Toque to introduce white snus

[ponysoprano]

What was the Question?

I think many of us would be more than willing to give it a try...my personal concern would be finding it in/around the Seattle area. There's not a single tobacco shop in the western part of Washington state that I know of that carries anything close to snus, in a retail store. My options are: A) buy Amercian smokeless tobacco or Camel "snus" from convenience stores, neither of which are real options or B) order Swedish and other European snus from the web, which I've been doing. I think the Seattle/Tacoma area is a growing and viable market for snus and other new smokeless tobacco. Smoking is illegal indoors here, as with California, and many younger people enjoy nicotine but are against the obvious health risks of smoking, like many Americans. If I could find Toque or any other snus better than Camel locally with a high nicotine content, Toque would have a customer for life. Tom's University Smokeshop in the U-District in Seattle would be a fertile testing groud, there are several universities, colleges and clubs right in that area.

[TropicalBob]

Yes, I'd be interested. Toque has a good reputation among nasal snuffers (I like the chocolate) and could bring that to a new snus. No, I don't want loose anything. White, dry portions would be a mass market product, which I'm sure you're targeting. Don't overpower or over-flavor it.

[Dead Rabbit]

Yes, I'd be interested. Toque has a good reputation among nasal snuffers (I like the chocolate) and could bring that to a new snus. No, I don't want loose anything. White, dry portions would be a mass market product, which I'm sure you're targeting. Don't overpower or over-flavor it.

tropical bob lives!

[jamesstew]

To the gentleman from Toque Snuff; http://www.thelocal.se/14220/20080909/

[Toque Snuff]

Thanks for the article/link James. In light of our experiments with Snus, I contacted the Royal College of Physicians for further information. I spoke to their press officer and she told me they have contacted The Local 3 times denying what was reported.
Here's the link to the full report http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/cont...bf06597623.pdf
it's a PDF and easy to read. What do you guys think they are saying?
Roderick

[lxskllr]

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but I'll go over my perceived bullet points.

They want a centralized tobacco control system.

They want to limit smoking tobacco through tax, regulation, and social controls.

They want people to quit nicotine altogether. Failing that, they prefer medical nicotine, and regulated smokeless tobacco in that order.

They want smoking alternatives to be cheaper, and more accessible than smoking tobacco.

[chainsnuser]

They want people to quit nicotine altogether. Failing that, they prefer medical nicotine, and regulated smokeless tobacco in that order.

They also demand stronger and cheaper medical nicotine, meant as a real alternative to cigarettes, not like the overpriced, useless crap, that is sold today, and meant not just as a cessation-aid but a substitute. I mean, If snus and other smokeless tobacco one day would be unavailable for any reason, then I'd rather smoke again than to torture myself a single minute with something like Nicorette.

They even demand cheaper smokeless tobacco (within the EU, for U.S.-Americans and most other nations on the world, snus is tax-free and thereby very cheap, anyway)!

The parts of the study that I have read IMHO have an undertone, that even unregulated or half-regulated smokeless tobacco (like snus) is good as it is. The call for regulation sounds more like the half-hearted attempt to fit within the general sentiments of the medical community, which is - as we know - very 'anti-tobacco'. It's also IMHO mainly a call for a regulation of cigarettes, which are no natural tobacco-product but 'designer-drugs' nowadays, using 'weird' additives without any real regulation.

I pretty much agree with the study, though I think, that a regulation very likely would mess things up, as soon as clueless politicians have to decide.

Cheers!

[Juxtaposer]

They are saying that soon we will be trying to force you to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. Also between the lines read; The medical community can make money through regulations while saving money on substance abuse related illnesses. I think your headed in the right direction with your products. Just keep an eye out for the openings in the regulations as they may come in no particular order making you non-compliant for a spell. You might want to hire a lawyer to sort out the impending mess that's implied.

[Toque Snuff]

Yes, that's what I thought guys. Toque is safer than some medicinal NRT products so we're safe when they say:

Allow limited market access to low-hazard harm reduction products of proven efficacy
- Allow restricted sale of nicotine products that do not meet medicinal purity standards, or have other characteristics likely to represent an appreciable hazard to the user, on condition of:
- complete disclosure of design, content and, if relevant, product emissions
- evidence that all reasonable attempts have been made to minimise the likely hazard of the product
- clinical trial evidence of efficacy as a smoking cessation aid, or effective smoking substitute for temporary abstinence, of at least the same efficacy and acceptability to smokers as existing medicinal nicotine products.

It's this line that I'm a llitle worried about:

- Prohibit the sale of all non-medicinal products, including existing conventional smokeless tobacco products, that do not meet the above conditions.

However I can't see this coming into being for 10 or more years.

[airwoodstock]

Sorry to chime in late here but, I'm up to trying anything new when it comes to snus. I've been wanting to try nasal snuff but, I can't find anywhere by me to buy it. I know Toque has a webshop and there are many other web outlets but, simply due to the costs of shipping from overseas, I can't justify paying that much for something I may not care for but, curiousity will always override justification. :wink:

For you guys, especially Toque, and I know I'm going a bit off topic but, does anyone know how nasal snuff effects a person with seasonal allergies? that would be the only reason for me not trying it.

[Toque Snuff]

Hi AirWoodstock,
If you ask about allergies and hay fever on snuffhouse.org you’ll get unbiased info. As a producer anything I say will look like promotion; you will be delighted when you hear what snuff users say.
If it’s any help Toque ships all over the world free of charge and if you’re outside the European Union you get a 17.5% tax discount on the shown price i.e. £1.49 becomes £1.27/ $2.25.
Roderick

[jamesstew]

Mr Toque Snuff,

I think it would be interesting to find out how difficult it would be for your company to retool it's operations should restrictions be lifted and a snus line be introduced. I know snus is made from a certain high-nicotine part of the tobacco plant and don't know if this is different for nasal snuff. Also, would you need to invest in some sort of pasteurization equipment as that is part of the process? I think it would be ideal if you could use some of the same blends and flavors for both. I definitely think you should have at least one traditional snus flavor. That's certainly something that's lacking with the offerings here in the US.

I was also wondering if, in your research you have had an opportunity to sample any Swedish brands. If so, what were your impressions?

[Toque Snuff]

Yes, there will be a lot of work involved but we’ve budgeted for it. It has always been my intention to create as many exciting flavours in the same vain as Toque snuffs.

“I was also wondering if, in your research you have had an opportunity to sample any Swedish brands. If so, what were your impressions?”
I was lucky enough to spend some time in Denmark and Sweden in 1987 and first came across Snus then I can’t remember what I tried, I think it was called ‘Major’, but it must have been strong. I was with a group of Danes playing pool and they thought it was hilariously funny watching my face go through every shade of green until I lost my lunch. A couple of years later a Texan friend was in London and he was so desperate for chewing tobacco that he and I tried making it. We made both nasal and oral snuff but they were terrible. With luck a Swedish friend came to the rescue and my Texan friend was saved and I was introduced to portion Snus.

The brands I’ve tried so far are Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Lucky Strike white, Skruf Cranberry and Probe Whisky. As a producer I think it would unprofessional to give a review, let’s just say they are all fantastic.

[jamesstew]

Nice, I really like the flavor of the Toque chocolate.

[Xobeloot]

As a producer I think it would unprofessional to give a review, let’s just say they are all fantastic.

You could always create an alter ego. Register another name where you can discuss whatever you wish while utilizing your Toque name for more business/research purposes.

Just a thought.