Snubie.com Snus Reviews, News, and Information.

Thunder Coola Loose Review. 13 Feb 12.

2012-02-13T12:47:00.000-08:00

It's been over a year since I first reviewed Thunder Coola, and it seems V2 really believes in the flavor. It's stuck around all this time, been released in an 8 mg portion, and now in a loose. I always dug Coola, I found the flavor to be interesting and very unique - V2 is the only one who makes a Cola flavored snus. It's been met with mostly positive feedback so V2 is continuing in the tradition and finally releasing a loose version. Those of you who don't do loose or don't do much loose - you need to break that habit. Portions take away a little bit of the flavor when it comes to snus, so if you like a snus and there is a loose counterpart - definitely check it out because any snus you love in portion will taste that much better in loose form.

When you open the can the aroma of Cola jumps out at you. It smells really, really good. This is one of those snuses that you'll find it hard to remove your nose from the can long enough to put it in your lip. When I first reviewed it, I mentioned that it tastes like a more natural cola - much like a Boylan Cola or Jones Soda. The taste of this snus is great - a natural Cola taste that isn't too sickingly sweet, but with just enough sweetness to it to give it a really strong flavor profile. This being a Thunder snus, it has a strong nicotine content, so I baked just a little prilla and got a pretty good kick. The grind of this is really easy to work with, I was able to bake a quick prilla in less than 30 seconds. It's a moist snus, but not too moist - so there isn't too much of a strong drip. All in all, this is a great snus. If you're a fan of Coola and into los - definitely pick some up on your next order.

Offroad Coffee Supreme review. 13 Feb 12.

2012-02-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

Another new snus has been released from V2 Tobacco, Offroad Coffee Supreme. BuySnus describes it as "Offroad Coffee Supreme Portion has an rich and robust coffee taste with hints of vanilla and brandy. Medium nicotine content, 8mg/g." Those of you who tried the Thunder Chrome Coffee Supreme when it came out last year will remember this flavor. After discontinuing the Thunder Chrome series, V2 announced that one flavor would be returning in portion form - Coffee Supreme. I was a part of the "Heisenberg" test group which went through almost a year of testing to lead to the formulation of this particular recipe - which achieved the goal we set out, to make the best tasting coffee snus the world has ever seen. Coffee Snus purists complained that the Chrome series was too wet, too strong - and asked for a regular strength Coffee Snus. Though it isn't the Coffee/Vanilla that many people asked for, it is a return of the excellent Coffee Supreme flavor in an original portion with less nicotine.

The aroma of this snus is fantastic. Though I'm not a fan of coffee, I always loved the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans, and this captures that perfectly. The taste is excellent - a great coffee taste without a lot of the bitterness one would come to expect from a coffee flavored snus. My biggest complaint with Coffee Vanilla was how artificial it tasted - and this snus doesn't have that. The taste is a natural coffee taste - much like fresh roasted coffee beans. There isn't much sweetness to speak of, which is a good thing. If you're a fan of coffee - this snus would be right up your alley. Those of you who weren't satisfied with Chrome and found it too moist or too strong, this new formulation is an answer to those of you who wanted a change.

Oden's Extreme Wintergreen Review. 13 Feb 12.

2012-02-13T12:22:00.001-08:00

After testing Oden's Extreme Wintergreen for the past few months, GN Tobacco has finally released their latest masterpiece, and it continues to get better and better. The Snus Magician I mentioned in my review of Oden's Extreme Lakrits is at it again with another fabulous release. I know, I know - you're probably like "Wait, doesn't Chad hate Wintergreen?" Yes yes, tis true - I am not a fan of Wintergreen. But as I mentioned in the Lakrits review, I'm not a fan of Licorice either - but GN made that taste good, and surprise surprise! They've made Wintergreen taste good. When you open the can you'll notice the weirdest, strangest thing. The aroma of Wintergreen doesn't jump out and kick you in the teeth. It's a very smooth and gentle Wintergreen. It's quite interesting, because until this one every Wintergreen snus I've ever put in my face has smelled like "OMFGHOLYSHIT Wintergreen". It's hard to explain, but I think the taste profile may have something to do with the balance of aromas in this one. BuySnus describes it as "Oden’s Extreme susprises with the flavor of American Wintergreen and a nicotine content of 22mg/g. Oden’s Extreme currently is the world’s strongest snus! Expect the unexpected!"

When GN began testing this one, it was codenamed "Creamy Wintergreen". Though that sounded kinda weird at the time, it's very fitting when you talk about the way this stuff tastes. It's almost like a Wintergreen Cream Soda. That may sound like the grossest thing ever, but it works. Some of you may have heard that and though, "Hells yes!". This snus tastes so, so good. As much as I detest the taste of Wintergreen, this may be one I'd order 4 or 5 cans of to keep around just for that odd craving I may get for something different. The taste is so mellow and completely balanced - this slight creamy taste is mixed with the flavor of Wintergreen in the most beautiful way. Like I said before - Snus Magicians. I've become convinced that GN could make pretty much any snus taste good. If the day ever comes that "Shit Sandwich Extreme" comes out, I imagine he'd find a way to make that taste good, too. So - a big thumbs up to this one, and if you're a fan of Wintergreen or not a fan of Wintergreen, check this out. It's a definite winner in my book.

Mocca Black Maple Midi Review. 13 Feb 12.

2012-02-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

When we were in New York, Larry mentioned to me that a new snus was for sale on SnusCentral, and after checking it out it sounded to be a pretty interesting one. The description goes on to list it as, "A mini pouch snus with a very smooth flavor of vanilla, somewhat reminiscent of a good pipe tobacco." What's interesting is that this isn't a mini portion, this isn't a long portion - it's a little bit of both. It's a new type called a "Midi" portion. We'll get more into that later. First of all - this can is pretty much the most bling I've seen in a snus can since the old 1847 cans, but this one is a little more snazzy. It looks like something a Kardashian would snus. So to say this snus is manly would be a pretty bold statement. If you're a female snuser - this will be right up your alley. So ladies, listen up.

The first aroma I got when I opened the can was licorice, with a little hint of vanilla. The portions are mini portions but a little bit longer. But more on that later. They fit pretty well in the lip, these are immensely discreet. The taste is surprisingly mellow, there's an underlying sweetness to it. The taste of vanilla is very present with little hints of licorice in the background - so from the aroma to the mouth it basically flip-flopped. There is very little salt to speak of, and the taste fizzles out after about 20 minutes. So this snus is kinda "meh" in my book, but an interesting take on minis. To be honest, people who are into minis really don't have much to choose from, so it's pretty cool that they're getting something new. I'm not personally into minis, but I know people use them - so this long/mini approach is pretty interesting.

Comparing a "Midi" portion to a Long Portion from Swedish Match, you can see that the Midi is roughly the same length, but with much less tobacco. So it's like a Long/SuperSlim portion, AKA a Midi. Is this a new development soon to take the snus world by storm? Who knows. But it is interesting, and I'm sure people who enjoy mini portions are going to enjoy these, they're super discreet. The snus has an interesting taste, but not really one I would use again. If you like licorice or vanilla and are into mini portions, this would definitely be something for you to look into.

Thunder Cool Orange Preview. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

V2 confirmed today the release date of the new Thunder Cool Orange - coming in March. I previewed Thunder Cool Mint a while back and when I talked to Patrick from V2 he mentioned to me that this one would be "...a smooth and sweet mint - one that does not burn as much as Frosted." Though I don't know what this one will taste like, the description on the can is pretty forward. Extra fruity. Extra strong. With the recent release of Jakobsson's Melon, this one will be an interesting addition to a growing segment of flavors in the "fruit taste" category. I hope it tastes like their Offroad Mandarine from 2009 which tasted much like the Nordstrommen Mandarine Loose from 2009 as well. Look for it to come soon!

The State of the Snus: Report from the 2012 Snus Summit in NYC. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

As you probably know already, Nash and I went to New York to represent Snubie.com and GoSmokeless.org at the 2012 Snus Summit in NYC. It was great to finally meet with Larry from SnusCENTRAL, Julls from SnusCENTRAL YouTube, Mick, Feck, and Micah from The Snuff Takers Ephemeris. I hung out with Anthony from DrSnus when we were in Sweden not too long ago - so it was good to see him again as well. It was nice to finally put personalities in person with the personalities I know online for these guys and they were all super cool to hang out with. We had lots of fun, many late nights, epic adventures - some we can talk about, and some we can't!

Nash and I actually flew out on Friday, a few days ahead of the plan because he had never been to New York and I haven't been in about a decade so we came in early to check out some of the festivities. I don't fly well, so it usually takes a medicated cocktail to calm my nerves and enable me to get in the winged can of death and ascend to 30,000 feet. I do love snus for flying though. Back in the day when I was a smoker I remember flying and the first thing I did when I got off the plane was find the smoking area. It's cool to pop in a snus and make a flight and not have to worry about that mess. Makes the flight a lot more bearable.

Left: Nash, Right: Chad. We spent the first few days kicking it between Newark and NYC. We went shopping in Newark and found out they don't pay tax on clothing and other retail items. It was kinda cool to go shopping and not be bombarded with sales tax. The next day we took a bus into the NYC and thanks to assistance from Siri, we were able to navigate around Manhattan pretty well. Though we didn't actually do much "touring" or sight-seeing, we did have a hell of a time. New York is such an awesome city - we found lots of things to do, so it was definitely a great time.

It was sheer insanity to see the price of cigarettes in New York. But it was even better to see that snus is still cheaper than smoking. Cigarettes ranged from $10 a box to $15 a box depending on where you shopped. We saw Camel/Marlboro "snus" anywhere from $4.99 and up in various places we stopped in. It's one of those wow moments, to see those prices. And to still see so many people smoking around the city - that's dedication. When I was a smoker, if prices would have gotten that high I would have quit a lot easier, and if snus was around and much cheaper it would have been a definite must-do to make the switch. Snus was everywhere in NYC, Nash and I saw a used portion on one of the buses we were on of REAL snus, so people in the city are definitely looking for options and trying other things.

We used the store locater from GeneralSnus.com to check out retailers in the city and found TONS of General sold in NYC. The prices were around the same as the chiller pictured to the left, 7.50 a can was the average. Still, at 7.50 a can for a safer alternative - that's not too bad of a deal. Still cheaper than smoking. The city was covered with round can chillers and more towards the outskirts was the Nordic Mint/Classic Blend (General 2.0). While on the subject of GeneralSnus.com, check out SwedishSnus.com - it's no longer the webstore it used to be, Swedish Match actually turned it into an English language version of their other site - SvengstSnus.com. So it's pretty legit. So - on to the Snus Summit. We covered a LOT of stuff.

Usually when there's a get together with Swedish Match they have certain things they want to discuss with us. But we always bring questions to them that you guys ask us on our blogs or forums to make sure that your voices are heard, too. Two of the biggest questions I received going into this were "Is General being removed from Speedway?" and "What's up with Ettan Snuff?" First, General is not being removed from Speedway. If you see a store that doesn't have it - it's because it simply isn't doing well in that store. That doesn't mean it's gone forever, just gone from that location. Next - Ettan Snuff/Pouches (US) isn't "gone", but they were kinda hazy on the next step with it. The vibe I got was that it's not gone and that we'll probably see more of this in the future.

The first part of our morning meeting was to meet with Conny from Swedish Match. He's a tobacco/flavor guru and genius. We were out last night and Julls remarked that Conny "has a phD in taste" which couldn't be more true. We started off the day by focusing on a lot of the blends of tobacco that Swedish Match uses. It was interesting to note that of 4,000 types of tobacco in the world, Swedish Match uses about 100. We focused on American tobacco from Pennsylvania, Indonesian/Java tobacco, tobacco from Argentina, tobacco from India, and tobacco from Spain. To illustrate the point they were making - they had all these pure snus jars with unseasoned tobacco from this different region and we got to mix them and add flavors and whatnot. It was interesting to remark how many of us didn't even add flavoring, but just mixed tobaccos. Each tobacco - depending on region - has a different taste profile/nicotine level. The highest were from Pennsylvania and South Africa whereas the lower ones were from Argentina and Spain. Some have almost tea like tastes, some have hints of vanilla, some have a licorice taste. When the tobaccos are blended into snus, added flavors accent these natural elements of the taste in the tobacco to enhance and bring out these flavors in the natural tobacco leaf/flavor profile. It was really interesting stuff. They talked a bit about General Green Harvest and mentioned that this type of tobacco used isn't grown year round, but it sounded like we wouldn't be seeing the last of Green Harvest. So, fingers crossed.

Next, Markus talked to us some about the joint venture with PMI which is going to be bringing snus into several new markets with some pretty exciting varieties. It was interesting to see that all the new cans were the General Smooth/Catch Pure Mint cans but with General/Marlboro/Parliament branding. Interesting stuff. Coming soon to Taiwan are the following.
General Original: Mild and balanced tobacco mixture with explicit notes of dried apricot and with a pleasant sweet tone of caramel.
General Mint/Fresh Taste: Mild and sophisticated tobacco mixture flavored with balanced peppermint and with notes of fresh eucalyptus together with exotic herbs.
Marlboro Original: Mild and dark tobacco taste with explicit notes of chocolate and honey together with hints of coffee and caramel.
Marlboro Mint: Mild and smooth tobacco taste with fresh and cooling peppermint together with hints of licorice and caramel.

The joint venture with PMI will also be bringing some more products into the Malaysian market, but only General products and not the Marlboro products going into Taiwan. These will also be in the old General Smooth/Catch Pure Mint cans. I'll attach pics to the bottom of this blog post of the new cans. We got to check out the cans and the snus - it was all actually pretty good stuff. The cans were probably the best part, but the warning labels were insane. Much like the new ones the FDA is requiring in the US, these were over the top and completely unnecessary. The following products are coming to Malaysia.
General Original: Mild and balanced tobacco mixture with explicit notes of dried apricot and with a pleasant sweet tone of caramel.
General Mint: Mild and sophisticated tobacco mixture flavored with balanced peppermint and with notes of fresh eucalyptus together with exotic herbs.

General Snus is also being brought to Canada. I'm not sure how this works with the relationship with PMI/SMAB but I know Benson & Hedges is still handling the distribution of it in Canada. These cans are the classic General cans but with a neat little seal on the inside of the can. All the others products being spread around the world had this as well. Not sure if this is something SM is experimenting with or not, but it was a cool feature added to the can. I have friends in Canada who have already been seeing this so I think this has already been in testing but the release may just add to the areas that sell it. In Canada, you'll be able to find the following.
General Smooth Taste: Mild and balanced tobacco mixture with explicit notes of dried apricot, chocolate and with a pleasant tone of dark tobacco.
General Original: Full-bodied, spicy tobacco taste with pronounced notes of bergamot and hints of hay, green grass and stable.
General Mint/Fresh Taste: Mild and sophisticated tobacco mixture flavored with balanced peppermint and with notes of fresh eucalyptus together with exotic herbs.
General Titanium: Full-bodied, spicy tobacco taste with fresh notes of bergamot and hints of sweet licorice

When in our meeting, Nash made the joke, "In Soviet Russia, snus uses you!" The joint venture with PMI is also bringing several new snuses into the Russian market. Though other companies "kind of" have a prescence there, GN Tobacco is one I can think of off the top of my head, SM is bringing a new brand of snus that is a familiar and establish cigarette brand into the Russian market. Andrew Romeo wrote an article at SnusCENTRAL about the Parliament Brand/Russian market that is pretty interesting. Coming soon to Russia will be the following snuses.
Intense Creation: Full-bodied, spicy tobacco taste with pronounced notes of bergamot and hints of hay, green grass and stable.
Mint Creation: Mild and balanced tobacco taste with explicit notes of spearmint and peppermint, with a pronounced sweetness.
Original Creation: Mild and balanced tobacco taste with explicit notes of dried fruit and hints of licorice and dark vanilla.

I think that's everything. Thanks for reading, and have a great day! Wait, that isn't it. I know some of you just went, "COME ON!" For a Steve Jobs moment, and the info most of you want to know the most - there is one more thing. The US Market, and the reason for our meeting in NYC.

In June of 2011, Swedish Match revealed their plans to push into the US market with two new products designed for US consumers - General Nordic Mint and General Classic Blend. Though we were sworn to secrecy punishable by being force fed Camel "SNUS", we were shown sales numbers and statistics for how the new General is doing in the markets launched so far. In the 3 markets, General was performing quite well which is warranting the release of the new General in SEVEN additional markets. I know, this isn't the nationwide release you were all hoping for, but you have to consider that snus still only has a 4% market share of smokeless tobacco in the US. It is growing, but it does take time. These seven markets will be revealed soon, and I'll be sure to share them here as soon as I know them. It was interesting to see how much snus grew last year, and it's continuing to grow. One of the things many of us asked at the meeting was how do Swedish Match reps train their clerks at these stores/store owners ot know the difference between REAL snus and the fake American knock-offs? There is a lot that they are shown to know the difference involving print and videos - so these people are being well informed about what they're selling. I can't discuss much or show the information but we got to look at the packet and it was pretty well put together.

When it comes to snus, it's important to note that there is a difference. American "snus" (Camel, Skoal, Marlboro) is NOT real snus. No matter how many times they say "they perfected snus", it simply isn't true. Real snus comes from Sweden. Word of mouth is the most important way to make this happen. Those of you who want snus in more markets - help us and do your part. Myself and others in the community can only do so much as advocates, it's your job to be snus ambassadors and carry the message to the street, carry it to your friends, help inform people so that they know the facts and the difference between the shitty American knock-offs and REAL snus. We had a great time in New York and it was great to see the snus market growing as it has been the past several years, and we'll all continue to do our best to push this product into the US as much as we can because snus does save lives, it does help people quit smoking, and it is the safest form of tobacco consumption available. Help us spread the word and let's see snus continue to grow in 2012 and into the future!

More pics of the new cans from the joint venture with PMI and Swedish Match below:

New can designs from Swedish Match and GoteRape Åre Edition 2012. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-07T23:52:00.000-08:00

The Catch line goes through more makeovers than Michael Jackson. I like this new look. It's clean, simple, and pretty. It's no secret that Catch is a line for women. The products going through the makeover include Catch White Eucalyptus Large, Catch Dry Eucalyptus Mini, Catch White Licorice Large, Catch Original Licorice Mini, and Catch Dry Licorice Mini. Many of these I've never reviewed but I plan on doing that in the coming weeks. I'm really behind, it seems I've reviewed hundreds of snuses, but there's still tons more I haven't. If you follow our Facebook Page, you can see a huge stack I'm working through this week as well of your most request reviews. So more coming in the future! Along with the Catch change, 01 is getting yellow lettering. Not sure why, but apparently SweMa focus groups said they liked it better this way, so school bus yellow it is!

One thing that's interesting to note is that on all new Swedish Match cans going forward is the 3 star logo on the side of all the cans. It may seem like something small, but this is designed to separate all Swedish Match products from others on the market. This small but simple mark on the cans will help designate Swedish Match products as unique and separate from other similar products. I know, and many of you know, what is a Swedish Match product, but this will help those new to snus or those just picking up a can off the store shelves.

Last but not least - the new Goteborgs Rapé White Portion snus - Åre Edition 2012. Before I get into this snus, I do want to mention a special price. I was talking with Larry from SnusCENTRAL the other night and he mentioned a deal at the SnusCENTRAL.com webstore. The new GoteRape at a really, really low price. $24.99 a roll. 2.49$ a can is low, especially for a Swedish Match product. So if you're a fan of GoteRape or just a collector of limited edition cans like I am, this is a great deal. If you don't care about how the can looks but love GoteRape - definitely check this out because it's ubercheap. And the can is cool, Åre is one of the biggest Scandinavian ski resorts - hence the can design.

General Extra Strong Long Portion Review. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-07T23:22:00.000-08:00

After the rush to make the strongest snus a few years ago when companies were going up to 15ish mg/g nicotine give or take, a new snus rush has happened. First came Skruf XTra Stark (which was recently discontinued in loose, by the way), then Oden's Extreme, then 06 and Thunder Frosted Raw, and now General Extra Strong Long. The one question I've been hearing a lot is how does the flavor profile compare to the General Recipe? Is it more General Long flavor profile or General Ekstra Sterk flavor profile? The General Long flavor profile is great - it's the traditional General taste but with hints of the 0102 series. It's a natural/earthy flavor mixed with the General recipe. General Ekstra Sterk is great as well - the classic General recipe but with a major pepper kick to it.

As far as the flavor profile goes of General Extra Strong & Long - it's much of the same. The aroma is very reminiscent of the General Long series, a very mellow but present citrus aroma. The taste is much like the other longs, the classic General taste profile - though not as zesty/strong as General White/Sterk, not as spicy or bold as General Ekstra Sterk. It's right in the middle, but a little more pronounced than the other long portions. I know, that sounded complicated but hey, it's the best way I can think to describe it. The flavor is earthy and natural but with the classic taste of General - citrus, a spicy pepper kick (more noticable than in other longs, but not as much pepper as General Ekstra Sterk), and a mild salt balance. The nicotine is the clear winner here. Though I try not to do many strong portions - Swedish Match makes their free nicotine levels very apparent, and this snus is no different. I mean, damn. It's strong. Even some of the Swedish Match folks we kicked it with this past week said it was too strong for them. So if you like long portions and want a classic Swedish taste but with enough nicotine to kick your teeth in - this is definitely one to look into.

Catch Collection//Lafayette Street (Spearmint) Review. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. I know what you're thinking. The same thing I was thinking. We need another mint snus like I need another hole in my head. After lots of wondering - recently I had it confirmed that it was, in fact, named after the street in New York - Lafayette Street. Not sure what "mint" has to do with Lafayette Street. What's interesting to know is that the rest of the line is going to be named after streets in New York. We'll see how the flavors are connected because as of right now - I have no idea. Anyways, about this snus. It's a Swedish Match mini which means it comes in the uber small mini can. The portions are white so they come in the traditional star formation which looks just as cool in mini as it does in the large portions.

I know you're reading this and still thinking, "Yeah, but more mint?" Trust me, I thought the same thing. Now though I don't do much mint other than the excellent Chocmint from V2, I can still approach a mint snus and check it out and review it and still write an educated opinion about it. Catch Collection Layfaette isn't like all the other mints - it's one type that isn't used as much - spearmint. Mint and spearmint are completely different plants. The flavors are different though, as they are different varieties of plant. Basically regular mint is more of a bold mint with a cooler taste and spearmint is a sweet but much milder mint. I like spearmint because it isn't as in your face as regular mint - and this as a white portion allows the flavor to be more subdued than an original portion. The aroma reminds me a lot of Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. The taste is great but not all that sweet - which I like. I had to double barrel these to get the full flavor/nicotine - as minis aren't as strong as original/regular snus strength. The taste is pretty good for a mint snus. Granted it's not something I'd order on a regular basis or probably use again - but as far as other mints on the market right now it definitely is unique.

General Strong White (Mini) review. 8 February 2012.

2012-02-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

I love the new mini cans from Swedish Match and this one is no different. They're really cool looking and this one is probably the best one I've seen so far. If you saw in this article from a while back I compared the sizes, but the mini cans are now much, much smaller. It's cool to see the cans including the little star formation - these cans are either designed for chicks or people with really small hands. That being said, let's crack this can. To be honest I've been using this a bit over the past few days and have been really surprised with how good it is. I mean, yeah - it's a mini, and I don't do minis all the time. But if you're a mini fan or looking for a stronger snus with a discrete size - this would be right up your alley.

The aroma of this snus is very interesting. It's a lot like General White or General Sterk - a citrus aroma, but it seems like there's almost hints of juniper in it. It was interesting, that's for sure. The taste is the classic General recipe - much like the White Portion General, but with a really clean and fresh taste. This portion almost begs you to poke it with your tongue and moisten it up to get more of the flavor out. I didn't get the juniper taste but I definitely smelled it when I cracked the can. With prices going up/can weights going down - strong minis are going to be something I predict we begin to see a lot more of. It's a pretty good snus. I probably won't use it much or order any, but if you're into minis and what something with a little kick - this is definitely something to look into.

Nick & Johnny Radical Red Review. 7 February 2012.

2012-02-07T21:31:00.001-08:00

This is one I've been really interested to try since I first heard about it. I mean - chilli and snus? You either really mess that up or create a masterpiece. Lots of folks in our community GoSmokeless.org have been thinking the same thing, or pondering just what this snus is going to be all about. I will say this - it wasn't at all what I expected. In fact, the first day I cracked the can I was down to 3 portions by the end of the night, and I'm already planning to purchase a few rolls. Yeah - it's that good. So what does the flavor description say? BuySnus says, "Nick and Johnny Radical Red Xtra Strong Chili is a new, extra strong snus from Swedish Match with a medium-bodied tobacco character and clear hints of chili. Nicotine content: 14 mg/g."

The flavor description doesn't do it justice. Yesterday, in NYC with Swedish Match, the first can many of us cracked was the new Radical Red. The portions are a little bigger than most - 1.1 grams instead of the 0.9 average most are going to. When you open the can you'll be surprised what you smell. It smells almost like Red Hots Candy. It's a very unique and amazing smell. The taste, wow. It's a mixture of cinnamon with hints of clove. I don't pick up the pepper in the description but that taste is great. The most interesting thing is the burn. A lot of snuses have a "tingle", but this snus has a mild burn. It's not a chill/cold burn - but it's like a warm burn. It's like nothing I've ever had before. This snus is absolutely great. As I said earlier, I killed almost a full can in one day, and plan on buying more soon!

Göteborgs Rapé Loose. Review. 1 February 2012.

2012-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

I've reviewed the portion version in the past, but never had the loose. I figured it was time to crack that can. Later today I'll be doing a video review of the new Kardus version, and figured I should experience the loose so I'll be able to compare the two. The GoteRape line is very unique and interesting, and from what I hear very popular in Sweden. The can is the traditional "paperboard" can Swedish Match uses for their lossnus. The aroma of the portions that comes through is a juniper aroma, As I noted in my last review, if you haven't had juniper - it's kind of like this. "Juniper is best known for flavoring gin. If you've ever had gin, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, juniper berries have a slightly bitter fruit taste, an almost bittersweet flavor profile."

The grind reminds me a lot of Ettan. The taste is much like the portion but much more bold and pronounced. The taste of juniper is in the front, an almost bitter fruit taste with hints of herb and a little taste of pepper in the background. There are little hints of citrus as well, but very slightly. It's a pretty good taste and pretty standalone - not many other snuses taste like that. The snus is very moist and soft, pretty comfortable in the lip. All in all it tastes a lot like the white portion, but as most lossnus is - it's more enhanced and the flavors are more bold and pronounced. I look forward to trying the Kardus later today and seeing how it compares to the loose.

Skruf Original & Nordic White (Slim) Reviews. 1 Feb 2012.

2012-02-01T12:01:00.001-08:00

Skruf has really been getting into the slim portion market lately. As have most manufacturers. It's interesting to see there is a "Slim/Long Portion" category now on most every webstore. In a recent BuySnus order I picked up the two latest additions to see what they're all about. The first one is a slim portion version of their original portion. On their "Skruf Scale of Power" on the side, this is a 2/4, so right in the middle. The original is described as "A flavor just like the popular Skruf Original, with a taste of pure tobacco with undertones of rose oil and bergamot. Again, the slim portion size will fit better under your lip!"

The portions are longer than the original portions, but thinner. Traditional "long/slim" side. The tobacco is evenly balanced so not much need for "fluffing" the portion. The moisture content looks to be much like the Swedish Match 0102 line, not as wet as an original, not as dry as a white. That perfect "right in the middle" balance. The taste is great, much like the original Skruf flavor profile - traditional bergamot with a little rose oil thrown in for added measure. They're the only company that does this, so the "Skruf taste" is very unique. It's a unique twist on the usual flavor. The flavor is a little more mellow than the Skruf Original Portion, but still just as good. If you're a Skruf fan but want to enjoy the most comfortable portion type around - long portions are definitely the way to go. I really hope someday all portions go to "long".

Originally when I heard about this one it was being listed as a "mint/spearmint" type snus, which made me want to Falcon Punch a wall, but fortunately more info came to light later and it was listed as " A white [portion] snus flavored with licorice in a slim portion format, which will fit better under your lip!" Seems like more and more people are getting into producing licorice snus lately, it must be selling well. I'm not a fan of licorice, it's not something I reorder, but I can enjoy the taste in light moderation. The portions are the long type, but white. The tobacco is also evenly distributed in these so no reason for fluffing of these. The aroma is licorice, of course. Reminds me of the black Jelly Belly candies, much like the Oden's Lakrits I reviewed not too long ago. The portions are white, but the tobacco inside is quite moist so given enough pressing it starts to come through. So a nice little balance, a little more moist than a regular white but not much.

Really, if you've had one licorice snus - you've had them all. The taste is pretty uniform, so it really comes down to what format you like, portion size, what company you order the most from. The GN one I had recently was probably the best one I've had of them all - but that being said not something I'd use a lot of. This is the first slim/long licorice snus released by any company, so if you're a fan of licorice and like long portions - this would definitely be for you. The portions are comfortable in the lip and taste like traditional licorice snus, the black type of course. The nicotine content is a 2/4 on the "Skruf Scale of Power", so not too strong, but the nic does feel like it hits a bit harder than the original portion I tried earlier. Dunno, maybe it's just my perception. So kudos to Skruf for embracing the long portion format as they have, I hope that all manufacturers follow suit and continue to expand into this category. It truly is the most comfortable way to enjoy snus.

Nordströmmen Brandy Alexander (2012 Return) Review. 30 January 2012.

2012-01-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

The day is upon us and Nordströmmen Brandy Alexander has returned! I've been covering the heck out of this since this idea came to fruition of bringing it back, but last week it came to pass, when it went back into production at the new V2 Tobacco factory. More on their new factory, here. In case you missed the little backstory, here's a recap. Brandy Alexander is awesome, and in the 3 years I've been reviewing snus I've never met anything that tastes anywhere near as exceptional. V2 are master craftsmen when it comes to flavor, and this is their best work. I've been pushing them to bring it back ever since it was taken off their 2009 Limited Los line when I ran into a problem. I opened my last can. So V2 issued a challenge, if V2 Facebook Page is to 500 likes by 31 Dec 2011, they would bring it back for a limited run in 2012. Even better news - if sales permit and it does well it could stay around as a full time release. So needless to say, I want you all to buy some. Not because it's awesome, but because I'm selfish and want to be able to get it whenever I want. That being said, onto the review. I recently received the first roll off the production line which began production on 23 January 2012, so this is some of the freshest snus I've ever had.

In case you aren't aware, let's talk a little about the flavor of this snus. Brandy is basically distilled wine, which has most of the water removed. This alters the taste and makes the alcohol content slightly higher. Brandy is from the Dutch word meaning "burnt wine". Brandy Alexander is made from a mixture of Creme de Cacao and Cognac - which is a variety of Brandy. For a Brandy to be a Cognac it must meet strict standards, and be made from certain grapes. Most Cognacs are aged longer than required, much in the same way whiskey and wine age when in a barrel. Creme de Cacao is a type of chocolate liqueur. If you've never had Brandy, it is a very rich flavor with a strong aroma and a sweet taste. If you want to learn how to make a Brandy Alexander, this video is a great guide. But it's really not that hard.

Before I get into the snus flavor, lots of people have been wondering, myself included, how the quality of snus would differ from the old V2 to the V2 of the new millennium in their new state of the art factory. I've always been a fan of the V2 grind - it's very easy to work with. I find the grind of this loose, which is the first new loose product rolled out of the new factory, to be vastly superior to the original. It packs better, is easier to work with, and handbakes like a champ. I love my Icetool, don't get me wrong, but as much of this stuff as I plan on using - handbaking makes it much more simple. The grind of 2012's edition is great, and I can definitely notice the quality of this snus has improved given the new standards and production methods of the new V2 factory. Kudos, guys, kudos.

How does the 2012 Brandy compare to the 2009? As expected, it doesn't taste the exact same. That's not a bad thing! I think it's a definite improvement on the original. The flavors are more pronounced, and the mix is better. When you open a can of Brandy Alexander a smokey chocolate aroma comes through with brandy in the background. It's simply divine. The snus is very soft and stays together quite well with little to no slide. It has a great moisture content with minimal drip. The nicotine content is 8mg, so it's a normal strength snus. The taste is second to none. I find that the chocolate notes of the cacao are much more pronounced in this year's edition than in the past - where I picked up more brandy than chocolate. In this one, the chocolate is more present than the brandy, but not overpowering. The taste of brandy is very present. All this is blended with a mellow tobacco taste and a slight hint of smoke. It's great, it really is. If you didn't try this snus in the past, don't miss out. If you did - this year's edition is even better. Don't miss out.

A big thank you to V2 for making this happen, it really shows how a company listens to their customers when they'll bring back something because the fans demanded it. I'd like to see it do well and stay around - so get out there and buy it!

Toque Snus. 25 January 2011.

2012-01-25T15:43:00.001-08:00

In November 2009, Toque Snuff started scouting out ideas and feeling out the idea of producing snus. I talked to Roderick from Toque Snuff yesterday a little about the upcoming snus project and he let me in on some details about what's to come in 2012! First, the picture to the left isn't any concept of theirs or a reflection of what the product will actually look like, just my concept idea of what it probably could look like. Roderick remarked to me that Toque Snus will initially be a loose product - much like Gringo Snus is doing, teesting the waters before moving forward with portions. For those of you who don't know, portion making machines are very, very, very expensive, and loose is a great way to test the waters and see how consumers respond to your product. When I asked him about any possible flavors that might come forth he remarked, "I would like to do what we did with Snuff in the Snus world, radical flavours, modern image but I think we’ll play it less impudently and start with more conservative flavours." They are taking feedback from snusers as to what flavors we'd like to see, so sound off in the comments below or comment on this article on our Facebook Page with your thoughts and what you'd like to see!

Though I haven't reviewed much snuff (that's on my to do list which is currently 3.2 miles long), I've been a long time fan of Toque. They bring truly interesting flavors to the market that no one else is doing, off the top of my head I'll mention Cheese & Bacon. Their Spanish Gem snuff is also a long time favorite of mine. I look forward to seeing what they have up their sleeve in 2012 and trying a snus from a company that has established themselves as a very customer oriented company.

Brandy Alexander is BACK! Pre-Order NOW! 23 January 2012.

2012-01-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gents, the day is upon us. Nordströmmen Brandy Alexander is available for pre-order now at BuySnus.com. If you remember the video I did on our YouTube Channel, V2 Tobacco challenged the snus community to make sure their page was to 500 likes by the end of 2011 - in return, we would see a return of Brandy Alexander Los. I was quite impressed to see word spread and snusers come out in full form to make sure this happened. When the new V2 Tobacco factory opened earlier this month, it was announced that Brandy Alexander would be one of the first snuses rolled out of this state of the art factory. What does that mean? Same great recipe but with a much more precise production system. That can mean only one thing - a great snus is going to be even better than ever before.

When I started Snubie.com in 2009, Brandy Alexander was one of the first snuses I ever tried. V2 released the Nordströmmen Loose Limited line in early 2009 with some of the best flavors I've ever encountered including Brandy Alexander. After it was gone and the last of the cans sold I sat with a small supply of what I had purchased, a few rolls in storage that I have made until now. I'm working my way through the last can, and until recently it was a bummer to think about it being gone forever. The flavor is great - mellow tobacco with hints of brandy and chocolate notes - it's a great flavor. In the way that Oden's 59/Kanel is good anytime even though it has a cinnamon flavor that many would say is a "dessert" snus, this snus is good any time of the day as well. I talked to Patrick from V2 Tobacco yesterday and was told that Brandy Alexander started production today - and it's now up for pre-order. I can't tell you how many snuses I've reviewed, but I know it's quite a lot. In as long as I've been doing this, and I put my reputation as a reviewer on the line with this, I've never had a snus that was as tasty as this one. I can't thank V2 enough for bringing this back, and I'd really like to see this stay around. Granted, I will be stocking up in case it doesn't - but we could make it stick! Get your orders in, pass the word around, let's show V2 that we want Brandy Alexander to stay in production! Thank you all for helping make the Facebook contest a success, now let's show the V2 folks why we fought so hard to make this happen.

New Skruf Slim Products! 18 January 2012.

2012-01-18T08:57:00.000-08:00

Skruf is bringing some more slim products to their "Skruf Slim" line, namely Nordic White and Original. In the past, I've reviewed the Xtra Stark Slim and Slim Fresh, and both were pretty comfortably slim portions, so I look forward to trying some more of these. Slim portions seem to be all the rage lately, after Swedish Match broke into the slim market with 01/02 a few years ago - everyone has been getting in on the action. I've said it a thousand times, slim portions/long portions are the best and most comfortable way to enjoy snus. I've noticed these for sale on Northerner, so US folks can't get them yet, but folks in the EU should be able to get their hands on

The Original looks to be just their classic flavor in a regular nicotine strength with a long portion. The "Nordic White" is another mint, which is odd because they already have a slim mint, so this is another slim mint. The flavor description lists it as, "Peppermint and spearmint flavor, with subtle herbal notes. " I don't know what the fascination is with mint lately but they're just coming from everyone in all shapes, sizes, and strengths. It'll be interesting to see how different this Nordic White is from their other mint, Slim Fresh.

Nick & Johnny Radical Red Coming Soon! 18 January 2012.

2012-01-18T08:44:00.001-08:00

Lately, the Nick & Johnny family went through a big redesign. This effort looked to make the cans more uniform and standard which was, as I thought, an effort to make the product line grow. I always thought the Nick & Johnny name should be used more. N&J was originally launched by Swedish Match to appeal to a different and newer crowd of snusers who didn't feel the "traditional" snus appealed to them. So it's always been the "rebel" of the Swedish Match family, which as we all know is a company that has a rich tradition and some strong names. This morning I got some news about a brand new N&J product called Radical Red, and it sounds like a really interesting flavor. Sounding like something straight out of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoon, "Radical Red" will be available for sale online by the end of next week so around the 26th of January.

Before I jump into the flavor, the most interesting thing I gathered about this snus is the portion size. 20 portions at 22 grams which if you're doing the math is 1.1 grams each. With portions sizes and can weights going down, these sound like some pretty good sized portions! The flavor is described as having a "....Tobacco character with clear hints of red chili." To be honest, I don't know what they will taste like. I know when Oden's Extreme came out, myself and several others in the snus community noted in reviews about the tobacco having a spicy character, so perhaps this will be something alike to that. It sounds very interesting and I'm definitely looking forward to trying this new addition to the Nick & Johnny family.

Below you can find pics of some of the ads for this new and exciting snus.

New V2 Factory Opens and Release Schedule! 14 January 2012.

2012-01-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

This week, V2 Tobacco got their new and highly anticipated factory up and running. This new and state of the art facility will continue to produce their trademark snus as well as several new products in a highly efficient way and use the same type of system that Swedish Match uses in their facilities - where the tobacco is untouched during production by using closed systems and automated lines. Larry from SnusCENTRAL toured their new facility recently and has some pictures up on their Facebook Page if you would like to see more of the construction process and the factory nearing completion.

NOTE: We have made a little video of all the images from the press release and put them on our YouTube page, a link is at the bottom of this post!

The main question many of us have is, "How will this affect V2 Tobacco products?" Using a more efficient means of production could only mean one thing - higher quality. We know the Brothers Vogel has some great recipes when it comes to making snus, so does that mean the products we know and love will taste that much better? With the added lines, V2 will be able to produce more snus, avoid product shortages, and continue to release new and innovative products as they've done over the past several years that has proven to be effective in building a rabid fanbase of snusers. I've enjoyed a friendship with the Vogels and a deep respect for them and the products they create. I wrote an article in 2010 that provided a little background into V2 Tobacco and their history.

Going into 2012, several new and returning products are set to roll of their production lines, along with many favorites we know and love. The only one not pictured below is a new Thunder Orange snus, so we'll release more info on that as we have it!

Thunder Cool Mint

o Taste: Smooth and sweet spearmint flavor with the normal Thunder power

o Portions: 22 pcs
o Gram: 19,8
o Portion size: vanlig (Usual)
o Nic.: 16 mg/g
o Delivery estimated: ultimo Februari (End of February)

Nordstrommen Brandy Alexander Los

o Taste: Mellow tobacco and Brandy taste
o Gram: 40
o Nic.: 8 mg/g
o Delivery estimated: ultimo January (end of January)

Thunder Coola Los

o Taste: with an Cool cola taste.
o Gram: 40
o Nic.: 16 mg/g
o Delivery estimated: medio Februari (Mid February)

Offroad Coffee Supreme

o Taste: The aroma is a rich and robust coffee smell with a hint of vanilla and brandy
o Portions: 22 pcs
o Gram: 19,8
o Portion size: vanlig (Usual)
o Nic.: 8 mg/g
o Delivery estimated: ultimo january (End of January)

Al Capone - Pure and Citrus. Two reviews! 12 January 2012.

2012-01-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

In November, I reviewed the Al Capone Mint snus from TillCE/Northerner and was surprisingly impressed. I'm not usually into purified portions/minis, but I actually found it to be surprisingly good. Not something I'd want to buy on a regular basis, but I could appreciate it for what it was, and for a purified mini it was definitely one of the better ones I've had before. And having a snus blog means trying everything, so nothing gets under my radar, even if it seems like something I won't like. I do it for you guys. So Northerner.com just added two new products to the Al Capone line - both 6mg as before. Pure and Citrus. I'll be reviewing both today.

The product description for pure lists the flavor as "pure tobacco", which might be a pun, I dunno. It's a purified portion, but I think the taste is also a "pure" tobacco taste. Interesting double entendre, even if it was unintentional. The portions are small and super dry, so a lot of prewetting goes into getting these ready for insertion. The aroma of this snus is a very pure and clean tobacco aroma, it's very fresh. The taste takes a while to come on, but it's not too bad. A clean and fresh tobacco taste, a little salt in the background - but all together it's a pretty fresh taste. I had to double up on these to get the full effect. As I said before, these aren't something I'd order often, but if you're into the mini/purified snus this would definitely be something to check out. To my knowledge this is the only one that has a simple tobacco flavor, so definitely something to look into if you're into this type of thing.

Citrus is a very common taste when it comes to purified minis, and the last one I had was absolutely terrible. Oomph Citrus Menthol was the 4th snus I tried in May of 2009 when I was first coming into Swedish Snus. Needless to say, I didn't like it. This one has a lemony smell to it, wrapped up in a very fresh and clean package. Being a purified portion I imagine that contributes a lot to it. The portions are very small and dry, so it'll take a little prewetting before these are ready to put in my face. I haven't mentioned this yet, but I really like the name Al Capone. I don't know if any thought went into it, but I wonder if it has anything to do with how snus is being treated by the FDA/PACT situation. With the price rises, the taxes, the shipping issues - it almost seems like the Prohibition days at times.

The taste of this is a very tart lemon taste. It's very fresh and clean, very pure - being a purified portion, as I said before, I imagine that has a lot to do with it. There is a slight mentholated/medicinal taste in there too, and a little bit of salt thrown into the mix. This snus is much better than the Oomph I had a few years back, but still not something I'd go out and purchase or want to use again. Is it bad? Not really, it's just not my thing. I can imagine for those of you into this type of snus that may be bad news, but approaching it objectively - it's not bad for what it is. I like the Pure and the Mint much better than this one. I just can't really get into this one. I can dig the purified tyoe of snus - I think it's great especially for those who are snus skeptics, and there's definitely a niche for this in the snus market, it's just not my cup of tea. If you're into minis though - check out the Pure and the Mint from Al Capone, they're pretty decent snuses.

General Onyx (White Portion) Review. 13 January 2011.

2012-01-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

When General Onyx was launched by Swedish Match in 2006 it was considered to be by many the Cadillac of Snus. The price is right around $5.00 a can on Northerner.com where I picked this up - but this is one of a few cases where I'd pay that or more for a can of snus. This is the top of the line when it comes to the General family. I originally reviewed it in this article in September of 2009. Recently, Swedish Match announced a big change to Onyx - the token black (no pun intended) portions would be going to white. I know, I know. White Onyx? That just doesn't sound right at all. But here it is, General Onyx White Portion. Same can, supposedly same taste, different portions. Are they? Well, we're going to find out. The can is a black can with a neat little swirl/fall pattern around the outside and the silver lid with the embossed General logo on top. So far everything is the same.

Opening the can the aroma that comes through is just like classic black portion Onyx, a citrus aroma. The portions are now white, and look and feel much like General White portion, but these seem to be a little more moist. When I fluff the portions the moisture immediately starts to soak through the portion, which I don't see as much of with General White. The portions are very comfortable and have great mouthfeel. Onyx has 11mg of nicotine, so it has a pretty decent kick. Swedish Match does a fine job with free nicotine levels, so you can feel the hit pretty quickly. The taste is just the same as black portion Onyx, which is a good thing. A graceful and gentle melding of pepper and citrus - but the citrus comes through more as a lemon taste and less as a bergamot. I like that a lot, it's much different than other classic tastes where bergamot is predominant. All in all, it's pretty much the same Onyx I reviewed last time but with a white portion. I don't know why Swedish Match changed it, but it's still as good as it was before, and still the top of the line when it comes to the General line.

Jakobsson's Melon (Review) 12 January 2012.

2012-01-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

After a lot of testing, Gotlandssnus has released their newest flavor, Jakobsson's Strong Melon, another addition to their "Strong" line. Though being mysterious in the beginning about this flavors release, Jimmy - the flavor guru at Gotlandssnus - mentioned on their Facebook page, "It's unique in it's taste and a new line of snus. This will be the standout of snus in Sweden." Today I got my hands on some of this stuff and it's time to see what a Melon snus is all about. When I open the can I get a smell of bubblegum, which is what some initial reviews described the samples of this snus as.

The portions are the classic Jakobsson's portions, as full as can be and a nice balance between moist and dry. That spot right in the middle is a good place to be when it comes to a portion. The taste is great, though. Jimmy did a great job of capturing the flavor of Watermelon (which I assume this is based off of), and it almost tastes like a Watermelon Bubblegum - it's sweet, but not too sweet. The taste is very fresh and very clear, it's a unique taste, that's for sure. This being a Jakobsson's Strong portion is packs a pretty decent kick - not too intense, but the nicotine hit is there. I was quite surprised with just how long the flavor lasted, it has great duration. All in all, Jakobsson's Melon tastes great. Is it something I'd buy again? Probably not, because I'm not really into that kind of thing. It makes a great detour, but not really one I'd want to take too often. I can imagine those who like flavored snus would enjoy this one immensley because it's much different from other flavors on the market and a much needed break from the mint overpopulation of the snus market.

Phantom Classic Brown (Portion) Review. 9 January 2012.

2012-01-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Lots of folks on our forum - GoSmokeless.org - have been talking about this lately, and with snus prices on the rise and weights going down, people have been considering cheaper options. V2 Tobacco has always been good on prices, currently Phantom Brown Portion is 21.72 a roll and 2.55 a can on BuySnus.com, so it's a bargain. So now we talk Phantom Brown. The product description lists it as "Phantom Brown is a snus with traditional snus aromas and a robust flavor of pure tobacco and smoke aroma. Smooth round taste. The cans are very simple and basic, nothing to write home about. Upon opening the can the aroma bursts out, it's a smokey tobacco aroma. It almost hints at juniper, though I may be reading into it.

The portions are moist but not as juicy as most V2 original portions I've seen lately. The taste is very subtle and simple. Just a pure tobacco taste with a nice salt balance and a slight smokiness to it. It's not too bad at all for the price. I've found I can leave this in for quite a long time, which is something I really like in a snus, I was able to leave these in for around an hour or so, which is good for an original portion as they start to run pretty quick. I still get a little hint of juniper I can't shake, but it's barely even noticable, and it's in the background. I dunno if that's the type of tobacco, or if it's not there but the way people pick up "chocolate" in Ettan even though chocolate isn't in Ettan - but it's a neat little addition if it is juniper, it's a good taste. Maybe it's just the tobacco, I dunno. All in all - it's a basic snus, good flavor, good price, and if you're looking to switch to something to save a little money you can't go wrong with it. I reviewed the loose verison a while back as well, so check that one out if you're interested in the lossnus.

Lots of new Swedish Match products in early 2012! 9 January 2012.

2012-01-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

2012 is here and that means lots of new products coming to talk about. V2 recently released their product release schedule, and now it's time for some Swedish Match news. So heads up, they're coming with quite a few new things. First, General Smooth is being discontinued effective 6 February 2011 due to not living up to sales expectations. First, a new limited edition Goteborg's Rape, called Goteborg's Rape Åre will be coming the 1st of February. It's a new cool looking can but with the same classic Goteborg's Rape flavor, so if you're a collector be sure to check that out. Goteborg's Rape Kardus will also be coming the 1st of February. As we've discussed in the past, this isn't like the "Kardus" snus released yearly by Swedish Match, this is a different type of Kardus. Back in the day - snus was wrapped by hand in letter tobacco known as Kardus. This is a very limited edition hand packaged by the nice folks at the Tobacco & Match Museum. So it's a very limited edition way to enjoy a good snus. Definitely check it out, it's worth the cost. A new General Mini - General Strong Mini White will be coming the 6th of February. Not sure if this will taste like General White or General Sterk White, but either way it'll be a mini with the classic General taste. The General Long family gets a new member with General Long Extra Strong, which is coming the 6th of February for the Norway market only, though I believe we'll see this online eventually. This will taste like General Long Sterk and General Long, but with a stronger nicotine content. And as part of their yearly Catch Collection, Swedish Match is releasing the first of this line called "Lafayette Street", which will have a spearmint flavor. Though I don't know the reasoning for the name, Lafayette Street is a street in Manhatten so perhaps it's named after that. Also, Nash says it's a gay vampire on True Blood.

Lots of new and exciting snuses coming soon over the next few months, so keep an eye out for all that! For now though, you can check out all the images below of all the new products. We'll have more info and reviews of the products once we get our hands on them.

Oden's Lakrits (GN) Review. 6 January 2012.

2012-01-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

I'm a little mixed on reviewing this one. First - I'm excited because it's the first time I've had my hands on one of the new sexy new Oden's cans, so that's pretty legit. Second - it's licorice. I'm not the biggest fan of licorice, but having a snus blog means I have to review EVERYTHING, even ones that may not be my favorites. So we'll see how this goes. Oden's Lakrits is the newest release from GN Tobacco and is not an Extreme product, it's simply a "Original/Portion" product. First, the can. GN has finally exhausted their supply of ugly-ass hockey puck cans and are now on their own new cans which look amazing. I'll be doing an article later on this week or next week about all the new makeovers, because we have a LOT of them in 2012 to talk about.

The aroma of Oden's Lakrits doesn't immediately turn me off - which is a good step forward. The smell reminds me of one of those black Jelly Belly's, which actually are pretty good. The portions are super moist, which is to be expected of most GN products. The nicotine content is low, around 8-9mg, so if you're an Extreme junkie wanting to get facesmashed, this snus won't do it for you. The taste is actually pretty good. I'll go out on a limb and say it's the best licorice snus I've had yet! That black Jelly Belly taste carries through to the snus and it's a slightly sweet black licorice taste. It's quite good. As much of a licorice fan as I am not, I may actually finish this can. So thumbs up GN, seems like you guys can do no wrong lately. I guess after Spearmint and Ginger Lime someone said, "Hey, let's make some good snus now." Whoever the freaking snus magician is at GN who keeps churning out these magical creations deserves a raise. Keep up the good work. This was part of a recent delivery from Snus2.se, so check them out to place an order for it, it's worth a try, even if you're not a licorice fan.

Taboca White Extra Strong Review. 6 January 2012.

2012-01-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

I recently got a snus delivery from Snus2.se with some new goodies, one of which I'll be reviewing today is Taboca White Strong Portion. The flavor profile listed at Snus2 describes it as, "A white, extra strong portion snus. Tobacco flavor with hints of bergamot. A bold, distinctive packaging distinguish from other, traditional brands." First, a few weeks ago I reviewed the new Taboca White Portion and noted that Taboca's new products were coming in plastic cans instead of the traditional metal ones we're used to. This one, also, is in a plastic can. It may be a cost cutting move, but I think Taboca loses some of it's classiness when it switches to a plastic can over the former one.

As far as the snus goes - it's a traditional white portion, though the portions look to be a toss up between white and original. They're white, but the tobacco is super moist and soaks through the portion. I like that. The aroma is much like other Taboca products - citrusy. The portions aren't as full as I've experienced in the past, but they're not too light. They're very comfortable in the lip and have a taste much like others before it - a very citrusy taste - but more lemon than orange, which is unique. Gotland's Gul and Catch Collection Glow//Elder Lime are the only two others I can think of with this attribute, both of which are now discontinued. The nicotine hit is moderate, it's not as strong as others but it's still there. All in all if you're a fan of Taboca, this is a good addition to their product line. It's good to see Taboca as a company varying their product line up and I look forward to seeing what is to come in the future.

What's wrong with the "tobacco" flavor? 4 January 2012.

2012-01-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

It may seem like a silly question, but when you think about it - there really aren't many "straight tobacco" flavored snuses. I was recently doing the math and came to a startling conclusion. In the snus world there are only seven snuses with the flavor profile of "tobacco". Pioneer Snuff with their self titled Pioneer Snuff, Swedish Match with Ettan, Prima Finta and Grov, F&L with Lucky Strike, GN Tobacco with Oden's Extreme and V2 with Phantom Classic Brown Portion. Add it up, it's true. Only seven snuses with the natural tobacco flavor. It begs the question, what is the tobacco industry so afraid of?

Now, on the flip side of the coin, doing the math will lead to an even more interesting conclusion. I'll be honest, I went through the mint phase. We all do. My first review in May of 2009 for General Mini Mint praised it for it's buzz, flavor, and taste. I won't knock it, or any other mint snuses - they serve their purpose. They help bridge people from American "SNUS" to real Swedish Snus. I've said time and time again - tastes change - and the majority of people who start snus will start with a mint, but gradually graduate to a more neutral flavor - whether it's bergamot or tobacco flavor. I won't knock bergamot because I like it too, and it's the tradition in Sweden, but the pure tobacco taste doesn't have the representation it deserves. Did you know there are currently 18 mint flavored snuses on the market? It's true. Swedish Match has Catch Pure Mint, General Mini Mint, General Mint, General Nordic Mint, Below Zero, Nick & Johnny Crushed Ice, Gotland's has Jakobsson's Mint Strong, F&L has Mocca Mint, V2 has Offroad Mini Mint, Offroad Frosted, Thunder ChocMint (okay, I like this one), Thunder Frosted ES, Thunder Frosted Long+, Thunder Cool Mint, Thunder Frosted RAW, Skruf has Skruf Slim Fresh White, TillCE has Al Capone Mint.

So, what do the Seven Amigos tell us? For some reason, the tobacco folks are afraid of the tobacco flavor, but let's face facts folks. If we're going to continue to reach people for snus, especially those coming over from dip, and those evolving from mint to further flavors - we're going to need more tobacco flavors. This isn't something that can be avoided, rather - it must be faced. In a market of a hundred or so different snuses, only 7% of that 100 or so being simple tobacco flavored isn't enough. It must grow. More types and products from more companies. I implore all companies to embrace the tobacco flavor and make more products with this flavor profile. I'll get down off the soap box, but in the end - it's a win win and a must have.

Coola Loose and Thunder Cool Mint coming in 2012. 2 January 2012.

2012-01-02T11:36:00.001-08:00

V2 recently announced that in addition to Brandy Alexander Loose, Offroad Coffee Supreme, and the discontinuing of the Chrome Series they will be adding two more snuses in 2012 - Thunder Cool Mint and Thunder Coola Loose. These products are listed on their Facebook Page as coming in February of 2012. Patrick from V2 says Cool Mint will be "...a smooth and sweet mint - one that does not burn as much as Frosted." A pic of the Cool Mint can is below.

New Taboca White Extra Strong Portion. 1 January 2012.

2012-01-01T08:49:00.001-08:00

Taboca AS is bringing forth yet another Taboca Snus in Taboca White Extra Strong Portion. In the past I've reviewed the Portion and recently the White Portion, now our friends at Snus2 have a new addition for sale - White Extra Strong. The product description lists it as, "A white, extra strong portion snus. Tobacco flavor with hints of bergamot. A bold, distinctive packaging distinguish from other, traditional brands." It's good to see Taboca mixing up their product line a bit, I wonder if this means we'll be seeing new variations of Montecristo or Romeo Y Julieta in the future? I look forward to trying this and will be sharing a review in the coming week when I have some in my hands!

New Jakobsson's Melon Coming Soon. 1 January 2012.

2012-01-01T08:29:00.001-08:00

After testing a few new flavors in 2012, Gotlandssnus AB is bringing forth the one they chose from those trials - Jakobsson's Melon. I know what you're thinking, we need another sweet/fruity snus like I need another hole in my head. From what Jimmy from Gotlandssnus says, "It is unique in it's taste and is a new line of snus. This will be the standout of snus in Sweden." Those who have tried it seem to like it, and Tim at Snusify.com reviewed it and seems to like it as well. I'll give it a shot before I close the book on this one. I was hoping that we'd see the release of two other snuses Jimmy sent out samples of - Flader Loose & Plain Loose, but in the end Strong Melon was the one that made the cut. This snus is available for preorder now.

Hello Brandy Alexander, Goodbye Chrome & More News. 1 Jan 2012.

2012-01-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

I did a video on our YouTube channel recently announcing a little challenge laid down by V2 Tobacco on their Facebook Page to bring back the greatest snus the world has ever seen, Brandy Alexander. The catch? Their page had to be to 500 likes by January 1st, 2012. Well, it happened. Thank you all who contributed and helped make it happen by spreading the word. I couldn't be more excited and I look forward to finally seeing this snus for sale again! Also, earlier today Larry at SnusCENTRAL reported that V2 is discontinuing the Chrome line, which is a bummer - I've recently fallen in love with ChocMint. Good thing I stocked up. The only snus that will remain in Long+ form from V2 is the Frosted version. Also of note, the Coffee Supreme will return in 2012 as Offroad Coffee Supreme, much to the delight of SnusOn's PremiumParrots - who is a big fan and wanted a coffee snus with less nicotine. So I think this is a win all around, except for the loss of ChocMint.

Other big news, in February - myself and Christopher Nash, who I run GoSmokeless.org with will be invading New York City. The reason? Well, we can't tell you. But needless to say several snus dignitaries from around the US will be getting together for a snus summit. We will be bringing back exciting news, and I look forward to sharing it with you guys. The last US snus summit brought forth the news about the General expansion into the US from Swedish Match, so here's to hoping this will be more great news for snusers in the USA!

Happy New Years, and I look forward to a snus filled 2012!

An end to the EU snus ban? Possibly! 7 December 2011.

2011-12-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

Folks in the EU have been dealing with the snus ban for quite some time now, and latey with the addition of the EU Mail Ban, it has seemed like there is no end in sight. It's been an uphill battle for everyone - from the casual user to the more hardcore harm reduction advocates, the website Europeans For Snus, started by Christofer Fjellner, has gathered almost 7,000 signatures on their petition and many others have been trying to get the EU's attention in various other ways. An article today in Reuters has shined a little hope on the situation. Even in light of the EU being accused of hiding support for snus, there may still be hope! Trade minister Ewa Bjorling has met with EU Health Commissioner John Dalli and discussed this matter and apparently they're going to take another look at snus in time for a new tobacco products law during the spring of 2012. If the EU would take a serious look at snus and how it's affected the health of snus users in Sweden they would easily be able to conclude this is a much safer alternative and would promote a better public health policy for tobacco users in the EU as well. It is my hope that folks in the EU will soon be able to have easy access to the safest form of tobacco without having to jump hurdles to get it as they do now.

Gringo Snus. Yes, it's real. 3 December 2011.

2011-12-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

I recently saw on Northerner a new product called Gringo Snus. I didn't know what to think at first, because Gringo is what Latin American/Hispanic folks call white folks. But a Swedish Snus with that name? Crazy stuff. After doing a little research and stumbling across their website at GringoSnus.se and sure enough - Gringo is a real snus. Earlier today I spoke with Daniel from Gringo Snus and he shared with me a little about their company and product. He told me they are a new and small company - their first shipment of snus going out just a month ago. They have a low production capacity (as they are new) and are going to begin with this one product (Gringo Loose). He checked out our forum site GoSmokeless.org and mentioned on one of our members posts about the word "Blanco" and remarked that if/when they start making portion snus - a good name for it would be Gringo, Blanco Portion. I agree!

I got my hands on some of the new Gringo Snus and wanted to share a review of it. Lots of people are interested so I hope to get the word out about them. Like with Pioneer, I like doing my part to help smaller companies grow and spreading the word about their products is my little contribution. The can has a cool look to it, with Gringo spelled out in graffiti and some little graphics running along the side. When you open the can the aroma reminds me a lot of Pioneer, it's a very dark and earthy tobacco aroma with smokey hints to it. The snus itself is very easy to handbake - requiring little effort to form a prilla. Very easy to work with - always a plus!

Gringo Snus is very moist and very soft - very comfortable in the lip. The texture reminds me a lot of Oden's Extreme Los. Gringo Snus tastes great. It's a very rich and earthy tobacco flavor that's a little smokey and has a nice salt balance to it. Though I don't get the floral notes, I do get a nice rich flavor that matures into a spicy tobacco taste the longer you have it. Not spicy in the Extreme/pepper sense, but in a well flavored, and full bodied tobacco. As this product is not yet FDA approved for the US, it isn't available to the United States just yet - so Gringos, we'll have to wait a little longer to see this available to us. I give Gringo Snus two thumbs up - it's great, and I look forward to seeing more from this new company.

Kapten Hansson - BULK! 23 November 2011.

2011-11-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

I've been writing a lot lately on how to save money with snus prices on the rise - and this bulk kit of White Portion snus is a good way to do that. For around $15.25 USD you can get a 200gram supercan of snus - which is around 8-9 full cans of snus. You just have to supply the empty cans, as this massive can isn't very pocket friendly. Snus2.se describes Kapten Hannson as "White portion snus with taste of tobacco and bergamot (similar to General White Portion). Economical bulk pack of 200 grams of snus."

The snus portions are a little dryer than the usual white portion - they remind me of General Smooth or V2's SnusX portion kit. The taste is a classic Swedish taste - tobacco with hints of citrus and a little salt balance in the background. Not bad but not great - kinda "meh". If you're looking for a classic Swedish taste that comes in a bulk package - this is a good option, and a great way to save money. I, however, don't mind spending the few extra bucks to get other snuses - but that's just me. Check out the Snus2 webstore - they have many products that come in bulk - original, white, loose, etc.

Snus2 - a webstore serving the EU. 23 November 2011.

2011-11-23T12:54:00.001-08:00

I've been getting to know the folks over at Snus2 lately and wanted to write a little article about their shop. When I was in Sweden I wanted to go by, as from the pictures I've seen it seems like the Snus Mecca, but alas - they were closed the day that I was to visit and I didn't get to indulge myself in snus paradise. Snus2 also operates a webshop and has a huge category of brands, and are also a store serving the EU.

I can't imagine a day will ever come that I see something this beautiful in the US, but a guy can dream. If you're in Sweden, stop in at their shop in Goteborg and check it out, it's a pretty big place with a huge selection. Their webshop carries through their store catalog with a large variety of smokeless offerings. All the folks working there are super cool and dedicated to pleasing their customers - you can reach them by phone or email anytime you have a problem, so if you're a customer looking to try something new or someone in the EU wanting to get access to a large selection of snuses - pop in at Snus2.se and place an order.

Image from inside the Snus2 store.

Vikinga Snus Review. 23 November 2011.

2011-11-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

"Tobacco with a taste of Red Bull." I mean, how can you go wrong with that? Well - put the snus into the dryest form imaginable, for one. This snus is made by Snusbrucket/TillCE/Oomph - I don't know what they're actually called now. The snus comes in one of their usual cans, with the lid that opens on the top and a tiny catch compartment on the other side of it. The aroma of this snus is terrible, I just want to throw that out there. I opened the can and whew, it was bad. It inspired a head shake and everything.

That being said, if you can get past the smell and put the snus in your lip - it's actually not bad. It has a little tingle and a cool, refreshing taste. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what they were going for, but it's not too bad. The portions are quite small so I had to double up on them. The description on Snus2.se says "Put three under your lip and anything is possible." I put in two and got a surprising kick. It takes a bit for it to come on - as these are purified portions and they also take a little time to moisten up as well, they're more dry than Camel/Marlboro, which is quite a feat to accomplish! So the dryness and the horrible odor aside - the snus itself isn't bad, has a decent taste and a little energy kick to it to - which would make it something I would reorder, as I've been on a quest for another energy snus since my morning Elixyr snus has been discontinued.

Megapole! Yes, it's real. 23 November 2011.

2011-11-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

The two most popular questions I have received in the past few weeks are 1 - Can you send me free snus? And 2 - Is Megapole Snus real? Well, after recently acquiring a few things from the Snus2.se webstore I can say, yes, it is real. I don't know much about car racing, but I think "mega pole" has something to do with Formula 1, which would explain the rally flags on the can. Megapole comes in Original, White and Loose. In this article I'll be reviewing the White Portion and the Original Portion. Megapole is also a V2 product and comes with a value price, making it more appealing as the snus prices have continued to rise.

The product description of Megapole goes on to describe this snus as, "A snuff which is flavored by the tobacco's own, natural flavors. A little dash of bergamot is added to give the right, genuine snus taste." The aroma of this snus reminds me a lot of Phantom Snus - a very mellow pairing of tobacco and citrus. The portions aren't as moist as most original portions, but are more moist than a white portion. Very comfortable in the lip. The taste is pretty average, not heavy on the citrus but it's presence is very balanced with the tobacco. It's a pretty basic snus, and comes at an affordable price range. If you're into the bergamot taste profile and don't wanna spend a boatload of money - this would be a good one to check out.

The description of Megapole Vit is much like the Original Portion, "A snuff which is flavored by the tobacco's own, natural flavors. A little dash of bergamot is added to give the right, genuine snus taste." The aroma is much like the Original Portion - notes of citrus and tobacco, and maybe I'm reading too much into it but a hint of juniper. Maybe that's from the type of tobacco used but I swear I smell juniper in there somewhere. The portions are very soft and packed full of tobacco.

The taste is quite interesting - remember that juniper smell I talked about earlier? I can kinda taste it in the white portion as well. This snus for some reason reminds me of Phantom Blue (White Portion) but with a little citrus mixed in. I don't know if that's due to the tobacco used, but for some reason I picked up juniper in every portion I put in my mouth.

So to sum up these reviews - Megapole does exist! It has an interesting name, and comes at a value price. If you're interested in trying some new stuff and saving a little money I'd say check it out.

X2 Portion Snus Review. 23 November 2011.

2011-11-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

When I was in Sweden I picked up a can of X2 in a local snus shop but never got around to reviewing it. I recently saw it on the snus store Snus2.se which also has a pretty cool shop in Goteborg as well as their webstore. So I picked up some of that and some of the new Megapole (which I'll be reviewing later today as well). X2 is a snus manufactured by V2 Tobacco, and the product description says it's a "Portion snus with full tobacco flavor and with some smoke aroma." Using the old phrase, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Well, don't judge this snus by it's can. The can is very simple and lacks a catch lid, but it's probably to keep costs down. The cost of this snus is 3.39$ USD per can, so it's a pretty affordable snus - and with prices on the rise a lot of people are taking a look at this value priced snuses.

X2 is a very good snus. It's a regular strength (8mg) snus and an original portion. The portions have the perfect balance between white and original - moist but not too moist. Packed full of tobacco with minimal fluffing required. The aroma is a very simple smokey tobacco aroma. The taste is great and is something that doesn't exist much in the smokeless tobacco market - a snus that tastes simply like tobacco. It's a really simple taste - just a pure smokey tobacco taste, a little salt balance and that's about it. If you're looking for a very simple and mild snus - this is the one. It reminds me a lot of the Gotland's Plain Loose which was sadly never released, but had the most simple and mellow flavor. I definitely give this one a thumbs up and it will be a reorder for me, for sure!

The BIGGEST Snus News of 2011-2012! 16 November 2011

2011-11-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

That's right, V2 Tobacco has promised if their Facebook Page gets to 500 likes by 1 January 2012, we will see a return of the greatest snus the world has ever known - Brandy Alexander - by 2012. So if you're a fan of snus and want to experience it, check out their Facebook page, give it a "like", and help make this a reality. Your taste buds will thank you.

Kardus 2011: The Review. 9 November 2011.

2011-11-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

I always get excited about the end of the year. Why? Kardus. If you're new to my blog, you can check out my reviews of 2009 Kardus here and here, and 2010 Kardus here. Kardus is a cool snus - for many reasons. Because it's limited edition - there aren't many of these available, so once it's gone - it's gone! The Kardus Premium Blend was once a regularly released snus by Swedish Match until they started making it a once a year thing. It comes in a cut not common to any other loose snus from Swedish Match - a long cut. Every year, the tobacco geniuses at Swedish Match led by the man himself - Conny Andersson, searches the world to find the perfect tobacco for that years release, then blend it with a local region taste, usually alcohol. When I previewed this year's Kardus - Carnival Edition, the preview mentioned “The fragrance is a complex blend of newly ground coffee and a delicate nuttiness, soothed by a sweetness that is reminiscent of figs. The flavor is a combination of spicy oak tones, herbs and new-mown hay,” .

This year's Kardus has a Brazilian "Carnival" theme, which is immediately noticable in the can - having the colors of Brazil - with the yellow box and the green book with the festive wrapping around it. Pretty cool stuff. Each year's package has been cooler and cooler - especially last year's which had a piece of china recovered from a shipwreck in the lid. Epic.

Kardus 2011, how does it taste? First things first - let's talk the cut. The grind of this is a long cut, so it isn't the easiest to put in a tool, and you can't handbake it - so this snus begs to be pinched. I've done both - lower and upper lip, this year I did it in the lower lip. As snus is pasteurized, spitting isn't required and swallowing the juice is okay, so you can lower lip it, but it's not required. Either way works just fine. The aroma of this snus is very exotic, with a little sweet hint to it. It's not as bold as other snuses, and though this snus contains the flavor of a "fruity cachaça", it isn't as pleasant as others flavored with an alcohol - such as 2009's Kardus where the rum was extremely present. The taste of this snus is very exotic. It has a little spice to it, but not as spicy as last year's Kardus. There is a pleasant salt balance and a mellow sweetness to it as well, along with an earthy/natural quality that is akin to wood or oak. It's a pretty good blend and the taste of this year's Kardus is quite tasty. Though I still say 2009 was the best Kardus I've ever had, I rank this one as a very close second. This snus isn't trying too hard to be good, which makes it good. The flavors are all there and blend in such a way that it's an enjoyable experience with a great taste, but nothing that is going to be so bold or in your face that you can't enjoy it for the limited edition special snus that it is.

Kardus 2011: Carnival Blend is currently available from BuySnus, but is very limited so get it while you can. Once it's gone, it's gone!

Thunder Frosted RAW: Ultra Strong Review - 9 November 2011.

2011-11-09T18:42:00.001-08:00

Thunder Frosted RAW is here and with it's arrival ushers in the official naming of a new class of higher nicotine products. With Oden's Extreme, the recent release of 06, and now Thunder Frosted RAW a new hierarchy of nicotine has been established with these 20mg and up nicotine levels showing that there's a demand for getting your head kicked in by a nicotine ninja. V2 is really digging reflective labels lately, as with their Chrome release - these are rocking the new shininess too. As the last two snuses have come in a traditional flavor, followed by Oden's expanding the Extreme line with 59 - it makes sense that V2 would release their newest as a mint, to provide something to those nicotine fueled that want that little extra kick. Well, this has a much bigger kick.

I'm not the biggest fan of mint. Though I've been digging ChocMint lately due to it's different flavor and twist on the traditional mint taste, I can still approach a mint snus objectively - as it's pretty much all I stuffed my face with for like a year. When you open the can the first thing noticable is just how moist these portions are - they're almost black, pretty much the most moist portions I've ever seen. The aroma is much like traditional Frosted, Spearmint - but more strong and with an almost chocolate like hint in the background. Maybe that's just the tobacco leaf used - as in Ettan there's a chocolate hint, but that's not in the recipe. The snus has a hell of a tingle in the lip, and a very minty taste - the spearmint is pretty much the only thing I taste - so it's much like traditional Frosted. As the portions are very moist there is a hell of a drip. The nicotine kick is killer. V2 is really good at making some high free nicotine levels, this snus is no different. It is a very strong snus. No, I take that back, it is an ULTRA strong snus. As I don't use too many starks I notice nicotine levels pretty well, so to me this is quite strong. If you use a lot of starks - this may not be as strong as you'd expect, but it's still noticable.

In closing - RAW Frosted is part of the first wave of new Ultra Strong snuses and probably not the last. I'd expect more of these to come soon from various companies in the higher nicotine classification. If you're a fan of mint and high nicotine, this would be right up your alley. RAW Frosted is available currently from BuySnus.com.

LD Original Portion review. 5 November 2011.

2011-11-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

In the past, I've reviewed LD White and LD Black, praising both for their individual merits, but I've never got around to reviewing LD Original Portion. One of the reasons I wanted to write about this is because I got an email from a reader who asked me, "Now that General isn't available to EU Customers, what would you say is the best Original Portion/Classic Swedish Snus taste available to me?" - to that, I say LD Original Portion. LD is a great snus with a great taste, and if you're looking for a General replacement, I'd say check it out. LD is moderatedly priced, about 2,66 € online. The cans are black with the LD logo on the top. For those who aren't familiar with LD - LD is a cigarette originally launched in Russia in 1999 by the Liggett Ducat company - which was bought by Gallaher in 2000 and acquired by JTI in 2007. LD Snus was released a few years ago as a value priced/high quality snus.

One thing to note about the cans is the catch lid. This is something I think is really cool and it's present in all LD snuses - a hinged catch lid. When you open the can the aroma immediately comes through and it's a very bold and present citrus aroma. The portions are very moist, packed full, and incredibly comfortable. The taste of aroma is a a very classic Swedish traditional taste - a very strong citrus/bergamot flavor, a great pepper flavor and a little salt in the background. The tobacco taste is very mildly present, but the citrus is in the front seat when it comes to this snus. LD Original portion is currently available from Northerner.com, though sadly not to US customers. This is one I was bummed about when PACT passed that I wouldn't be able to get anymore. If you're an EU customer looking for an alternative to General - definitely check out LD.

Knekt OP & White Portion reviews. 5 November 2011.

2011-11-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Knekt is a new "value priced" snus from the Fiedler & Lundgren folks - the same guys responsible for Lucky Strike, Granit, and Mocca. It's been a while since F&L have brought forth a completely new product, so I was quite interested to try this one out. The size is interesting to note - The OP comes in at 0.9grams while the White Portion comes in at 0.8grams, compared to the traditional 1gram portion of their other products. If you want to see these figures and other information, check out their website's brand page. The snuses themsles are traditional 8mg nicotine snuses. The flavor profile is listed as "Tobacco", so apparently nothing fancy there as well. The cans are pretty cheesy - looking like value priced cans, plastic with a basic logo which looks oddly like the Boy Scouts of America logo. So that's kind of interesting.

The Original Portions are very light, when you pick them up they don't feel as full as other portions. Much like with Lucky Strike White and other F&L snuses, they do require a little fluffing before going into your lip. The aroma is pretty basic - but interesting. It reminds me of Lucky Strike but without the "toasted" smokey aroma, or Oden's 69, but kicked up a little bit. It's pretty mellow. The taste is pretty basic and mellow, a tad above bland but not much. It's kinda like Lucky Strike Light, or Oden's 69 Plus, a step down from Lucky, and a step up from Oden's 69. Though Oden's 69 isn't a F&L product, it's the closest thing I can think of when it comes to comparing products with a very basic and average taste. The taste has a mild salt balance, and fades pretty quickly, usually after about 45 minutes.

The white portion is MUCH more subdued than the Original Portion. I had to damn near snort this stuff to get an aroma out of it. It smells like the OP, but much, much, much lighter. The portion do require additional fluffing to get them ready to go into the lip, they are kinda flat upon arrival. The taste of this snus is barely there, there's hardly anything going on. I pre-wetted, licked it quite a bit, and it was hard to pick much taste out of it - it's just a very bland snus. In my recently comparison - I'd say Oden's 69 actually has more flavor than this one. It's just not that great. Knekt White Portion and Knekt Original Portion are currently available from Northerner.com, though not for sale to US customers. These are value priced snuses, and the tastes are kinda "meh". If you're looking to save money - you'll find the V2 brands have much more flavor and quality. Which is sad, because I can't think of an F&L product I haven't liked in a long time other than Mocca Mini Mint.

Taboca White Portion review. 5 November 2011.

2011-11-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been 2 years since I reviewed Taboca OP? Time flies in the snus world, I guess. Taboca A/S has come out with a new snus - a White Portion version of their Taboca. To begin - I like the white can. One thing I've always liked about Skruf Snus was the white can. Being an Apple fan, this is something I find to be very attractive - the color white is always sleek, no matter how it's used. The can went from 20g to 18g for the White Portions. The White Portion can is also now plastic, and not the metal/tin of the Original Portion can. I like Taboca snus, it has a great taste - but it's one I can't use all the time. I have to use it in moderation because the taste is pretty bold and pronounced. But, as white portions do, I was hoping this would mellow out in it's new form and have a taste that is easier to use more often. I'll get more into that later.

One thing that's cool is the catch lid takes up the whole top of the can. The addition of a catch lid to the can is great - I hate littering and it bugs me when cans don't have them. Yes, I actually do use my catch lid. The portions are very soft and comfortable, very full and not flat in the can when they arrive. The aroma is much like Taboca OP - a very lemony/citrusy aroma. The taste is great - Taboca is one of few snuses where the citrus taste is present with a lemon-like quality - lemon isn't a very common taste in snus, so I rather enjoy this. The flavors are much more balanced out and subdued than the OP - which is what I was hoping for in this snus. A mellow tobacco flavor with lemon qualities and a little oak/nut taste in the background. The flavor description says "fig" but to this day I still don't know what a fig tastes like, so I dunno. Taboca White is a good snus - if you're a fan of the OP, check this one out. Or if you're never had Taboca, this one might be more approachable than the Taboca OP, which has a much more bold and present flavor. It will be interesting to see if any other white portions come from their other varieties - Montecristo and Romeo Y Julieta.

Taboca White is currently available from Northerner.com, though not to US customers.

Al Capone Mint Snus review. 5 November 2011.

2011-11-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

I'm not a big fan of the Northerner/TillCE minis. Since I reviewed Oomph Citrus back in May of 2009, which was my fourth Swedish Snus I ever tried, I just couldn't get into it. I've been hearing some good buzz about Al Capone so I thought I'd check it out. The main reason I wanted to check out this snus was the name. "With a name like Al Capone, this snus better not suck.", I thought to myself. It comes in a 6mg variety, which is the top of the line with the "purified" portions. I know SnusGirl is a big fan of it, and from what she says apparently it's been for sale in Sweden for a little while now in shops. When I think of the Al Capone name, I think of Al Capone Cigars, which TillCE must have licensed to use this name. When I think of Al Capone, I think of Untouchables. Needless to say, going into this - I thought this snus better have balls. A mini mint portion isn't exactly worthy of the name "Al Capone", in my opinion, but that's neither here nor there.

Name aside, I want to approach the snus portions themselves objectively and not give any regard to the name, I think I've done that enough already at this point. I like this can, I really do, it's classy. When you open it, a very medicinal aroma comes through common to other purified snuses - it's like opening a bag of cough drops. The portions are white and very dry - an immediate turn off for me. I stuck about 3 of these in my face just to make sure I got the full experience. Minis just don't do it for me. There is an immediate tingle that I don't experience very often, but it's quite enjoyable. The taste takes some time to come on - but once it does it's actually pretty good. Mark this on your calendar - Chad actually doesn't hate the taste of a snus under the Oomph/Wise/Northerner variety. The taste is a very clean mint taste, but the mint is hardly there - it's a very light and airy taste. The medicinal kick is still kinda there but not that bad. The taste doesn't last very long - about a half hour, but it's actually pretty enjoyable if you put enough of these in your lip. The tingle stays around for quite a while too. Though not worthy of the name of one of the most notorious gangsters of all time, the snus portions themselves aren't that bad.

For a quick comparison of the size, here's a portion of Al Capone next to a portion of the new Taboca White. This snus isn't that bad. Though not my type of snus, and I'm not a big fan of mint - I can say for those who are fans of mint, or of the "purified" snus - check this one out, it's not too bad. Al Capone is currently available from Northerner.com, though not for sale to US customers.

Loonic 100% Review. 5 November 11.

2011-11-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Loonic is an interesting snus, and one I've been wanting to write about for a while. Since I saw it for sale on Northerner.com it had my interest with it's blend of tobacco and nicotine - so I figured I'd check it out. Loonic is actually a 4 step "Quit Snus" tool that tapers off gradually down to a no nicotine snus - but the 100% is a full fledged snus - a mix of half tobacco and half tea with nicotine and a little ginseng. The ginseng part is what got me - since Elixyr went away I haven't been able to find a good energy snus - and let's face it, Oomph/Wise/Northerner minis don't cut the mustard. The Loonic cans are really attention grabbing, this one looks like something out of the old Robocop movie. If you want to know more about the Loonic company, check out their website, which tells you more about how they work and their 4 step program. They also have a YouTube video about their products.

Let's talk Loonic. I went with the 100% version because I'm not trying to quit snus. I wanted to see what a blend of tea and snus is like and if the ginseng is present enough to make this a snus worthy of continuing to order. The aroma is very interesting, it smells a lot like fresh tea - Chamomile, to be more exact. A very floral and herbal like quality as well. It's pretty unique. The portions are very moist and comfortable as well. The taste is pretty pleasant, with tea like qualities and a little citrus in the back with a slight underlying bitterness that you would expect from a tea base. That's not a bad thing, I like unsweetened tea so I kinda dig it. The ginseng kick wasn't very noticable, which was sad because I was hoping for a replacement for my morning Elixyr. That being said, the taste and flavor of this is very unique and unlike anything I've ever had in a snus before. If you want to quit snus, I can say that the Loonic taste is a good one to help you make that switch. If you want to try a new and unique snus and you're a fan of tea - definitely check this one out.

Loonic 100% is currently available at Northerner.com, though not to US customers.

Free Shipping (With Restrictions) from 2 webstores! 1 November 2011.

2011-11-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Christmas has come early (again), and it's time for some free shipping deals! BuySnus.com says - "From November 1st until 7th, 2011, GMT/UTC+1, orders for 50 cans of any of the four products below will be shipped to you for FREE!" These 4 brands only - 02, N&J, GES, and N&J Crushed Ice. You must buy 50 cans. If you're a fan of any of those brands, this would be a good time to stock up on your favorites.

Also, from MySnus.com, formerly SwedishSnus.com comes a similar deal. They say, "From Nov. 1st to Nov. 7th, we are offering you FREE SHIPPING to the US, if you order at least 40 cans of the following items: General Portion, Ettan Portion, Grov Portion, Göteborgs Rapé White Portion. A mix qualifies, too. Your order contains minimum 40 cans of the following items, a mix is ok, too: General Portion, Ettan Portion, Grov Portion, Göteborgs Rapé White Portion. You may order as many additional (other) items as you like, your shipping will still be free.".

So for the next 7 days, if you're a fan of 02, N&J, GES, N&J Crushed Ice, General OP, Ettan OP, Grov OP or Göteborgs Rapé White Portion and you want to stock up, there are two webstores offering killer deals!

More Special Kardus Snus coming soon! 28 October 2011.

2011-10-28T02:09:00.000-07:00

Swedish Match has previously released two popular snuses in the traditional "Kardus" format, Kardus meaning letter tobacco. We've already seen Grov Kardus and Ettan Kardus, but now not only are these two making a limited come back, so are two other popular snuses - Prima Fint and Goteborg's Rape! Next week Swedish Match will be releasing 100 Ettan Kardus online, and next year each quarter will see a Kardus as well. These brands are the only ones that were formerly sold as "Kardus" format, so these are the ones we'll see next. In 2012: Q1 Götebrogs Rapé Kardus, Q2 Göteborgs Prima Fint Kardus, Q3 Grov Kardus (Return), Q4 Ettan Kardus (Return). Keep an eye out for these limited releases to come soon, and get them while you can!

General Onyx...White Portion? & New Kronan Can. 28 October 2011.

2011-10-28T01:09:00.000-07:00

General Onyx is pulling a Michael Jackson and going from black, to white. Swedish Match says, "When General Onyx was launched in 2005 the pouches where black…… But since Scandinavian consumers prefer white pouches, Swedish Match will change the Onyx pouches to white pouches starting next week." Not sure what this will mean for the name, but I'm sure the taste will stay the same. Black portions receive the same treatment/production that White portions do, they're just simply a different color. I'm sure Onyx will taste the same, but will now be in a White portion instead of the traditional Black portion we're used to.

Also coming soon from the Swedish Match update files, Kronan will be getting a catch lid. To be honest, I couldn't even remember if Kronan had one or not until I checked my review from a few months ago, and sure enough, the Kronan can didn't have one. So now, if you're a Kronan fan, you'll have a place to dispose of your used portions. Look for that to come soon as well.

Jagarpris White Portion Review - 19 October 2011.

2011-10-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

The folks at AG Snus have released a new snus - Jagarpris White. I've reviewed both of their products in the past - Blue Ocean & Jagarpris (Original Portion) and found them to be very interesting, and much different from anything else on the market today. At the time I tried them, not many people had ventured out to check out the newcomers, but now as some time has passed more and more people have tried them and opinions are very mixed and quite polarized. It seems the AG products are a love/hate snus. I, for one, liked them. I found them to be very unique and one of those things you just have to try to form an opinion yourself. I was talking to Larry from SnusCENTRAL this morning and he's a fan of the Jagarpris, as well. I've seen positive reviews here and there as well as negative ones - so as far as this new product I will say it's something you just have to try. If you aren't familiar with AG Snus, I wrote an article about them in the past which explains their history.

Now, on to the review. I reviewed the Original Portion in the past, and found it to be quite unique and enjoyable - a very flavorful snus. In regards to the OP, I said, "When you open a can of Jägarpris, the aroma is a slightly sweet but rich and fresh earthy aroma, it smells of the season of Fall. The portions are very comfortable and quite moist. The taste is very mellow - a rich tobacco flavor with earthy undertones and a gentle salt balance."

I find the White Portion to be much like the Original Portion but with a more mellow/balanced flavor. The aroma that comes through when you open the can is a slightly sweet and floral aroma with little hints of citrus in there as well. It's a very natural/earthy smell. The taste, at times, reminds me of Nick & Johnny Strong - having a very natural and Earthy flavor, but with a slightly sweet citrus taste as well. The snus has, as most do, a pleasant salt balance as well tying these flavors together. The portions are extremely comfortable, some of the softest white portions I've encountered yet. As I've said before, I'm a fan of this - so you know my opinion. I find AG Snus products to be a love/hate product for most people - reviews being "really like" or "really dislike", so it's one you have to try for yourself. I like supporting new and upstart companies, and I look forward to more products coming from AG Snus in the future, as they seem to have a unique vision and take on snus.

New Catch Limited (Design) Coming Soon! 19 October 2011.

2011-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Coming 7 November - 1 February, Swedish Match is releasing a limited redesign run of two of their Catch line snuses - Eucalyptus White and Licorice White. I don't know if many of you get excited about these like I do, but as a can collector, I always like adding a new can to my collection. The designs are very interesting - they seem to remind me of the OK Soda ad campaign from back in the day, but with more pastels and a much more "spring/summer" feeling along with some Monty Python design randomness. Maybe even a touch of the Roda Lacket retro look. I dig it, they look pretty legit. There are pics below of each can. Look for them to come to your favorite webstores soon!

Thunder Frosted RAW - ULTRA Strong. Coming soon! 19 October 2011

2011-10-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

V2 Tobacco recently announced on their Facebook page that a new product is coming soon - Thunder Frosted RAW, a snus with 21 mg of nicotine. They've used the word "Ultra Strong", which seems appropriate giving that with the release of GNT's products in the Extreme line - Extreme 59 and Extreme (regular), it seems about time a new word was established to seperate the newcomers from the regular Ekstra Sterk/Extra Strong class of snus. This new release is a "Frosted" snus, which means it will have the clear spearmint taste of their other Frosted snus, but just hella strong. One thing I've noticed about V2 snus is their regular ES snuses are quite strong, so this one will more than likely have a rather high free nicotine (usable nicotine level) and be even more strong. So look for it to come soon to your favorite webstore!

Grov Original Portion Review. 9 October 2011.

2011-10-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Add this to the list of "Why haven't I reviewed this yet?" snuses. Grov Original Portion is a great snus. Much like a General White, it's a snus that would easily be an every day snus. It's got a great classic flavor and lasting appeal. I reviewed Grov White a while back, and just recently I've started working Grov OP into my daily usage. It's interesting how tastes change, because lately I've been using snuses without much citrus flavor. Right now I have Grov Black, Tre Ankare, Gotland's Green, and Grov OP on my desk. As I was sitting here looking at the can of Grov OP I figured it was about time I wrote a review on it. One of the most common questions I get in email is "What snus tastes most like Copenhagen?" Since snus has began to grow - more and more dippers are crossing over and making the switch to a much safer alternative - and many of them looking for a simple tobacco flavored snus. As I tell people all the time, due to dip being fire cured and snus being steam cured - you won't find a "dip like" taste in snus. But when you're looking for a classic, simple tobacco flavor - there's always a few that I suggest, Grov OP being one of them - along with Oden's Extreme, Prima Fint and Ettan Loose. I find these to be the snuses with the most simple and classic tobacco taste.

Grov OP is a very straight-forward snus. Grov has been around since 1915 as a loose, with the original portion coming in 1983. The description for Grov OP says, "Grovssnus Original, robust and well rounded with the pure flavor of tobacco. A pouch with moderate volume and mouth-feel. Surface moistened for fast flavor release and full bodied character." The aroma of Grov is a very simple earthy tobacco aroma. The portions are very moist and comfortable in the lip. As I said before, Grov could easily become a daily snus because the taste is so simple but yet so, so good. I've been using it more and more lately and picked up a roll when BuySnus had their free shipping deal so we'll see what it's lasting appeal is.

Nick & Johnny Strong (Original Edge) Review. 9 October 2011.

2011-10-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

When Swedish Match launched the Nick & Johnny East & West line, they said, "When surveys were done among tobacco users Swedish Match discovered that it was one group that occasionally uses tobacco but do not feel like the picture of the snus user are visualizes today. They do not appreciate the traditional way of looking at snus, they have no product to identify themselves with and therefore was snus not a real alternative. For them has Swedish Match now released the new Nick (& Johnny)." That's very fitting of what I feel the N&J brand is about - Nick & Johnny snus was kinda like the original Lab Series - a different type of snus and a different type of brand. Something different. Looking back on it, I've had this numerous times since I started snusing but have never got around to reviewing it. With Swedish Match's announcement of the new names being attached to Nick & Johnny soon, I thought I'd go ahead and review the N&J Strong, which will soon be called N&J Original Edge.

I really like the N&J cans. They seem, to me, like they'd appeal to fratboys or dirty hippies. Especially with the Lenny Kravitz looking guy on the can. Nick & Johnny has been around for a long time, at least since 2007, maybe earlier. The flavor description of N&J from BuySnus says, "This new product has a strong and full tobacco taste and the nicotine content is about 40 percent higher than traditional products. Nick and Johnny has an original, modern design." These cans look really cool, and seem like the type snusers who enjoy N&J are going to save/swap for the new cans, much like I do with the Flader cans. Sometimes being a classic is a good thing.

Nick and Johnny has a very unique aroma that you won't find in any other snus. It's a rich tobacco aroma with an earthy/leather like quality and this little smoky thing going on. This aroma translates really well to the flavor. This snus doesn't have any citrus flavor to speak of - just a rich tobacco flavor with an earthy/leathery flavor. There's a nice salt balance going on and a little smokey undertone. Nick & Johnny is a really great tasting snus. I throw it on my order from time to time - I find it akin to Grov Black or General Onyx - it's a great tasting snus but not one I'd want to use all the time, as I'd kick myself if I had the flavor turn on me.

Knox Stark Review. 9 October 2011.

2011-10-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Knox isn't really a snus that seems to get much love. Nobody hardly ever talks about it for some reason, but as snus prices are one the rise - value price snuses like V2 Tobacco products and the Knox line (which is still under 4$ a can) are becoming much more appealing. To be honest, I haven't experimented much with Knox before. I reviewed Knox White in 2009, but that's about it. Knox is a product of the Skruf AB family, and is the only "non-Skruf" snus they make. The cans have a really futuristic vibe to them, for some reason I kept thinking of Terminator when I saw the cans. I dunno why, that's just the visual feeling I got from them. The product description from BuySnus says, "Knox Stark portion packed snus is a new strong snus of high quality at a lower price."

When you open a can of Knox it has a very citrusy aroma, but slightly sweet, reminding me a lot of mandarine oranges. There's a dark/spicy aroma in the background following the citrus smell. The portions are medium moisture - not too moist but not too dry, right in the middle. The taste is the classic Swedish snus taste, which is good for a value priced snus and those who like that particular taste profile. The taste is a mild, but slightly sweet citrus taste with a little salt in the background and an earthy tobacco flavor. Reminds me of Skruf minus the rose oil. For a value priced snus it's not bad, pretty good flavor with a good nicotine kick.

Catch Collection//Thrill (Raspberry Pepper) (Limited) Review. 6 October 2011.

2011-10-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

When Swedish Match announced the return of the Catch Collection for 2011, I was the most excited about this one. A snus flavored with raspberry, I mean come on, that's pretty legit. Even though it would come in an ubergirlie can, I was okay with that. The flavor description alone sounded really tasty, "A mild tobacco character with the clear tones of red berries, slightly peppery, and well-rounded sweetness. The portion pouch fits discretely behind the lip and stays dry so it runs less, but holds its flavor longer." Recently, Swedish Match has downsized their mini cans to be much smaller than a regular can. Perhaps to save money on production, or to appeal to a different audience - who knows. As 2011 is coming to a close, this is to be the last release in the Catch Collection line for 2011, so it'll be interesting to see what 2012 brings. Now, on to the review of this new snus.

The portions are the traditional Swedish Match white mini portion and as such come in the familiar star formation format. The portions are mini, so if you're not used to minis or don't like minis but want to enjoy this snus, I'd suggest doubling up on them. When you open a can of Thrill, the aroma that comes through is a sweet but tart berry aroma. The taste is fabulous, to say the least. It's a pretty simple taste - it reminds me of a raspberry jam - slightly sweet with a little tart taste in the background. Though pepper is in the name, it doesn't taste like it has more pepper than any other snus, which is good - too much would hurt the flavor profile, in my opinion. There is a mellow salt balance as well that brings out and enhances the berry flavor. The taste isn't TOO sweet, so this snus would be easily enjoyed by anyone - but I can imagine girls would go totally nuts for this stuff. All in all, a pretty good tasting snus.

If you haven't seen a comparison of the cans before, this is a can of the Catch Mini compared to a regular sized can of snus. It's much smaller. So, in conclusion, Catch Collection Thrill is a pretty good tasting snus. Sweet, but not too sweet. The 2011 Collection was great all around - bringing back favorites that users voted on such as Chill (Mint Vanilla) and Still (Violet Licorice) and now the last release - Thrill (Raspberry Pepper). I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings in this exciting and unique snus line.

R.I.P. Steve Jobs. 5 Oct 2011.

2011-10-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

IGN.com shared this image on their Facebook page earlier tonight, and I found it very touching. If you're an Apple-hater, or a Android fanboy - you might want to avoid teh interwebz for the next few days because this is Steve's time. The outpouring of respect for Steve Jobs has been truly touching. I am an Apple fanboy, I have no qualms about that - it is the truth. And though this isn't the usual article I write, I felt like it was something I should write. Snubie.com, QuitSmokingWithSnus.com, GoSmokeless.org and our YouTube Channel are all made possible by Apple products - MacBook, iPhone, iPad, OSX, etc. Steve Jobs truly made being creative a simple but personal thing. Steve Jobs was a true visionary - he brought the future to the present and made the computer experience truly personal by bridging the gap between software and hardware and creating "the experience". Simple, clean, sleek, efficient, functional - all words that can be used to describe Apple products. Since making the switch from PC to Mac years ago, I've found my life to be a lot better off - I've heard it said once "Using a PC is like walking around in your life with a 500 pound gorilla on your back 24/7, switching to Mac removes the gorilla." It couldn't be more true. Every product Apple has created with Steve Jobs' genius and vision behind it has been designed to enhance the personal experience with technology and show us all that computers and related products aren't just for the geek, the fanboy, the gamer, the business man, the housewife, or the student - they're for us all. His impact is truly felt around the world and he will be missed. Thank you Steve, for all your contributions to the world around you.

Taboca White Portion - New Snus. 4 October 2011.

2011-10-03T23:02:00.000-07:00

I just had this brought to my attention, apparently it's release flew under the radar. The Taboca A/S folks aren't very talkative, so that makes sense. Anyways, I've noticed Northerner has this for sale now - stocked only in the Sweden warehouse (so US folks can't buy it until BuySnus stocks it.) I reviewed Taboca Original Portion a few years ago and found it to be pretty decent, so it'll be interesting to see how this works out, or if this leads to more of their products coming in White Portion format - such as Montecristo or R&J. It looks as though it's the same type of can, only in white - which is pretty slick. I'll review it once I get ahold of some.

The Phantom of Snus: Brown Los & Classic Los Reviews. 1 October 2011.

2011-10-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

These are reviews I've been wanting to do for quite some time now. Until now, I've been wondering what the difference was between "classic" and "brown" when it came to V2's Phantom line. And as I've been catching up on reviews of V2's products lately, I felt these were good to finally get to! The product description of Classic Loose says, "....traditional Snus aroma slightly peppery with hints of citrus and a smooth, round taste." Classic Brown says, "....a snus with traditional snus aromas and a robust flavor of pure tobacco and smoke aroma. Smooth round taste." So let's get to it.

Talking cans, the V2 Phantom cans are as simple as they get. A name, a type, and portion/loose. Nothing fancy. I recently reviewed Phantom Classic White, so it'll be interesting to see how all this compares to the portions I've tried. If you're a value conscious snuser - los is a great way to save money. And when it comes to V2 products, they're the cheapest around. I've wrote an article about The Vogel Brothers & V2 Tobacco in the past, and for a small company they're not doing too bad. They have a new factory under construction set to open soon - so I think we can expect more to come from them in the future.

Starting with Phantom Classic Loose, the aroma is much like what I've had in the past with Phantom Classic White, a clean citrus aroma. The taste is a clear, clean citrus taste with a little salt balance kicking in the background and a mild sweet quality. It has the classic Swedish Snus taste in a clean, crisp package. For a value priced snus, it isn't too bad. The citrus taste is mellow, not too strong, and lasts quite some time as far as flavor goes.

Moving on to Phantom Classic Brown Loose, this is one I've never had before so I've been interested to see how it differed from Classic Loose. The aroma of this snus is a kinda earthy, peat type aroma. It has a "dirty" quality to the aroma, it's hard to explain. The taste is pretty interesting. It takes a little while to develop but once it kicks in, it's quite good. It has a pure tobacco flavor with a little salt balance, much like a Grovsnus, but with a lingering smoky quality like I've detected in the past in the Lucky Strike line. All these elements are present but quite mild. The flavor of this snus doesn't stand out, but the mild amounts of it that exist bring it together in a pretty enjoyable little package.

So all in all, both snuses aren't bad. They're affordable, one has a classic snus flavor, one has a mellow tobacco flavor. If you're price conscious - or like loose, they're worth checking into.

Kardus 2011 - Preview. Updated 7 October 2011.

2011-09-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

UPDATED: 7 October 2011
Luxurious Kardus snus – a colorful tribute to Brazilian carnival - This year’s version of the luxurious Kardus snus is called Carnival Blend and is a colorful tribute to Brazilian carnival, passion and pleasure. The tobacco is grown in selected plantations in southern Brazil and the flavor is from the country’s national liquor – a fruity cachaça. Swedish Match is continuing its tradition of introducing Kardus, an exclusive snus in limited edition, in connection with Father’s Day. The tobacco, which is grown in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is ecologically cultivated and air dried. It has been laced with Sagatiba Velha, an award-winning cachaça made from pure, freshly squeezed, sugar-cane juice. The combination of ingredients has a pleasurable impact on all senses. “The fragrance is a complex blend of newly ground coffee and a delicate nuttiness, soothed by a sweetness that is reminiscent of figs. The flavor is a combination of spicy oak tones, herbs and new-mown hay,” says Conny Andersson, who is a tobacco expert at Swedish Match.

This year’s product is a glowing tribute to carnival, fiesta and happiness, which is particularly reflected in the extravagant packaging. This year Swedish Match decided to make 800 boxes (600 for Sweden and 200 for Norway). The Kardus will be released in the end of October (week 43). Only 100 boxes will be available online.

The end of year period is always a great time for snus. Not just because we see the Christmas flavors return, but because Swedish Match releases their limited edition Kardus snus. More info is coming soon, but to preview what I know so far, Swedish Match says - "This year’s Kardus stimulates the senses and delights the palate, with a unique profile that evokes the spirit and joy of Brazil. Finely selected Brazilian tobaccos, from the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, are craftfully blended and gently aromatized with cachaca, providing a flavor and finish that only this national liquor can give. With Kardus, Brazilian Carnaval comes alive in Sweden." More info and pictures will be coming soon, but for now there is a little preview to get your taste buds going for this fabulous snus!

FYI - For those wondering what cachaca is - Cachaça is a liquor made from fermented sugar cane. It's pronounced "ka-SHAH-suh". I've heard it called before "Brazil's answer to rum". If you may not know, rum is distilled from molasses. Apparently the Brazillions weren't ones for waiting for molasses to distill, so they began using straight sugar cane. If you've ever had raw sugar cane - it smells a lot like that but with that tinge that tequila has. It is usually mixed - but in and of itself it has a clear and slightly smoky taste until the end which has a slight burn as you swallow it, not a spicy burn but rather like Red Hots - or that drink "After Shock" if you've ever tried it. Not so much on the cinnamon, but the burn is similar. It usually isn't consumed straight, but is usually mixed with fruit juices or some other flavors. It is very popular and is (last time I checked) the third most popular consumed spirit in the world. If you've never tried it, pick some up and check it out. The spirit is commonly mixed into a "Caipirinha".

Until then, check out my reviews of the last 2 years Kardus snuses, and if you've never tried Kardus make sure you check it out this year. It comes in los - and even if you're not a losser, this is something ever snus user should check out.

Kardus 2009: The Packaging - (link)

Kardus 2009: The Review - (link)

Kardus 2010: The Review - (link)

Swedish Match products being rebranded. 30 September 2011.

2011-09-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

The Nick & Johnny family is going to be getting a makeover in the coming month - around the October/November timeframe. Nick & Johnny Strong White is being rebranded "White Heat" (which coincidentally was my name on the basketball courts growing up, I wonder if Swedish Match did this in my honor?), Nick & Johnny Original Portion is being rebranded "Original Edge" and Nick & Johnny Crushed Ice is staying the same - Crushed Ice. I was surprised by the news because my original theory thought that Below Zero was a rebranded N&J Crushed Ice, but apparently Crushed Ice is here to stay. You can find more pics of the new cans at the bottom of this blog post.

Recently, General Sterk was rebranded to General Strong White. One can only ponder the reasons for this - but it's my belief that as snus is becoming more well known around the world, the term "Sterk" isn't as effective as the word "Strong". Swedish Match seems to be rebranding more products as such, now with General Long Sterk being rebranded General Long Strong. This will be going down in the October-November time frame. I've cast my vote for General Ekstra Sterk to be renamed "General Super Strong", but I doubt that will happen. It would be cool though.

Speaking of snus, check out this music video. They actually mention snus by name and one of the guys has on a sick General beanie.

BuySnus.com offering FREE shipping! Act now! 26 September 2011.

2011-09-26T14:03:00.001-07:00

UPDATE! From BuySnus: " 39 more hours of free shipping to go...! Many of you noticed it - we had not: Too much celebration here at BuySnus.com made us mess up, and so the end date of the free shipping period was all but correct, as Thursday obviously wasn't the 30th of September...Therefore, the free shipping offer has been prolonged until tomorrow, Saturday the 1st of October, 23:59:59 local Swedish time, which is UTC/GMT+2."

I love free shipping deals. It almost reminds me of the old days when Swedish Post reigned supreme and an order of snus was ubercheap. BuySnus sent out this email today, "Free Shipping on all orders*! This fall, we celebrate our 7th anniversary and we would like to thank all our amazing customers for their support and feedback over all those years. Without you, there would be no BuySnus! So we want to say THANK YOU! by offering free shipping from Tuesday until Thursday this week (September 27th until September 30th; UTC/GMT+2). *UPS Saver to USA and Posten to the rest of the world. Please note that we do not ship to EU countries." So if you're wanting to re-stock your PACT hoarding or pull the trigger on that order of new stuff you've been wanting to try - this is the time! It's only valid Tuesday through Thursday, so get in on it while you can!

Phantom Classic White Review. 20 Spetember 2011.

2011-09-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've never reviewed a V2 Phantom product that was a traditional/normal flavor, so I've been curious about this one for quite some time. I'm glad I finally got around to it. Phantom Classic White is next up on the V2 review list, so let's get to it. The product description lists it as, "White Portion snus with traditional snus aromas slightly peppery with hints of citrus and smooth round taste." Going by product description alone it sounds like a pretty normal snus. But it was a little different than what I expected. Not saying that's a bad thing, but it was interesting. The aroma is really interesting - it has an almost herbal like quality, which reminds me of Phantom Blue White Portion. The other thing that comes through is - of course, citrus. I expected a bold, classic Swedish flavor. This one turned out to be much more mild in all aspects. But again, not saying that's a bad thing!

The portions are very comfortable in the lip - V2 has made great strides in their white portions - and these are no exception. Very comfortable in the lip and quite full, which was a problem in the past with deflated portions. As far as the taste goes - it's really mild. It takes a while to get the flavor going. There is a little citrus flavor present, but it's very mild. There is a little pepper kick in the background as well as a nice little salt balance going on. But all these flavors are very mild, very subdued. Phantom Classic White is a very neutral snus. The taste isn't in your face, and it's very low key. I haven't really had a snus like this so it's a little hard to describe, but I guess if on a scale of 1-10, the taste of General OP was a 10 in terms of boldness, Phantom Classic White would be around a 2-3. Not saying that in a bad way, it's just a very gentle flavor. It reminds me a lot of General Smooth which has a very mellow taste. This snus is one I'd suggest along with General Smooth to anyone looking to step into the classic Swedish taste profile as it's mellow enough that it's not like "OMG Bergamot" but still has a present but subdued citrus taste. It's pretty good, and I'd definitely say it's a good transition snus, or a good newbie snus.

Thunder Frosted Long+ Review. 19 September 2011.

2011-09-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

In last night's review, I mentioned that I will be doing a lot of V2 Tobacco reviews this week to catch up on ones I haven't done in the past. Today, I'm talking Thunder Frosted Long+. To be honest - mints have become lackluster for me. When I first started, I was a mint fiend - it was 90% of my usage. I went through what I've dubbed the "Thunder Frosted Phase" that (almost) all new folks go through - nothing but strong portions/mint portions. And there are also a few folks that still use mostly mint portions, but the majority I've observed seem to switch to classic/traditional flavors and use a mint on occasion. Regardless of which group you fall into, I've always found that V2's mint taste is my pick of the litter. When I reviewed Thunder Frosted in the past, I was a "flavored snus enthusiast", but eventually found I don't need that much nicotine so I settled into Offroad Frosted. Now, I don't use many mints at all, but I can still approach this objectively.

V2's Thunder Frosted Long+ has more nicotine than Offroad (8mg), but less than Thunder Frosted ES (16mg). It weighs in at around 12mg per portion. So it's strong, but not kick your ass strong. The portions have that fresh spearmint aroma common to the Frosted family. The portions are in the Long+ format, meaning it's longer than a regular portion but thinner as well. Long portions are the best way to enjoy snus, providing the optimal fit in the lip. The taste is much like other V2 Frosted portions I've had in the past - a mint taste, but with a spearmint profile. The taste is fresh and clear, with a little salt balance in the background to enhance that flavor. It's been a while since I've had Frosted, but I can imagine if I was new to snus (as most who read my blog are), this would be a very approachable snus if you're into mint. It's not too strong, not too weak - right in the middle. The portion is comfortable and has a great and very fresh taste. You can't go wrong with this one.

Offroad Original Los Review. 18 September 2011.

2011-09-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

I've been going through my reviews lately and catching up on ones I haven't reviewed before. Recently I ran through a bunch of Swedish Match snuses, and I got an email from a guy who asked me to review some V2 snuses, particularly their lossnus. Sure enough, I haven't reviewed many V2 lossnus products or Phantom snuses, so I'll be catching up on those in the coming week. One that I wanted to talk about was Offroad Original. In the past, I've tried the portions but not the loose, so I figured this would be a good one to start with. As far as the portions go - I don't think I've reviewed them on here. I'll need to add that to my list too. V2 Tobacco makes some good snus products, and at an affordable price. This one currently lists at around 20$ USD for a roll, so at 2 bucks a can that's a pretty good deal. The product description is listed as "Offroad Original loose snus is a loose packed snus with the great and original taste of tobacco with lemon and bergamot."

When you open the can, the aroma that comes through is far from the traditional Swedish "bergamot" aroma many of us are used to. It's a slightly sweet smell that reminds me of a mixture of mandarine orange and lemon. The snus is well packed, and the grind is very easy to work with - either handbaking or using a tool. The snus stays well packed in the lip and has very little mudslide or breakage. It's very approachable if you're new to lossnus. The taste reminds me a lot of the 2009 Offroad Limited Edition Mandarine portion snus. It's a sweet orange flavor with little hints of lemon in it and a gentle salt balance tying it all together and bringing out the flavors. It doesn't taste like the traditional "bergamot flavor" profile, but has a pretty unique and long lasting flavor. All in all, it's a pretty tasty snus and comes at an affordable price. If you haven't tried it and like the citrus flavor - check it out, it's a different twist on the "orange/citrus/lemon/bergamot" flavor that is common in snus.

Coming Soon - Catch Collection//Thrill (Raspberry Pepper). 14 September 2011.

2011-09-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

Coming October 3rd, Swedish Match will release the last release in this years Catch Collection, titled "Thrill". The flavor will be, "A mild tobacco character with the clear tones of red berries, slightly peppery, and well-rounded sweetness." This is one I've been looking forward to - as it sounds like it's going to have a really interesting flavor, perhaps like Roda Lacket, but a bit more spicy. I'm guessing lovers of Claq Qui might want to look into this one as well. It will be released in white mini format, and in the new and smaller cans. Look for it soon at your favorite webstore!

Thunder Long Cut - Review. 13 September 2011.

2011-09-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

The day lots of snusers and many former dippers have been waiting for is here - a Long Cut snus has been added to the snus world. In the past, I've reviewed many long cut snuses, Offroad Long Cut Apple, Offroad Long Cut Orange, Offroad Long Cut Red Blend, as well as Swedish Match's Kardus 2010 and Kardus 2009. A long cut snus isn't anything new, but until now they've been limited editions. This snus is V2's way of releasing something that people have wanted for quite some time, a long cut snus. Many people may be asking, why a long cut snus? As we all know, snus is a much safer tobacco product than dip, as it is steam pasteurized and not fire cured. Many snusers are former dippers and long the long cut tobacco, so for those people - this will be right up your alley.

Looking at the pic, you can see that this snus is much different from the grind of snus that most of us are used to. At the bottom of this review, I'll add a pic of a comparison of Thunder Long Cut and a can of dip I have close by, Grizzly Long Cut Natural so you can compare the cuts. They're not exactly the same, but close. The aroma of this is much like the classic Thunder, a strong tobacco taste with hints of bergamot. Before you put this in your lip - one thing you should know is that this snus isn't something you can handbake. You CAN do it in an Icetool, but it's a little work. This snus is meant to be pinched, so just know that going into it. The taste is very much like the classic Thunder taste - a strong tobacco taste with hints of bergamot and a nice little salt balance tying the flavor together. It's a very classic Swedish taste, but in a long cut. For those who switched to snus but still want that long cut type - this would be great for you. I lower lipped this one when I reviewed it, but I can imagine you can upper lip it as well. Also, as this is a very strong snus, remember to use moderation when you take your pinch. If you're used to a huge pinch of dip, this is going to be much stronger so maybe scale that back a bit. All in all, it's a good taste - but now in a long cut. Ex-dippers rejoice!

Below Zero - Review. 13 September 2011.

2011-09-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

I really don't know how to approach this review. In essence - it's a rebranded version of Nick & Johnny Crushed Ice. Why, I don't know. I don't know if Crushed Ice is going to be dropped or not - which I figured wouldn't happen because Nick & Johnny is such a strong brand - and the can/name/graphics seem to be very appealing. Maybe immediate sales figures were low and SM decided to go ahead and change it and begin the transition. Or they're going to keep it and have the same taste with two different names, that I don't know. I wish they added the rockin' out horns from the N&J can because those were pretty cool looking. To go into the review, I'll probably just reiterate what I've said in the past - because other than the can nothing has really changed. But I figured that was going to be the result. It's still a good snus, regardless of the name/can change.

As I reviewed last time, "When I first opened the can (and as several other reviewers have noted) a really interesting thing happens. The aroma of wintergreen comes through, followed behind by a little spearmint aroma with an almost herbal like quality to it, much like the Jakobsson's Mint. The portions are very dark and moist and very comfortable in the lip along with a nice little tingle and a cooling sensation. The taste of this is really interesting. I went through a half a can of it yesterday and I got the same thing every time. The flavor seems to start with a presence of wintergreen, then develops into a spearmint taste, then settles into a nice traditional mint taste much like General Mint. There is a very nice herbal quality to this snus and a noticable taste of earthy tobacco in the background, much like the classic Nick & Johnny Snus. It packs a nice little nic kick, and the flavor endures for quite sometime, I've been able to keep these in for the 1.5 hour mark and still have lots of flavor to enjoy. So in the end, it's a pretty good tasting snus with a really unique flavor. The blending of all those different qualities make this snus stand alone in the taste department." None of this has changed - it's still the same snus, just in a different can. But it's still good! It twists the classic mint taste and makes it a little more interesting. Even if you're not a huge fan of mint, and you haven't tried the N&J version, it's still worth a try. If you are a fan of mint - this is definitely one to look into.

Thunder Chrome Long+ Limited - Reviews. 13 September 2011.

2011-09-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

The day is upon us! The long awaited Thunder Chrome Limited Edition (Long+) has finally been released. I know lots of people have been looking forward to this. Ever since V2 dropped their first long+ portion, the masses have been asking for a bigger variety in a long portion, and this is the answer to that. I've always agreed that a long portion is the best way to enjoy snus - it's the most comfortable fit in the lip. So this limited release has been released in all long portions to please that demographic that just so happens to love a portion that fits comfortably in the lip - but then again, who wouldn't? These portions are also very slim, and as I've never had a V2 portion I can't say if this is typical or not, but it's not a bad thing. As they are all strong portions, maybe them being slim won't make them as strong as usual.

The first one I went to was the Blue. I'm so mixed on V2's "Blue" line. I love the taste profile, but not in all of the Blue offerings. I can't stand the Phantom Blue (Original Portion) and Thunder Blue (Original Portion) because of that windex smell. But the Phantom Blue (Loose) and Phantom Blue (White Portion) are amongst my all time favorites. So how does this rate? The Windex-y smell is still there, but it's not as strong. I'll admit that's always an immediate turn off. But the taste is spot on. So if you can get past the smell, the taste is great. It has the clear juniper taste with little hints of lemon in it, and almost a peppery bite in the background that I haven't noticed in Blue before. Maybe V2 is working to tweak the recipe a bit, but it wasn't too bad. Not my favorite of the line - but I know Blue has a lot of loyal fans so I imagine this one will be right up their alley.

ChocMint is FABULOUS. I can't say that enough. For those of you who have had Fellinni Mint in the past, it has essentially the same taste. The aroma is great, it smells like an Andes Mint. A rich chocolate aroma with clear hints of mint. The taste is the same, it has this icy, almost menthol feel wrapped around the wonderful flavor of rich chocolate and a nice, natural mint taste. I plan on definitely buying more of this because this would make a great after dinner snus. I'm not a big fan of mints, but this snus has so much going for it that the mint isn't the only thing in the recipe that you notice. This one definitely gets a thumbs up from me, and I'm glad that V2 kicked up the Fellinni Mint recipe to a bigger and stronger portion.

The Coola (Cola) is another one I really like. I gave strong reviews in the past to Thunder Coola and Offroad Coola (White Portion), this is no different. The aroma is a clear and natural but slightly sweet Cola aroma. The taste is great. It tastes like an all natural Cola product, as I mentioned last time I reviewed Coola it reminds me of a Jones Soda or Boylan Cola, two all natural Cola products. The taste is a little sweet, but not in an unpleasant or un-natural way. No hints or subtle notes of anything, this snus is just straight up Cola. If you've had the Thunder or Offroad in the past - the recipe is unchanged, just shifted into a long portion.

OT-5 is one I've been waiting for. When V2 began experimenting in the past with the Test Series to add a new Thunder with a classic taste to their product line, OT-5 was my favorite. The taste is unchanged, and I'm glad no tweaking or changing was done to the recipe. I like this one much more than the classic Thunder taste. It's a much better flavor profile. As I described in my last review, "The aroma of this one harkens a lot to Retro or Olde Viking Original, in my opinion, it's the closest thing I could think of to compare. A simple, mellow tobacco aroma, very traditional. The flavor is very simple. Whereas test 3 was a sweet, rich tobacco flavor, I find this one to be close, but without the sweetness. Which is why I mentioned Retro/Olde Viking Original in the aroma, that aroma stayed true in the taste department, too. There is a very slight citrus flavor, but for the most part the taste of this snus is a very simple tobacco flavor with mild citrus notes, very little salt flavor, all wrapped up in a very mild experience." This snus is great.

And now, the long awaited Coffee Supreme. I was glad to be a part of the "Heisenberg" team that helped to develop this snus. It's hard to believe it's been a year since we started testing this, but the results have been worth the work, and the wait! I'm not a big fan of Coffee, and I certainly wasn't a fan of the Coffee Vanilla. But I like the aroma and the presence of Coffee, if that makes sense. I think the coffee bean itself provides a great flavor, just not in a drink, if that makes sense. When the final recipe was released, I think V2 did just what the original goal was - to make the best Coffee Snus available. This also coincidentally happens to be the only coffee snus available. But comparing it to the Offroad in the past, and the other Coffee Snus I liked - Mocca Macchiato, I can say this one takes the cake. The aroma is a rich and robust coffee smell with none of that vanilla sweetness or unnatural aromas coming through. The taste is great, a very bold coffee taste with a smooth and slightly sweet taste in the background. This isn't like C/V and doesn't have any unnatural sweetness to it - which I think makes it so good. It's just a straight up, bold, rich coffee taste. I think all coffee lovers will like this, and Premium Parrots from SnusOn - who just so happens to be the biggest fan of Coffee Vanilla in the world - gave it his thumbs up, so that's another good mark for it in my book.

So all together, the Chrome line is pretty good. The Blue was okay, but the others were a great addition to V2's strong and growing product line.

New online community - GoSmokeless.org! 4 September 2011.

2011-09-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

The day has finally arrived! Since starting Snubie.com in 2009, I've really wanted to create a forum with the same chill and laid back feel that this website and blog has. After months of discussion with my friend Nash, we spent the past few weeks planning it out and as of today GoSmokeless.org is live! Nash has created and moderated a lot of forums in the past - so partnering with him really helped this come to life as he really wanted to create a snus forum as much as I did. Check out the video below as we explain a bit about GoSmokeless and view the Press Release if you want to know more!

Granit (Portion) and Granit (Maxi) review. 31 August 2011.

2011-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed Granit Stark and Granit Special White,
and later realized that I had never reviewed Granit Portion. I also realized I'd never actually had Granit Maxi, so I threw some of each onto my recent SnusCENTRAL.com order so I could revisit Granit Portion and also review Granit Maxi. Granit is an "economy" priced snus from F&L, the same company that produces Lucky Strike and produced Retro in the past. I've always wanted to try Granit Maxi, having really liked General Maxi in the past. I found General Maxi to be big on flavor and big on size - so I hoped Granit Maxi would present the same. One thing that's good to note about Granit is that now the cans come complete with a catch lid, a feature that wasn't around in the past. A catch lid is almost imperative if you're always snusing on the go, so I'm glad to see this is now a feature.

Now, to compare the portions. Granit Maxi is obviously much bigger than Granit Portion. If you've tried the US Skoal "Snus", it's around the same size, maybe a tad smaller. Granit Portion has a nicotine content of 8mg, whereas Granit Maxi has a nicotine content of 12mg. Both are very moist, having a moisture content of 52%. Granit Portion has 24 portions in a can, whereas Granit Maxi only has 14. Each Granit Portion is around 0.9grams in size, whereas each Granit Maxi is around 1.4-1.5grams per portion. So that's a little about each one and the specifics, let's get into the flavor.

Granit Portions look a lot like V2's Phantom portions. Some are quite moist where some look semi-moist, a little inconsistent. The aroma is very clean, a slightly sweet lemon aroma comes through when you open the can. The portions have a great mouthfeel with minimal fluffing required before lip insertion. The taste of Granit is quite interesting. A very clear and fresh flavor with a very present tobacco taste and a slight sweetness with little hints of lemon and a peppery taste. Granit at times reminds me of the old Retro Snus, and sometimes it reminds me of Olde Viking Original Portion. The taste is pretty mellow and balanced and lasts quite some time. Granit, as an economy priced snus, is a pretty decent snus. Not my favorite and one I probably wouldn't reorder, but if you're looking to save a buck, check it out. Granit is around 0.50 cents cheaper than some of the other snuses of similar flavor profile.

Granit Maxi was a surprise for me. As I mentioned before, when I reviewed General Maxi - it was really big on flavor, like an amped up General Original Portion. The aroma of Granit Maxi has a "dirty" smell to it (and I've heard a few other reviewers note the same), much like unskinned potatoes. I didn't pick it up with Granit Portion, but I notice it with the Maxi. The aroma has a sweet almost lemon smell to it as well. The portions were very comfortable in the lip, like a big pris of los. The interesting part is the flavor. The Maxi Portion seems a bit more weak in flavor than the OP. The lemon flavor is very present, mixed quite well with the tobacco flavor and a little peppery kick in the background. The flavors are very balanced and mellow, but not as bold as I noticed from the OP. So that was a little surprise for me. It's not a bad snus, but I think the Original Portion is much better than the Maxi. As I said with the OP, not my favorite and one I probably wouldn't reorder, but if you want to try a Maxi portion, check it out.

Roda Lacket (Portion) Review. 29 August 2011.

2011-08-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a LONG time since I've had Roda Lacket. Lately I've been revisiting old snuses in the past I've tried, but haven't reviewed for some reason. Roda Lacket is one of them. The bright red can is the current Roda Lacket can, and if it tells you how long it's been since I've had it, the last can of Roda Lacket I had is directly behind it. The old can had this cool little 80's vibe to it, the new can is a simple but classy red look. I don't know many Roda Lacket fans, but I know Anthony from DrSnus.com is a big fan and uses Roda quite a bit. I don't remember much about my experience with Roda in the past, I remember it was okay - I do remember, however, that I didn't like Claq Qui, which was a strong, amped up version of Roda Lacket. Much to the discontent of hardcore fans, however, Claq Qui was discontinued 13 January 2009. One of the snuses I didn't like. I think I liked Roda because it wasn't as strong tasting, and much more mellow. I think others liked Claq Qui because it was so bold and strong. Anyways, moving along!

Roda is an old brand, the oldest next to Ettan. It was launched in 1850. Roda Lacket is a white portion snus from Swedish Match, meaning it is arranged in the star formation which is common to all Swedish Match white portion snuses. Last time I tried it they weren't doing this for all of them. The portions have that little moisture ring around the top of the portion which means this portion is going to be moist, always a good thing. The aroma is fruity, reminds me kind of GR No2 but without the juniper/floral/lemon thing going on. Just straight fruity. The taste is slightly sweet - a mellow berry flavor that tastes like a mix of cranberry and strawberry. The taste is very fresh, with a mild salt balance and a gentle flavor. I've heard in the past (and read in the product description) about a taste of licorice, I've never really detected this flavor. All things considered, Roda Lacket is pretty good - as I said with my review of Göteborgs Rapé, this is a snus that you can throw into your rotation to mix things up a bit. It's quite good.

Kronan (Portion) Review. 28 August 2011.

2011-08-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't done many negative reviews lately. To be honest, there haven't been many bad snuses released lately. When I first started, it seems like there were a lot more, but lately the snus manufacturers seem to have been more selective when releasing snus - probably giving them more tests before releasing them to market. There are some I tried in the past I didn't like that I didn't review - but so people don't think I like everything I'll be revisiting some I didn't like in the past, but haven't reviewed. In fact, at the bottom of this blog post I'll attach a list of the snuses I don't like/didn't like in the past. First one I want to talk about is Kronan. It's listed as a "value priced" snus. Kronan is a really interesting snus and one that doesn't taste like anything else out there. True story.

Kronan Portion has a slick, simple can with the embossed logo common to a few brands from Swedish Match. The portions are average moist, not dripping but not dry - right in the middle. The aroma is kinda sweet, a little floral, and with a little lemon scent. The taste is what's always turned me off about Kronan. No matter how much I want to like this snus, I just can't. The taste of Kronan starts with a little lemon taste with hints of pepper in the background. There's also a nice salt balance tying it all together and a floral taste kicking around, as well. As the taste matures something comes in that turns me off when it comes to Kronan - a dill/pickle taste. Odd, because I like pickles. But not in my snus. I know a few people that like Kronan, but I'm not one of them. In the end - this one isn't for me. Tastes may vary and you may like it, so as always - keep an open mind and try as much as possible because you never know what could end up in your rotation.

To end this blog post, I wanted to share my list of snuses that I didn't like, couldn't get into, or wasn't a fan of. It's actually longer than I thought it would be.

Mocca Mint
Level
Olde Viking Ginger Lime
Olde Viking Spearmint
Camel "SNUS"
Marlboro "snus"
Skoal "Snus"
Nordic Ice "Snus"
Klondike "Snus"
PMI 1847
Elixyr Peppermint
Oomph Citrus
Northerner Boost
General Wintergreen
Phantom Blue (Original Portion)
Thunder Blue
Offroad Moonshine
Claq Qui
Kronan Portion

Göteborgs Rapé & Göteborgs Rapé No2 - Reviews. 25 August 2011.

2011-08-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

In the process of catching up reviews, I was very surprised that I've never reviewed either of the Göteborgs Rapé varieties. Göteborgs Rapé, or Goteborg's Rape, or sometimes GoteRape as they're often called, are produced by Swedish Match. Göteborgs Rapé is the 2nd most popular brand on the Swedish market, last time I checked. There are two varieties, Göteborgs Rapé, and Göteborgs Rapé No2 Lingon. The main reason I wanted to write about these is because they're both great alternatives if you need something to throw in the mix to break the monotony of your snus rotation. Most people tire of mint quickly and want something unique to use on top of their regulars. I use Jakobsson's Flader (formerly Gotland's Green) as my alternative flavor, but have been known to occasionally use either one of these. Personally, I prefer the No2, but both are good and very unique in their own right. I usually try to keep my reviews simple, but as these are both flavored with Lingonberry or Juniper - and most people don't sit around eating either of these varieties of berry, I feel I should explain a little about what each one tastes like. Juniper is best known for flavoring gin. If you've ever had gin, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, juniper berries have a slightly bitter fruit taste, an almost bittersweet flavor profile. Lingonberry are very popular in Scandinavia, I've heard it said that lingonberry is to Scandinavia as blackberries are to America. I've had it in crepes & syrup at IHOP - so if you're curious that's the easiest way to get it, it's also very common in jams here in America. Lingonberry is rather tart, and at times reminds me of a cranberry but a little sweeter. One thing I want to note about both these snuses is that they can seem to turn on you if you use them too much. They're great to keep around as an occasional, or something to mix it up a bit, but I always suggest not to overuse them.

Göteborgs Rapé is a very unique and complex snus. When you open the can - you'll notice the star formation - which Swedish Match now uses in all their white portion snus. The portions come out in a wedge shape, so a little fluffing is needed to get it ready for your lip. The aroma is juniper, very present, with a lemony undertone and a herbal/floral like quality to it. The taste is very interesting. Juniper is in the front, with a slightly citrusy taste and herbal/floral qualities. There is a neat little pepper bite in the background and a mellow salt balance to tie the flavors together. The fruit taste can be a bit bitter/sour - but that's part of the juniper berry. It's not a bad thing! I know a lot of Americans coming over from American "snus" to Swedish Snus read my blog and are going to be turned off because it's not sweet - but in time as you adjust to Swedish Snus you'll come to appreciate more flavorful snuses, which is definitely what this is. It's a very complex flavor that mellows out into a bittersweet taste. To be honest, this snus was on one of my first orders and I enjoyed the taste then, so even if you're into sweet snus you can still enjoy this one. It has a very unique taste and is a great alternative if you need a wild card to throw into your rotation.

GR No2 is my favorite of the two. I find the taste to be more pleasant out of the two Göteborgs Rapés. Göteborgs Rapé No2 Lingon is a Swedish Match white portion - which means it comes in the star formation common to all SM white portions. The portions are in a wedge shape, so after taking it out of the can a little fluffing is needed to get it ready to put into your lip. The aroma is more fruity than standard GR, with a little hint of lemon coming through and a slight floral scent. This stuff smells so good, it's hard to take your nose away from it. The taste is, like GR1, very unique. The lingonberry is very present, slightly tart and mildly fruity with an earthy/herbal quality to it. There is a slight floral taste in the background and little hints of lemon all brought together with a nice salt balance. I pick up hints of juniper, as well however it is in the background. This snus is sweeter than GR1. There is a little peppery taste in the background, but it's not strong at all and it pairs quite well with the other flavors in this snus. GR No2 is, like GR1, a very complex snus, but a great one to throw into the mix if you want to have an alternative to your regular rotation.

Both of these snuses are very unique, and a great way to mix up your rotation. As I said in the beginning, I've found that when overused you can tire of them quickly - so keep them around as a little diversion to your regular snus usage, or something to end the day with. Each is very unique, both under the Göteborgs Rapé name, but each having their own unique flavor.

Grov Black Portion - Review. 25 August 2011.

2011-08-25T11:29:00.001-07:00

Over the next few days, I'm going to be catching up on reviews of older snus products that I've tried, but never got around to reviewing. I get requests all the time to review certain snuses, and I've just received an order of all the snuses you guys have asked for! The first one will be Grov Black. In the past I reviewed Grov White Portion, and I occasionally use Grov Original Portion, I also did a video review of Grov Kardus a few days ago. So, I'm no stranger to Grov. But Grov Black is totally different, in many aspects. Grov Black, much like General Onyx, is a black portion counterpart produced by Swedish Match. A black portion is simply a white portion that comes in a different color pouch. Grov Black has a nic content of 12mg, so it's a little stronger than General Onyx - which weighs in at 11mg. The word "Svart" is Swedish for "Black".

Grov Black is a very interesting snus. The aroma is sweet - a slight leather aroma with undertones of vanilla. The portion is very comfortable, however being a star formation, the wedge shape does require a little fluffing before putting in the lip. The vanilla aroma comes through quite clearly, with slight licorice hints and a little leather undertone going on as well. There is also a very slight leathery taste. The "Grov" flavor profile is present, but mixed with these other elements providing a very complex taste profile - and a very interesting one at that. Grov Black is pretty interesting. It's not something I could use every day, but I could see it as an occasional use. It's sweet, but not too sweet - I think the added elements compliment the Grov flavor very well. If you're a fan of Grov, I'd urge you to pick it up and give it a try.

New Bullet Proof Can - Coming to BuySnus.com. 24 August 2011.

2011-08-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

BuySnus.com says - "The new improved General Bulletproof can will be released on BuySnus.com the 1st of September 2011, we will only have a very limited number of these available. BuySnus.com will be the only online retailer where you can purchase this unique can!"

If you've never heard about one of these before, I wrote about the last one I received a while back, it's actually a really cool little item! For those wondering if it will actually stop a bullet - I sent a can to Feck from The Snuff Takers Ephemeris a while back and he shot it to hell and back. Check it out for yourself:

Below you will find images of the new 2011 edition of the General Bullet Proof Can:

Oden's Extreme Burned Apple (White Dry) Review. 24 August 2011.

2011-08-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to a SnusOn member, "Void", who sent me two Oden's Extreme products with a very limited availability to review. This is one of the two I'll be talking about - the other being Vanilla. As I mentioned in my last review - I was not a fan of Oden's 69. It was kinda "meh", and a little too dry. But as these flavors only come in White/Dry portions for the time being, I was hoping for the best. These cans have Russian warning labels/information on the bottom. They're the standard hockey puck can GN has been using, and come in a white color. As of right now, I'm about 50/50 on Apple snus. In the past, I tried the V2 Offroad Apple portions which were completely and utterly terribly. They, however, redeemed themselves by releasing Offroad Long Cut: Apple, which had a MUCH better and vastly improved apple taste. So expectations were mixed about this one.

As I mentioned in my last review, the portions are quite dry, so I had to do a little pre-wetting before I was able to use them, so I could get the maximum taste out of them. I got a picture when I did the Oden's 69 review of the tobacco inside, it's pretty dry, but with a little moisture added it's usually good to go. The aroma of this can is very interesting - a smoky apple aroma with a nutty presence as well, I can't think of any other way to describe it. The taste is actually pretty decent. I imagine in a white portion this would taste much better - in it's present state it's just kinda average. A smoky apple flavor with almost a natural/herbal like quality in the background and a nutty taste, like walnuts - I can't think of what that is either. It's a very unique snus, that's for sure. I've never tasted anything like it. I hope that GN releases this as an Original Portion, I can imagine that would amp the flavor up a bit and make it much, much better. So decent, average - but with a lot of potential.

Oden's Extreme Vanilla (White Dry) Review. 24 August 2011.

2011-08-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to a SnusOn member, "Void", who sent me two Oden's Extreme products with a very limited availability to review. This is one of the two I'll be talking about - the other being Burned Apple. I've never had a bad experience with Vanilla in snus. Though I didn't review it, a few years ago I enjoyed the Nordstrommen Los Limited edition version of Dark Vanilla, and I've reviewed Catch Collection//Chill (Mint Vanilla) - a limited edition release from Swedish Match. Vanilla, when done correctly, is a great addition to snus. I, however, was not a fan of Oden's 69. It was kinda "meh", and a little too dry. But as these flavors only come in White/Dry portions for the time being, I was hoping for the best. These cans have Russian warning labels/information on the bottom. They're the standard hockey puck can GN has been using, and come in a white color.

These portions look a little more moist than the Oden's 69 portions I had last year, so I was quite hopeful going into this. The key thing about vanilla is it can't be too sweet - vanilla itself tastes great, but if it's too sweet it can be overdone. The aroma of this snus is very mellow and pleasant, it reminds me a lot of Nila Wafers. It's a very mellow vanilla aroma. The portions are quite dry, so I had to do a little pre-wetting before I was able to use them, so I could get the maximum taste out of them. I got a picture when I did the Oden's 69 review of the tobacco inside, it's pretty dry, but with a little moisture added it's usually good to go. The taste is great. A gentle and mellow vanilla flavor with a bread-like quality, or a fresh-baked flavor. It reminds me at times of, as I mentioned earlier, Nilla Wafers. This snus proves that GN knows how to use vanilla correctly to flavor a snus, and I can only imagine what this would taste like as an Original Portion.

Skruf XTra Stark (Slim) Review - 24 August 2011.

2011-08-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's interesting how reviews usually work out. Seems like I can go a month or two without anything much to talk about, then suddenly a ton of new stuff comes out at once. My next review is of the new Skruf XTra Stark (Slim). This release is the newest in a line of slim portions released by Skruf, following the newest Slim/Fresh Mint snus they released. I personally am very excited to see more companies embracing the long/slim portions - as these fit perfectly and are truly the most comfortable way to enjoy snus. This release is a long portion version of their XTra Stark, which I reviewed in February of 2010. The can is much like the mint Skruf, a sleek grey looking can with the four dots to denote a strength level of 4 - which is the strongest on the SkrufScale of Power. This is the first version of a current product that they have released a second version in long form. We'll see if this follows in any of their other variants. So, moving along to the new release from Skruf - Skruf XTra Stark (Slim) Portion.

One thing I've always enjoyed about Skruf is their inclusion of rose oil in the recipe. While they have a traditional and classic bergamot snus, the inclusion of rose oil pairs really well with it and adds a lot to the recipe. Skruf XTra Stark, having 19mg (estimated) of nicotine is one of the 3 strongest snuses in the world - along with 06 by Swedish Match and Oden's Extreme by GN Tobacco. These portions are really unique - they look like a mix between white and original - still a little white but with dark moist tobacco seeping through. They're very comfortable in the lip, however, and the taste is spot on with Skruf XTra Stark Portion, rich tobacco with a bergamot flavor mixed in and hints of rose oil. The classic Skruf taste but now in a long portion. Very good stuff - especially for Skruf fans, if you want a long portion this would be right up your alley. I'm hoping those holding out on releasing long portions will begin to move forward with this new endeavor, as it truly is the most comfortable way to enjoy snus.

Lab Series 0506 - The Review. UPDATE: 9 November 2011

2011-08-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Post Updated 9 November 2011: In case you missed out, 06 recently went "Back to the Lab" for some changes. Larry from SnusCENTRAL reported on 22 September 2011 that Swedish Match was "... not satisfied with the quality or the moisture levels in the first run of 06. Indeed, they were so dissatisfied that Swedish Match was sending Lab Series 06 back to their Snus Lab for an overhaul." I didn't write an article about it, but I intended on comparing the two in this review, as I had the first run and today received the new run of 06. Our friends at BuySnus have this in stock now for immediate shipping. At first glance the can is exactly the same, so no cosmetic changes were made to the original outside appearance. The flavor description still reads as the old one, "Strong and spicy tobacco character with hints of herbs, oak and cedar, and a little nuttiness and flowers."

These portions seem a tad smaller and less moist. One thing I noticed about the last batch was how big and moist they were. I didn't see a problem with it but apparently that wasn't Swedish Match's intended result for this product so that's been changed. The aroma is not as strong as before, it's still a dark tobacco smell with floral like hints in the background. The portions are quite comfortable in the lip, still a good fit. The taste is more mellow than last time around, a little more subdued. The dark, rich tobacco taste is still very present, but the herbal taste is not as noticable. The nutty/oak taste is much more present, and in a very good balance with the tobacco taste. So quite a few changes were made, the taste is much different as is the portion size. I don't know the intended result that Swedish Match was hoping for and unsatisfied with in the first batch - I found it quite good. But this snus is still good, just different than the first batch.

24 August 2011: Hard to believe it's been almost 2 years since I reviewed Lab Series 0102 in September of 2009. I knew this day would come - that newer numbers would be added to the Lab Series. Numbering products is a great system that other snus manufacturers have recently been using as well - such as GN Tobacco with Oden's 69 and Oden's 59, each product number standing for a different snus product. A common question I've been hearing is "Where the heck are 03/04?" While I'm not 100% on this, I believe that General Long and General Long Sterk are 03 and 04, respectively. They're both released in the long portion format, and while not officially numbered, I think they're probably the missing pieces in the numerical order. Alright, moving along! Earlier this month, Swedish Match announced the upcoming release of 05/06. 05 having 12.5mg of nicotine, and though there was some initial confusion at first - it was confirmed that 06 would have 20mg of nicotine - making this Swedish Match's strongest snus release to date.

Starting first with 05. 05 is a white portion (which is unique, as 01/02 were the original/white new type portion invented for the Lab Series which was a "Non-Drip" formula). It is also the thinner type long portion. The can has the familiar Lab Series icons - Non Drip, Strength, Long, and something new - "Pure White". The portions are very white but with dark moist tobacco inside - they look a lot like standard SM white portions. The aroma was very complex. A dark, rich tobacco aroma with floral notes and a very herbal like quality that reminds me of the recently discontinued Cl!ck. The mouthfeel is very comfortable, long portions always feel very natural in the lip. A very natural tobacco taste comes on in the beginning, but develops to have a natural earthy taste that reminds me of 01 at times. The one thing that keeps hitting me though is Cl!ck for some reason - as there is a very herbal taste in the background mixed in with a rich, dark tobacco taste. The tastes lasts for a long time and mellows out to a nice well rounded tobacco taste. Average nicotine hit, doesn't hit too hard, so this would be enjoyable even if you're not a fan of strong portions/sterks.

06 seems to be a much bigger snus for some reason than 05. The portions just seem bigger. 06 is Swedish Match's strongest release to date, weighing in at a whopping 20mg of nicotine. The aroma is a very strong but natural dark tobacco smell with floral hints in the background. The portions are long portions, which means they fit very comfortably in the lip - but the one thing I really wanted to focus on is how the portions look. These look much different than the 01/02 Lab Series portions and are among some of the most moist portions I've ever seen. When I first heard that this would be around 20mg of nicotine per portion I was rather curious about how it would feel. Larry from SnusCENTRAL remarked to me that Swedish Match is rather great at producing free nicotine levels (which are the amounts of usable nicotine in snus). This stuff is quite strong, I got a little light headed at times and had to take the portion out. It took me quite a while to work through a review of this! I use Oden's Extreme quite a bit which has a nicotine content of 22mg but for some reason this one hit me pretty hard. The taste is a very rich, dark tobacco taste with a natural but herbal taste in the background. It has a very earthy taste in the background, it isn't near as present as in 01/02, the tobacco seems to be the main focus of this one. For some reason, and I know I've drawn this comparison in the 05 review, the taste seems to allude to Cl!ck, but it seemed a little spicier. I don't know why but it just seems to remind me a lot of it! As moist as these portions are still close to Non Drip, I experienced a little, but nothing intense or anything.

All in all, 05 and 06 are great additions to the Lab Series. It was rather interested to note the comparisons to Cl!ck in the flavor profiles of these snuses. I don't know if that's just my interpretation of the flavor, it will be interesting to see if others pick up the same thing. 06 is hella strong. I can't say that enough. I love Oden's Extreme, but 06 hits me much stronger. I'll have to see if I can find the free nicotine levels for both of these and compare.

General Green Harvest Review - 24 August 2011

2011-08-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Of all the new snuses I've heard about, General Green Harvest is the one I've been the most excited about. When I previewed it a few weeks ago, I mentioned the product description from Swedish Match went as follows, "General Green Harvest is the world's only snus that is grown by certified tobacco farmers without pesticides or chemical fertilizers." The taste description I read sounded reminiscent of General White Portion which I've always been a fan of, so I was anxiously anticipating this one to see just what it had to offer. I really like the can, slick white with the General logo that's been used lately on the General Long and General Long Sterk cans. I've always been a fan of white cans, it's one of my favorite things about Skruf - the slick white can. Very classy. Anthony said on his blog, "Chicks will think you’re all sensitive and whatnot when you tell them about your all-natural snus."

The portions are arranged in the usual star formation - typical of Swedish Match snus. The portions also look a lot like General White portions. The aroma is also very similar to General White portion - a mellow citrus aroma with little floral notes in the background. The taste is where it began to differ. General Green Harvest has a very present citrus taste, but doesn't seem to have as much of a salt or pepper taste as General White does. Don't get me wrong, there is a nice salt balance and notes of pepper in the background, but that don't seem as present as in General White portion. The taste mellows out very quickly and is balanced out nicely with a earthy/natural flavor that reminds me a lot of General Long Portion. This snus has the classic General recipe, but it seems like it's more balanced in certain aspects - more mellow in others. All in all, a good new release from Swedish Match. As it is limited, if you want some and enjoy it - you might want to buy a little extra because it remains to be seen if this will be kept around. I'm hoping sales permit and it stays, as this could be the gateway to a whole new line of natural/organic snus. Ettan or Grov Natural anyone?

For more info on Green Harvest, check out http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/swedishmatch/video/view/filmen-om-general-green-harvest-6126 - it's a neat little video from Swedish Match about it. A Swedish member on SnusOn translated it as follows, "The Amish people produces it without any machines, electricity or chemicals like they did over 100 years ago. In August they harvest the tobacco and during winter they ship it to Sweden. The tobacco is described as robust, with an fruity, sweet and kind of floral aroma."

Sleeping with snus. 20 August 2011.

2011-08-20T09:38:00.001-07:00

I get quite a few emails about this topic, and several Google inquiries look for it as well, so I thought I'd write about it. One of the most common questions I get asked is, "Can I sleep with snus in?" or "What happens if I accidentally fall asleep with a snus in?" I've slept with a snus in every night since I started. I wouldn't suggest doing it with a strong portion (as it can lead to headache I've observed) or an American "SNUS" (as their taste can get REALLY bad after about 30 minutes, and that's not something you want to wake up to), but a regular 8mg snus or a mini can lead to some pretty interesting dreams! That's the best part about sleeping with a snus in, it always leads to some very interesting dreams. Another concern I've heard addressed, "Will I swallow snus if I sleep with it in?" I've never swallowed one - and I've fallen asleep with lossnus (not suggested) in before. Portionssnus is a much safer bet. Try it out if you haven't - and enjoy! The best part? It's not like falling asleep with a cigarette, which can lead to a much different result.

V2 announces Thunder Long+ Chrom LE release date! 16 August 2011.

2011-08-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

V2 today announced the release date for their limited edition Thunder Chrom Long+. You can expect to see it hit webstores around 5 September 2011! The final flavors are Coola, OT5, Blue, ChocMint and Coffee Supreme. As far as the flavors go - I've been mixed on Blue. I didn't really like the Thunder Blue or Phantom Blue (Portion), I liked Phantom Blue los and really liked Phantom Blue White Portion. So I'm curious as to which taste profile this Blue will have. I really liked Thunder Coola and Offroad Coola. When I reviewed the Thunder Test Series, OT-5 was my favorite of them all, and I'm glad it won and we'll be seeing it in this release. ChocMint, I believe, will taste like Felinni Mint, which had a taste of Chocolate & Mint, it reminded me a lot of Andes Mints.

On 9 January 2011, I wrote in an article that I was testing a new snus. That test went on into the summer and was one of the longest snus focus groups I've ever been a part of, complete with about 5 or 6 different rounds, each round consisting of at least 2 different prototypes of a snus. Though I wasn't able to say at the time what I was testing, I can say now that it was the new Coffee Supreme that is coming in V2's Thunder Chrom Long+ LE. The honing and fine tuning started with a loose and worked into portions, each release going a bit farther with the flavor. In the end, I can say this stuff is going to taste great. It had flavors of coffee and brandy alexander (which was my favorite lossnus V2 has ever released). This stuff is going to be great. I wasn't a big fan of the Offroad Coffee Vanilla, but I really look forward to this release, I think this is going to be the world's best coffee snus. (Technically it's the only one, but if it had competition I'm sure it would win.)

New snus from Swedish Match - Below Zero. 12 August 2011.

2011-08-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Swedish Match snus machine is in overdrive lately, because in the end of August, Swedish Match will be gearing up to release another new snus - Below Zero, a new strong portion mint snus. They've been on a roll this month, first announcing Lab Series 0506, Grov Kardus and then General Green Harvest. Now comes Below Zero. At first, production will only release about 30,000 cans of this and depending on sales it may be added to the Swedish Match product line. The product description lists it as, "A high nicotine snus, medium-bodied tobacco character with clear hints of fresh balsamic mint, and with well-rounded sweetness. One can contains 20 portions." I don't know the difference between mint and balsamic mint, so this will be pretty interesting. The nicotine content of Below Zero is 14mg so it's going to be a pretty heavy hitter in the nicotine department.

Obviously, comparisons will be drawn between this and Nick & Johnny Crushed Ice, they look oddly similar. N&J Crushed Ice is a little bit stronger - at 15mg of nicotine. It's description is "....a medium-bodied tobacco character with clear hints of fresh mint, and with well-rounded sweetness." So it sounds about the same but may taste different. It'll be interesting to compare once I get the new stuff. I liked N&J Crushed Ice, so if this is anything like that I'll be pleased. This may be an attempt to rebrand Crushed Ice for some reason, who knows. I think the Nick & Johnny brand name is very strong so that is probably the least likely of scenarios. Look for it to hit webstores soon!

General Green Harvest (Limited) Coming Soon! 8 August 2011.

2011-08-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Just moments ago I reported that Swedish Match was releasing a very limited amount of Grov Kardus. On the heels of that announcement I've found out that Swedish Match is releasing another limited run - this time of a General product called General Green Harvest. This snus will have the traditional flavor and character of General White Portion. The product description goes on to mention, "General Green Harvest is the world's only snus that is grown by certified tobacco farmers without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The flavor and character is just like General White Portion. General Green Harvest, full-bodied, spicy tobacco taste with pronounced notes of bergamot and hints of hay, green grass and stable." Only 200,000 cans of this product will be released. It's coming at the end of August. The can makes mention of "Naturally Grown Tobacco from Certified Growers". Perhaps this will be a more fresh version of General White Portion. This release is also a white portion.

Swedish Match to release Grov Kardus. 8 August 2011.

2011-08-08T05:02:00.001-07:00

Last year I had a pleasant surprise for Christmas, a box of Ettan Kardus. This is not to be confused with regular Kardus. Ettan Kardus (and now Grov Kardus) is a limited release which is hand wrapped by the folks at the Tobacco & Match Museum. It's being called Grov Kardus, not because it's long cut or anything like that, but because back in the day snus was wrapped in paper and called Kardus, which means letter tobacco. The package, in essence, resembled a letter. Only one place in the world still makes Grov Kardus, and that's The Tobaks and Tändsticks Museum, or to Americans it'd be the Tobacco and Match Museum. Next week 100 of these are being released to the following webstores - BuySnus.com, SnusCENTRAL.com, SwedishSnus.com, Northerner.com and SnusBolaget.se. Last year only 40 were released, this year they're releasing 100. Now that means it's still VERY limited so if you want some get it quick. The price point is being set around 250 SEK which is around 38.57$ USD. It's a pretty hefty box, right around 250 grams. So keep your eye out for it, it's coming next week!

I just got my hands on some, check out my video review here:

Thunder Original : Long Cut - Coming Soon! Updated 8 August 2011.

2011-08-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

8 August 2011 Update: My image of what I thought the can was going to look like wasn't too far off! I just received news that the new Thunder Long Cut will be available in early September in webstores. So those of you foaming at the mouth for a long cut snus will finally get your wish and it's about a month away! Look for it soon. As this will probably be a limited edition run, make sure you get your hands on some before it sells out. And who knows? Maybe the sales number will be such that they'll keep it around.

Today, V2 Tobacco announced on their Facebook Page, "Coming soon: Thunder Original - Long Cut." Giving what a current can of Thunder Original looks like, this is my estimation of what the can of Long Cut would look like. Or it could be something completely different. I'm going to assume this is a limited edition release - so those of you who have been asking for a long cut snus, buy this up quick! Maybe sales figures will be such that V2 decides to keep it around. I know a few snusers that have been asking for it - but in the end it's all about demand. Look for more information to come soon including a release date.

The E-Cigarette - What Is It? 3 August 2011

2011-08-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to write about these for quite some time now. Our friends at Northerner.com have begun selling E-Cigarettes, so I figured it was time to pen an article about these. I know of several snusers who have switched to using snus and these to quit smoking as it eliminates your risk of cancer and helps you beat that hand to mouth habit. I know some snusers who still use these and snus. Do I consider this dual use? No. It is true that some people use these and snus - but when you're using these together it isn't adding any harm or risk, as both of these products are vastly safer than smoking. Over the coming week or so, I'm going to be reviewing many of the products for sale at Northerner.com. This article will serve as simply an introduction to e-cigarettes. As I've always done in the past - I will try to keep this as simple as possible, as it can be confusing trying to learn about how these things work.

If you're like me, you've probably asked yourself this same question recently. Just what is this e-cigarette thing? Well, an E-Cigarette is quite simply a battery powered device that provides the user with an inhaled vaporized nicotine solution. It doesn't have any of the tobacco, smoke, or combustion processes of a normal cigarette (the actual smoking part of a cigarette, no lighting up, no second hand risks). Some look exactly like cigarettes - brown filter, white tube, red light at the end. Some look kinda space age - black tube, blue light at the end, but regardless of the appearance, an e-cigarette does much of the same thing a real cigarette does, but without the risk.

How do they work? The image to the left from ElectricCigaretteMall.com shows a little of the interior workings of the E-Cig. I'll try to explain it without losing anyone. A sensor detects you "pulling" or inhaling, which in turn activates the heating process which vaporizes the nicotine solution which is stored inside the mouthpiece. That's the simplest way to describe HOW an e-cigarette works. What is in this solution? For the most part it's nicotine dissolved in a solution of propylene glycol or glycerin. Propylene glycol is an organic compound - colorless, odorless, with a sweet taste. It is also used as a food additive, so it's not as bad as the FDA would lead you to believe. Propylene Glycol can be metabolized into the human body into pyruvic acid, which is a completely normal part of the glucose metabolism process and is easily and readily converted into energy. Glycerine, or Glycerol, is a very commonly used liquid with a sweet taste and very low in toxicity. It is also used in other means - such as a filler in low-fat foods, a sugar substitute, and a humectant, and also an additive to Swedish Snus - which is a tobacco producted treated as a food product by the Swedish FDA. How strong are E-Cigs? Concentration strength (nicotine strength) ranges anywhere from 6-8mg all the way up to 16-18mg.

A little background on the E-Cigarette. In April 2003, the first patent by SBT Co was registered in association with the development of an E-Cigarette. In 2004 it was brought to China. In April 2006, the E-Cig was brought to Europe. (A funny note, in the UK it was marketed as the "Electro Fag", which many know a cigarette is called a "fag" in some parts of Europe). It is rapidly expanding in use and growing year by year due to it's ease of use, reduced harm, and ability to give the user the same experience they would get from using a cigarette, which as many know from trying to quit - is the hardest part! The hand to mouth part and the "having something in your hand" part is hard to conquer.

Are E-Cigarettes safe? Are they safer than smoking? Well, you're inhaling a vapor, it's not "smoking" in the traditional sense. By being a "nicotine vaporization" device, you're inhaling simply vapor, with the nicotine hit and no toxic smoke, tar, or risk of second hand to those around you. Since there is no burning of any tobacco, there are no combustion related carcinogens present. Granted, nicotine is present, but it's one of the more benign elements in tobacco. As there are not many studies right now on E-Cigs, the only thing that we can be uncertain about are the effects of prolonged usage of propylene glycol. I myself don't forsee it being a bad thing, as it can be metabolized easily in the body, but it remains to be seen.

The Lab Series 0506 - Coming Soon! 2 August 2011.

2011-08-01T23:26:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it's been almost 2 years since I wrote about 0102 in preview form. While this new endeavor launched a new line of Swedish Match snus - in size and portion, many looked upon it as very innovative - a original/white type portion with no drip, and the first long portion. 01/02 was met with a lot of praise following it's release and others followed shortly thereafter with long portions - V2 and Skruf. The market obviously responded well to this, and mixed with the desire for stronger snus - Swedish Match plans to release the next step in the Lab Series - 0506. It does make me wonder where 03/04 is - I would guess that's General Long and General Long Sterk - though not officially called that.

Swedish Match describes 05 White Strong (Long) as having "...Well balanced round tobacco character with hints of green herbs, oak and cedar, and a little nuttiness and flowers." As this portion is called "Strong White" it leads me to believe it's much like the other long white portions Swedish Match has released - General Smooth and Catch Pure Mint, but in a regular size long portion in the white format and a higher nicotine content.

Swedish Match describes 06 Extra Strong Long as having "...Strong and spicy tobacco character with hints of herbs, oak and cedar, and a little nuttiness and flowers." This portion, I believe, will probably be like the traditional Lab Series, or General Long - an original type portion with little to no drip and a higher nicotine content. The taste sounds similar to 0102, so it will be interesting to see how the recipe has been tweaked.

Preorder begins Week 31 Online (1st week of August). Shipping and Online Sales begin Week 35 (last week of August). The nicotine content of each of these was originally reported at 12.5 mg per portion, however it has recently been confirmed that 06 has 20mg of nicotine - wow! Each portion consists of 45% water - so even the white type portion should be quite moist. Look for it to hit preorder at webstores soon!

Oden's 59 (Loose) Review. 1 August 2011.

2011-08-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier, I wrote about the new Oden's Extreme 59 Portions, now I'm going to dive into it's los counterpart - Oden's 59 Loose. I've been looking forward to this release for quite some time, and the day is finally here that I have it in my hands, or, in my lip.

Oden's 59 Loose is, much like it's portion counterpart, a 22mg snus from GN Tobacco with a cinnamon flavor. It's one of the snuses I've anticipated most since hearing about it, and it's definitely been worth the wait. As I noted in the portions review, the cans are the hockey puck cans, not the new cans I previewed in April. I guess GN still has a billion of those little buggers to go through before they switch to the new cans. The number 59 carries no significance other than being just a product release number. In the past, the cinnamon flavored snus from Gajane/GN was called "Oden's Kanel", but is now being released simply as Oden's 59 under the Extreme flag.

As I noted in my review of Oden's Extreme Los, this is probably the most soft lossnus I've ever seen. It's like clouds, or a million little pillows. I actually formed a prilla today using my Icetool. As Oden's 59 Loose is 22mg of nicotine, I find making a little prilla is best, so I used the 0.4 and made a 2 clicker. I've found if I make too big of a prilla I can get a little lightheaded since this snus is so strong. The prilla stays together really well with very little mudslide. The taste is great, one thing I've always loved about los is the way it amplifies the taste of the snus. No portion matrial between the tobacco itself and my taste buds - just snus! The taste is great - much like Oden's 59, a mellow cinnamon taste. Not a sweet cinnamon, but a very raw taste with a slightly spicy note in the background.

So Oden's 59 Extreme Loose is a great new release from GN Tobacco, and worth all the time we waited to finally see it come to fruition. One thing I wanted to touch on - shortly before I got it in the mail I got an email from the folks at GN and I wanted to share this just in case anyone noticed it and was wondering. If you look on the bottom of the can, it says the net weight is 21g. This however, is incorrect - so to clear up the misprint, a can of Oden's 59 Extreme Loose actually weighs in at 45g. In case anyone was wondering! I don't know how many people actually read the bottom of the can.

Another cool thing to note about the bottom of the can is the new GN logo. It's really cool - the GN logo with the Swedish flag colors over it. I think this would make a cool t-shirt or something - how about it GN? Anyways, back on topic - Oden's 59 Extreme Loose is a great snus, well worth the wait - and if you're a fan of lossnus you owe it to yourself to check it out!

The day has arrived! Oden's Extreme 59 (Portion) review. 1 August 2011.

2011-08-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been since 29 June that I've wrote something? Not much has been going on in the world of snus lately, but today I'm going to be changing that and reviewing the new Oden's 59 portions! As many people know, Oden's Extreme 59 (Kanel) has been in production for quite sometime and it recently went on sale in webstores. I recently got my hands on some and I must say - it was definitely worth the wait!

On 29 September 2009, I wrote about Oden's Kanel Ekstra Sterk Portion. I really liked it, and it has quite the following in the snus world - I know of several people who use it. I liked it quite a lot when I tried it and have used it occasionally since then. Today I'm going to be writing about the newest release from GN Tobacco, Oden's Extreme 59 Portion. Oden's 59 is the newest snus in the Extreme line, containing 22mg of nicotine. It is "Kanel" flavored as well, Kanel of course meaning cinnamon in Swedish. GN has decided to drop the name Kanel with the newest release and go with the number 59 to describe cinnamon flavored snuses in their line. This also applies to the Loose version which I'll write about later, and any other releases that may come under this number. Why this number? When Oden's 69 came out I asked them and no particular reason, just a product number.

This snus has been in development for quite sometime, and now that I've gone through a can of it, I felt it was time to share my thoughts. As you can see from the pic - the 59 portions are very moist! The cans were originally rumored to be the new Oden's cans, I shared pictures of them in April, but upon release they're still the hockey puck cans. I'm sure in time that will change when they run out of them, but for now this is the current release form of Oden's 59. The aroma is very pleasant - a mellow cinnamon smell. It doesn't have the spicy/pepper smell of Oden's Extreme, which is interesting as I thought it would be mixed in there somewhere. The portions are full, and quite comfortable in the lip. The nicotine hit is quite strong, as is to be expected of a snus under the Extreme flag. The taste is very pleasant, a mellow and natural cinnamon taste with very little salt to speak of. Much like I observed with Oden's Kanel ES, it isn't a sweet cinnamon, but a very raw tasting cinnamon. There is a slight note of spiciness in the background, but not the peppery taste I've come to know and love with Extreme itself, it's much more an afterthought in this snus. The taste is great, and definitely worth the time we've waited for it's release. Big props to the folks at GN, another great release!

The mysterious disappearance of Gustavus & LD from webstores. 29 June 2011.

2011-06-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

I've received quite a few emails about various LD snus products as well as Gustavus being removed/delisted from webstores. The good news is that these products have not been discontinued. A friend at JTI told me that JTI Sweden's snus line is intended to be sold on the Swedish domestic market and a few duty free shops in Scandinavia. These products have not been delisted/discontinued but are only available in those areas/shops/markets. For those of you who bought this online - sorry. It's a bummer because LD and Gustavus are stellar snuses. You'll just have to buy them locally in Sweden or a few duty free shops that carry them.