Kapten Stark (Original Portion) - Review. 11 October 2015.

Review Updated:  21 July 2022

About a year ago, AG Snus was acquired by Phillip Morris International.  I was waiting to do new reviews of Kapten products to see if PMI would keep them in production, but they recently relaunched with a new design, so it appears the Kapten brand will continue after the PMI acquisition.  Kapten originally launched in 2015, produced by AG Snus in Denmark, which has four generations of snus production going all the way back to 1864.  According to a price comparison on Snusbolaget, Kapten is the most value-conscious brand on the market, priced below other budget brands such as LD, Granit, and Knox.  Today, we're checking out Kapten Original (Stark) Portion!  What's interesting about this one, is that it's been since 2015 that I had it.  It was part of the original Kapten line.  I haven't seen it in a while, but it recently popped back up with the new redesign of the Kapten line.  So, it appears it has possibly been relaunched.

The flavor description for this one says, a "tobacco character with floral notes, citrus, and pepper".  Each can weighs 18 grams, and has 20 portions for 0.9g portions.  The nicotine content is 14mg/g (1.4%), or 12.6mg/portion.

When you open the can, there's a present aroma of bergamot.  Behind it, I notice a present baes tobacco character with hints of pepper.  There are also subtle floral hints to it.  The pouches are interesting.  They have moist contents, but they're not as moist on the outside.  They're nice and plump, and pretty soft to the touch.  In the flavor profile, I pick up a present taste of bergamot.  The tobacco base is earthy, with hints of pepper.  I notice floral hints, as well as an almost tea-like essence to the flavor profile.  In the strength, it is stronger than regular strength, but not too strong.  It certainly isn't overbearing, by any means.  The flavor lasts about 50-60 minutes, on average.

Rating and Final Thoughts

I rated this one at 3.83/5.  For the money, it's not a bad snus.  I'd put it up there with LD, which I consider better than Knox or Granit.  For a cheap snus, it definitely doesn't taste cheap, or have that "budget" feel to it.  If you enjoy traditional snus and are looking for a cheaper option, this is certainly one that would fit the bill.  It has a traditional flavor, but is a little different from others on the market.