Gotland Sommarsnus

[spinyeel]

I got two tins with my last order. This stuff has "kiddie snus" written all over it. Way too sweet and no guts.

[Kanga]

I agree with you completely, excellent review.

I got sent a single can of this by a generous member here who knew I loved the Gotlandssnus original range of yellow, green and grey.

What can I say?


Presentation
This is presented beautifully in a white Jakobsson's can with the compass motif ashtray lid; the labels depict a summer blue sky background with a sun and the foliage and fruits of one of the most delicious and elusive morsel, the wild strawberry ... what could be more evocative of the summer season in the Swedish countryside and all that is good, wholesome and natural?

Well - on smelling and tasting it ... NOT THIS SNUS!!

Aroma

The smell of the portions in the can are a generic artificial fruity flavour - if there weren't pictures of strawberries on the can then I would equally guess grape or banana as the flavouring. If I bought one of those little bottles of "strawberry" artificial flavouring for cake icing from a £1 shop then I would expect it to smell exactly like this ... (in fact I have bought such an item in the past and in fact I know it smells exactly the same.)

Taste

But snus is not about the smell is it? ... so what about when you pop one in your upper lip? Well it tastes pretty much like it smells - a generic synthetic fruity flavour - but more muted because (surprise surprise) the nose is better at smelling than the upper lip - it's still unpleasant but less so - there is no underlying tobacco flavour I can make out.

Then when my tongue strayed to the portion to get it in the right place I got the shock of my life!

AAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH - THE SWEETNESS.

I don't think that the Swedish regulations would allow a snus to be produced with the amount of sugar these portions taste like they contain. And if it is an artificial sweetener then it is in sufficient quantity to make me wince. I take artificial sucralose sweetener in my coffee - and this snus has the kind of unpleasant sweetness that anyone who has handled a sweetener and then licked their fingers can appreciate. I don't know what the sweetener is - but given the suggestions of health risks among the biggest culprits in the artificial sweetener market I don't want to add to that through completely un-necessary use in snus.

The ingredients are listed as: Water, Tobacco, Salt, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate, Flavourings - so we don't get any more information there at all.

The Conclusion

Gotlandssnus have abandoned their roots so much so that they do not even sell a product which contains their name at present. The snus they are capable of making has so much integrity, so much class, and so much tradition behind it that many cannot understand why they do not even produce one of these great snuses any more.

This Sommarsnus was supposed to complement their other seasonal offering Gotlandssnus Julesnus (available every year until now in loose and portions - and an absolute example of how to innovate within the traditional boundaries of Swedish snus) ... it is very revealing that they don't even use the words "Gotlandssnus" on the can of this sommar snus once, instead opting for the more geographical Gotländskt ... (simply meaning coming from the island of Gotland)
It's almost as if they're embarrassed of their heritage.

Recently we have seen an interview posted here on SnusOn with Jimmy Karlsson, a newcomer to the Gotlandssnus company who has turned the comapny round - where he is made out to be a connoisseur of snus, expounding the benefits of using top quality ingredients with a background as a chef with an exquisite nose and palate to improve the company's output....

Well - no. If Jimmy has any kind of nose or tongue on him then he will know full well that in Gotlänskt Sommar Snus, they have created a disappointing, overly-sweet crudely flavoured abomination that only goes to show that Gotlandssnus have sold their soul to the devil and are reaping the rewards.

Start making snus again PLEASE!

[Skell18]

That's ok bro...........you can work the drink machine

Skell and steve vader have got the tray line covered

Its Lord Vader, I could crush you with a single thought!

[whalen]

I am not worthy Dog!

[Snusdog]

So much as me being representative of the American market!

That's ok bro...........you can work the drink machine

Skell and steve vader have got the tray line covered

[whalen]

Well, I am in process of placing an order here, and i cannot find any Gotts that I want to have from the existing bunch. The artificial sweetener has a real bad aftertaste. I would however, have bought 6 rolls of the green los, or Gul los without hesitation. So much as me being representative of the American market!

[Skell18]

No...No...No.......for the last time……..Ruler of the World is not a ride at the kiddie park.....we don't all get a turn......

no one gets their own bowl of Ruler of the World mints........or their own RW fluffy towel.......or their own "World's Greatest Ruler of the World" coffee mug.......ITS A SOLO GIG

However.....I may be able to get you all work at the canteen.......but let me just see how my first week goes

Do you want a tray with that? The plate is hot so you will need a tray

[Snusdog]

I went back and reread my post and want to clarify something here

My hope is that Gotlands will offer BOTH their traditional and innovative lines of snus. I think there is a place for each.

Also, I have tried every one of Got/Jaks offerings with the exception of Melon and the Summer one, which are on my to get list (but for now I cannot speak to these two). However, all the ones I have tried....... from both lines…………. have all been top notch.

My point is: I just did not want to appear to be saying the Jaks line is no good. I think it is good and does what it does very well. My preference just happens to be los……..

Bottom line: anything that Jimmy and Gotlands puts out is worth a try.......some you will like more than others......but that goes without saying for any company

OK I'm done

Carry on

[squeezyjohn]

Sorry Jimmy.

My opinion is only that ... my opinion. In some cases it is very strong - but it is still only an opinion and of course I expect others to have different ones.

It is my opinion that by withdrawing the traditional lines of snus and investing in more "innovative" ones, Gotlandssnus has let down me and lots of people like me who enjoy snus as a traditional product, many of whom are here on snuson.

Obviously I don't expect your company to make decisions based on my opinions - I'm sure you've done all the market research and taste-tests and know full well what you can sell more of ... and you should do that if your goal is to make your company bigger and richer.

But deep down in your heart, I know you know that Gotlands Gul and the Smokey Cinnamon Lös that you so kindly sent me and others here is in a different league to the Sommar Snus too. I'm just sad that you couldn't find a way to show off your craft AND keep the sales on an increase at the same time.

Cheers

Squeezy

[Snusdog]

I like the sommar snus, now consider this chapter closed by order of the true ruler of the world, why you ask? I have great hair (swish!).

FYI - I was done with Halle last THursday, she did my ironing for me, she won't be summoned back!

No...No...No.......for the last time……..Ruler of the World is not a ride at the kiddie park.....we don't all get a turn......

no one gets their own bowl of Ruler of the World mints........or their own RW fluffy towel.......or their own "World's Greatest Ruler of the World" coffee mug.......ITS A SOLO GIG

However.....I may be able to get you all work at the canteen.......but let me just see how my first week goes

[sharesnusinfo!]

I got sent a single can of this by a generous member here who knew I loved the Gotlandssnus original range of yellow, green and grey.

What can I say?


Presentation
This is presented beautifully in a white Jakobsson's can with the compass motif ashtray lid; the labels depict a summer blue sky background with a sun and the foliage and fruits of one of the most delicious and elusive morsel, the wild strawberry ... what could be more evocative of the summer season in the Swedish countryside and all that is good, wholesome and natural?

Well - on smelling and tasting it ... NOT THIS SNUS!!

Aroma

The smell of the portions in the can are a generic artificial fruity flavour - if there weren't pictures of strawberries on the can then I would equally guess grape or banana as the flavouring. If I bought one of those little bottles of "strawberry" artificial flavouring for cake icing from a £1 shop then I would expect it to smell exactly like this ... (in fact I have bought such an item in the past and in fact I know it smells exactly the same.)

Taste

But snus is not about the smell is it? ... so what about when you pop one in your upper lip? Well it tastes pretty much like it smells - a generic synthetic fruity flavour - but more muted because (surprise surprise) the nose is better at smelling than the upper lip - it's still unpleasant but less so - there is no underlying tobacco flavour I can make out.

Then when my tongue strayed to the portion to get it in the right place I got the shock of my life!

AAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH - THE SWEETNESS.

I don't think that the Swedish regulations would allow a snus to be produced with the amount of sugar these portions taste like they contain. And if it is an artificial sweetener then it is in sufficient quantity to make me wince. I take artificial sucralose sweetener in my coffee - and this snus has the kind of unpleasant sweetness that anyone who has handled a sweetener and then licked their fingers can appreciate. I don't know what the sweetener is - but given the suggestions of health risks among the biggest culprits in the artificial sweetener market I don't want to add to that through completely un-necessary use in snus.

The ingredients are listed as: Water, Tobacco, Salt, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate, Flavourings - so we don't get any more information there at all.

The Conclusion

Gotlandssnus have abandoned their roots so much so that they do not even sell a product which contains their name at present. The snus they are capable of making has so much integrity, so much class, and so much tradition behind it that many cannot understand why they do not even produce one of these great snuses any more.

This Sommarsnus was supposed to complement their other seasonal offering Gotlandssnus Julesnus (available every year until now in loose and portions - and an absolute example of how to innovate within the traditional boundaries of Swedish snus) ... it is very revealing that they don't even use the words "Gotlandssnus" on the can of this sommar snus once, instead opting for the more geographical Gotländskt ... (simply meaning coming from the island of Gotland)
It's almost as if they're embarrassed of their heritage.

Recently we have seen an interview posted here on SnusOn with Jimmy Karlsson, a newcomer to the Gotlandssnus company who has turned the comapny round - where he is made out to be a connoisseur of snus, expounding the benefits of using top quality ingredients with a background as a chef with an exquisite nose and palate to improve the company's output....

Well - no. If Jimmy has any kind of nose or tongue on him then he will know full well that in Gotlänskt Sommar Snus, they have created a disappointing, overly-sweet crudely flavoured abomination that only goes to show that Gotlandssnus have sold their soul to the devil and are reaping the rewards.

Start making snus again PLEASE!

Sorry if you don´t like it.. but the taste is very differnt from person to person..

The Flavor is Smultron (wild strawbaerry) 100% natural and is a very common flavor for the swedish consumers and the solvent is alcohol..
the sweetener in the product is about 1 fourth of the amount we use in our other products in the strong segment. and the sweetener is sacharine (a sweetener that have been on the market for about 100 years and is the least dagerous sweetener and most well documented)

We can´t use a ordinary sugar or melas that wold damage your teeth..

The sweetener is becolse of the tradition of the usage as smultron in sweden (jam, pastry, milk & sugar and so on)
The product is for Swedish cunsumers and as the end of the summer we can now tell you that for us it was one of the best selling products we launched so far.

So im sorry if you do´not like it, our products is innovative and different and not for every persons, thank you for the feedback.

[Skell18]

I like the sommar snus, now consider this chapter closed by order of the true ruler of the world, why you ask? I have great hair (swish!).

FYI - I was done with Halle last THursday, she did my ironing for me, she won't be summoned back!

[Premium Parrots]

OK...........Ruler of the world......hello..........

see it clearly states in my Despots for Dummies (ISBN 0000666) that the SUPREEM RULLER OF THE WORLD.....goes first........

So........do you want a tyrannical overlord or what

cause if you do.................. I'm going to need a little more cooperation from all involved


Sheesh…….this whole ruling the world thing is as bad as working in retail

tell me about it........I'm supposed to be the president of Isnus but I can't get any respect.




Looks like its sloppy thirds for you SD

[Snusdog]

OK...........Ruler of the world......hello..........

see it clearly states in my Despots for Dummies (ISBN 0000666) that the SUPREEM RULLER OF THE WORLD.....goes first........

So........do you want a tyrannical overlord or what

cause if you do.................. I'm going to need a little more cooperation from all involved


Sheesh…….this whole ruling the world thing is as bad as working in retail

[jagmanss]

Couple of things here:

First, I thought SqueezyJ’s review was thorough and very well written. SJ I am really enjoying your contributions here of late and feel they have been well thought out and well-articulated.

Second, I think PP is dead on. Jaks snus is definitely targeting a segment of the market that is flavor and portion heavy. In fact, they will tell you as much

However, I want to step up here and defend Jimmy a bit because I think there may be some misconception.

Remember, Jimmy is hired to make the type of snus that his bosses want. We may not like that particular genre of snus. But we do not sign Jimmy’s checks.

However, that said, many of us here at snuson have tasted firsthand what Jimmy can do with traditional snus blends when left alone to play in the lab. The Plain los, Green Los, and the Burnt Cinnamon were all masterworks that Jimmy sent free of charge to many members here just so we could try them.

Also, I think you will find Jimmy very sympathetic to those of us who want to see the traditional side of Gotlands. I know firsthand that he has tried very hard on several occasions to get the traditional snus back on the market in some way or another. Unfortunately for us, powers higher up the ladder have thought it best to take the company exclusively in its current direction.

Regardless, I have hopes that one day we may all be able to enjoy those traditional masterpieces again. When and if we do……..I guarantee you………it will be because guys like Jimmy and Frank were listening to their customers and worked to make it happen for us.

Until then…. by all means………. keep bitching about the berries and mints (I am right there with you)……………..just keep in mind that Jimmy is a true friend to snuson and pretty darn good at what he does…….In fact when I take over the world……..(right now I’m aiming for next Tuesday around noon)…………Jimmy and GN will be the first ones summoned to the palace………..well…….…ok……...Halle Berry will be first……….but Jimmy and GN will defiantly be next

Cheers

I need to disagree...




















Halle Berry will not be available as she is busy with me Sorry for the confusion.... I felt that this needed to be cleared up asap... Carry on.