Snusbonden Illsint (Lös / Loose) - Review. 17 October 2021.

I recently heard about a new company in Norway called Snusbonden.  They make small batch, craft snus.  And not just that, but only in the loose format.  Today, we're talking about one of their latest releases, Snusbonden Illsint.  Their website describes them as a "Norwegian micro producer of snus. Cultivates tobacco and produces snus locally in Norway".  I found this on Snus365.no, so a big thank to my new friend in Norway who was able to order this for me, since Snus365 only ships in Norway.  The flavor description for this one says, "Illsint is flavored with Illsint absinthe from Bareksten. The absinthe itself is round, sweet, and tastes like anise, which adds character to the snuff. Then they pimped the snuff with a little more anise, fennel seeds (unshaken this time) black pepper and a little honey".  Each can weighs in at 40 grams and has a nicotine content of 10mg/g.

When you open the can, the aroma that comes through is a subtle, smooth aroma of black licorice.  There's a mild black pepper to it, sitting atop a rich tobacco base.  The tobacco itself is quite moist and I find it very easy to handbake and insert under the upper lip.  The flavor of this one is quite good.  It's deep, rich, and complex.  The black licorice taste is up front, but not incredibly bold or in your face.  The licorice is balanced with the tobacco base, which comes across as mild, subtle, and earthy.  I find peppery tones in the background, but they aren't overly bold.  I also detect a smooth sweetness from the honey.  In terms of strength, it feels to be between regular strength and strong.  The flavor lasts about 45 minutes, on average.

Rating and Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this one.  Honestly, though, we hardly see new snus products anymore let alone new loose products, so this one naturally rated a little higher for me.  I'm excited to see what Snusbonden is doing in Norway, and I'm looking forward to more from them in the future.  I rated this release at 4/5.  It's not a flavor I'd use full time, but for what it is it's incredibly flavorful, deep, and complex.  The subtleties work well together to bring the flavor home.  It's complex, yes, but the blend of flavors in this one really set this snus off.  If you're in Norway, you owe it to yourself to try this one out!