2020.

Today I'm going to be reviewing something that I've had a lot of requests for: Cannadips CBD Pouches. I'm a snus user, and I don't use CBD, but I've had people asking for me to review these for months, so this will be a fun experiment!   My wife is actually a CBD user, so for this review I had to actually get her input.  I think she also planned on taking the rest of these after I was done going through my review.  Before we get into this review, I'm going to do some background and info on these products for those who may not know much about CBD.

This is how Cannadips describes this product: "We utilize a proprietary process that preserves the valuable terpene and flavonoid compounds found in our American grown hemp, which in turn increases CBD bio-availability and allows for quick mucosal absorption directly in the mouth. We then extract any residual THC so you can be sure you're getting a quality THC-free, Broad Spectrum Hemp product in the end. Cannadips provides a truly elevated CBD experience."

Via the Cannadips website, CBD is "short for cannabidiol, and is one of the many plant-produced cannabinoid compounds and found within the hemp plant. You can source CBD from many different types of cannabis."  Drugs.com says CBD is "effective at relieving anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and improving sleep".  Inside each Cannadips pouch you'll find a proprietary fiber blend (coconut fiber, roasted chicory root), vegetable glycerin, cane sugar, organic palm oil, hemp CBD flakes (acacia tree gum, hemp concentrate, potato maltodextrin), natural flavors, and xanthan gum.

The Reviews
In these reviews, I'll discuss the aroma, how the portion feels in the mouth, the taste, and how long the flavor lasts.  At the end, Mrs. Snubie will provide input on the effect of this product and how it feels compared to her usual type of CBD, the oil and the gummies.  Now, on to the reviews!

Cannadips CBD Pouches: American Flavor

Flavor Description:  "American features a blend of cinnamon/chocolate with a hint of craft coffee."
Can Contents:  8.25g, 15 pouches, 0.55g each
CBD Content:  10mg CBD per pouch

When you open the can, there is a present smell of cinnamon. It reminds me a lot of Big Red gum! There's also a spicy hint of cayenne. The portions are soft to the touch, and feel great under the upper lip. The flavor is a present taste of cinnamon, along with a hint of cayenne, and a light touch of chocolate. I find the flavor, on average, lasts up to about an hour!

Cannadips CBD Pouches: Tangy Citrus

Flavor Description:  "Features tangy bursts of sour orange and tart lemon."
Can Contents:  8.25g, 15 pouches, 0.55g each
CBD Content:  10mg CBD per pouch

When you open the can, there is a present smell of lemon. It's not too sour, and is a little bit tangy. It reminds me a lot of Lemonheads candies. The portions are soft to the touch, and feel comfortable under the upper lip. The flavor is mostly lemon - it comes through in a tart/tangy way!  The flavor, on average, lasts up to about an hour!  Of the three, this one was my favorite.

Cannadips CBD Pouches: Natural Mint

Flavor Description:  "A balanced mix of sweet and cool mints sensations."
Can Contents:  8.25g, 15 pouches, 0.55g each
CBD Content:  10mg CBD per pouch

The aroma of this one is a smooth, gentle peppermint aroma. It's not overly sweet, but has just the right amount of sweetness to it. The portions are soft to the touch, and feel comfortable under the upper lip! It has a light cooling presence and freshness to it. The flavor is a smooth, mildly sweet, gentle peppermint flavor. Its quite refreshing! The flavor, on average lasts about an hour.

Cannadips: The Effect / Delivery

While I don't personally use CBD, my wife does.  She uses the oil, and the gummies.  When it came to the effect and delivery, I asked for her input, as an experienced CBD user.  She said she enjoyed how discrete and easy to use these were when she wanted CBD.  She also noticed the delivery to be a bit quicker than her usual products, and found they worked great when she had a headache, and some mild back pain.  While she doesn't use any oral tobacco products like I do, she said she would gladly finish all these cans and would buy more in the future.

Cannadips: Final Thoughts

These products aren't for me personally, as I'm not a CBD user.  But, I was surprised to find how many snusers and smokeless tobacco users enjoy CBD.  I find for those looking for a discrete way to enjoy CBD, this product would be right up their alley.  It's easy to use, has quality flavors, and a fast release of CBD!  Mrs. Snubie, however, is in love, and will be using more of these in the future!

Snubie x Ministry of Snus: Bourbon Vanilla - Preview. 24 February 2020.

Today, I'm very excited to announce my first collaboration with Ministry of Snus: Snubie x Ministry of Snus (Bourbon Vanilla) White Strong!  This is a snus truly made by the snuser, for the snuser!  As many of you know, back in October 2019, I asked the snus community what you wanted in a snus.  What flavor, what portion size, what portion format, and what nicotine strength.  I wanted my next snus release, and first collaboration with Ministry of Snus, to be a product created by the snus community, for the snus community.  The flavor for this snus was originally submitted by John Jaudon in Ohio, USA, so I wanted to make sure to give him credit for submitting this idea.  It was one of hundreds of flavors submitted, and it made it to the final five, and then eventually won as the flavor the snus community most wanted to see!

Ministry of Snus had this to say about this release: "The bourbon and vanilla works really well and we have been able to make it just as we wanted. We have been working with a new kind of tobacco in order to balance the bourbon and vanilla flavors just right - and the use of bourbon straight from the bottle ads something unique to the product. The original thought behind Ministry of Snus was to welcome and engage both consumers and enthusiast. We would probably never have come up with this flavor combination ourselves - and we are very pleased with the final product. For Ministry of Snus this collaboration is not only a new product, it has been a way of bringing one of our initial ideas to life - and we can’t wait to hear what people have to say about it."

For this release, we chose Makers 46, by Makers Mark, to be the bourbon that flavored this product. When we were developing the product, we made sure our test group had a wide range of consumers in it, especially those who liked bourbon and snus!  I'm not a bourbon drinker myself, so I wanted to make sure we got input from people who were!  The test group included myself, another snus reviewer, a snus and bourbon aficionado, and of course - John Jaudon, who submitted the flavor idea. We wanted to make sure the person who suggested it got to weigh in on the flavor! We went through several rounds, and in the end we came up with something that we think you are all going to really like.

Now that we've talked background, let me tell you about this snus! The flavor description says, “Meet Snubie X Ministry of Snus! The bourbon whisky and vanilla was chosen by voters at snubie.com and a limited batch is now available. The product is based on gentle tobacco, genuine kentucky bourbon whisky with a smooth touch of vanilla. Developed by the best experts in the field and approved by Snubie!”  Each can weighs 16g and has 20 portions, for 0.8g portions.  The nicotine content is at the strong level, 12mg/g (1.2%).

Now you're asking, "Where can I buy it? When does it go on sale?" Snubie x MOS goes into production this week and will be up for sale soon!  These stores are selling it:

SnusCENTRAL.com - For the US and international.
SnusBolaget.se - For Sweden.
MinistryOfSnus.com - For Denmark, Sweden, and Germany.

Stay tuned, I'll be doing a review very soon about this exciting new release!

Epok No1 Ice Blue Intense S4 (Norway) - Review. 22 February 2020.

Today, I'll be reviewing a product out of Norway: Epok No1 Ice Blue 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 Ice Blue.  It also exists in a nicotine pouch version - Lyft Ice Blue (Nicotine Pouches).  And, there's a chew bag version, Epok Ice Blue (Chew Bags).  The flavor description for this one says, "A rich taste of peppermint and a cool mint effect”.  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, the aroma is a smooth, mild, lightly sweet smell of peppermint. The portions are slim, soft, and comfortable in the lip. When you put one under the lip there is a mild burn, and then a light cooling sensation. The flavor is a gentle, lightly sweet taste of peppermint. It’s not too bold, and seems pretty refreshing. The nicotine level feels to be around the extra strong level and has a solid kick to it! The flavor, on average, lasts about 45-55 minutes.  If you're in Norway and like white tobacco products, and want a mint one with a lot of nicotine, this one has a fresh flavor and a solid kick to it!

Catch Licorice (Mini Original) - Review. 21 February 2020.

It's been several years since I've reviewed this, and I realize that the design has slightly changed (it now has the full can catch lid), so I figured I'd review it again. The large version of this one is one of my favorites, but it comes in a white portion. This is an original portion version, but only available in mini. So, Swedish Match, if you're reading this - please make a large size version of this original portion mini snus.  The flavor description for this one says, "Catch Licorice has a mellow tobacco taste with distinct notes of salty licorice, along with hints of dried herbs." Each can weighs 10.4g and has 20 portions, for 0.52g portions. The nicotine 8mg/g (0.8%), or 4.16mg/portion.

When you open the can, the aroma that comes through is a straightforward and slightly sweet licorice smell with a nice herbal hint to it.  The portions are nice and moist, and have a quick release of flavor when you put one under the lip!  The flavor of licorice comes on pretty quickly.  It's a present, lightly sweet black licorice flavor.  A mellow and simple tobacco flavor is in the background as well.  I like that I can taste the tobacco in this snus.  There also seems to be a light herbal character with it.  The flavor lasts up to about 45 minutes on average, and the nicotine level seems to be comparable to your regular strength mini portion snus.  As far as this one goes - it's a pretty tasty snus! If you're into licorice and want to try a mini original portion with that flavor, this would be a good one to try!

Al Capone (Vanilla) Dry Mini - Review. 20 February 2020.

I've had quite a few requests lately to review the Al Capone products, so I figured it was time I sat down and talked about these.  To specify, this is a dry mini snus product made by Råå S AB.  It is not the same as the V2 Tobacco Al Capone chew products like the Al Capone Vanilla Loose Chew, or the Al Capone Chew Bags.  I grabbed some of this on a recent order from SnusMe.com so I could review all the Al Capone varieties:  mint, vanilla, berry, and coffee.  The flavor description for this one says it has "a clear taste of vanilla".  Each can weighs 6g and has 20 portions, for 0.3g portions.  I'm not sure what the nicotine strength is, but I'll tell you how strong it feels when I get into the review.

On the left, you'll see a comparison between a regular size snus pouch (left) and a Al Capone dry mini snus pouch (right). The pouch itself is quite dry, as is the tobacco inside the pouch. On the right side, you'll see a pouch cut open and the tobacco inside the pouch. It is a very dry tobacco, which probably helps with the "non-drip" attribute of this snus.

When you open the can, the aroma that comes through is a light, mild smell of vanilla. The portions are rather small, and quite dry. They aren’t that comfortable at first, but as they get more moist, they do get to be more comfortable. The flavor is a gentle, mild taste of vanilla. It’s not really sweet, or artificial tasting. As far as the nicotine goes, it feels to be about regular strength when I have two of them in. The flavor generally lasts about 35-45 minutes on average.  While I don't personally use this type of stuff, I know there's people out there who do.  It's a pretty mild taste, so if you want something non-mint, this would be one you might enjoy!