New to snus, a few questions...

[cocsp2002]

So I've been dipping about 8 months and got really worried when my gumline started receding! I remembered that a few months ago, my on-base exchange had these trial pouches called Camel Snus, and I googled it to see what I could find out about them. I found this whole world of snus that I never knew existed and fell in love with it. I'm worried though, since I've always dipped flavored dips, namely skoal mint and grizzly wintergreen, and I've never liked skoal straight or copenhagen. Is it posslble snus isn't for me? I ordered a mix box from buysnus, and I'm hoping to find something I like. Comments?

[Grim]

I take it you ordered a mix box of portion?

I too dipped for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. My mother is a dental hygentist and about 5 months ago i came in and the dentist said that my gums are in a sense dying. I was killing my gum tissue.

So i found snus and must say that i love it. I had a check up yesterday. The only complaint was I do not floss enough but my gum lines were all normal.

Keep in mind this is a different world of tobacco. Its FAR MORE SUPERIOR than what the US companies make. If you like wintergreen there are several mint flavors to choose from and even a General Wintergreen and Offroad American Wintergreen. But keep in mind, at first you may not like it. I have tried many snus' that i didnt like at first and some are now regulars. The only snus i dont like is Grov.

Keep us informed on your progress.

[bakerbarber]

Yeah it is possible snus is not for you.

From the dip you say you use, I would recon at first your gonna be frickin terrified you bought a whole box of this salty junk.

Then after you get through a can or two you'll realize that the nicotine is better and the taste is great.

To me american dip tastes overly flavored now in comparison.

As far as the snus mint flavors. No you will not really recognize it. There is no sugar per se. When these guys say it has a sweet flavor they don't mean in the same way skoal mint is sweet. I just don't want you to be shocked. It WILL taste good after the shock.

Can you handle upper lipping it? Old habbits die hard. First off you use snus a different way than dip. It's not about getting the juice running and spitting. Don't spit really. Also don't really squeeze or pull on it with your lip to get a spit worked up. That will really only end up in a mess if you bought loose snus.

Watch how to bake a pris video too. Snus is more moist and ground very very fine. It is moldable, and needs to be if you wanna use loose without a mess.

If you did buy portions than not so many worries other than the culture shock of flavor. Imagine Jerky chew. Salty and savory plus a nicotine injection.

Good Luck

[sagedil]

Offroad - American Wintergreen Portion..... You will like it.

Go in open minded. But there is such a broad range of flavors available, I'm sure you will find some you like. I have never dipped, but from what I understand, the flavors are very strong. Snus will probably be much more muted. But as other have said, I bet you will come to find you like it.

And welcome to the forum.

Let us know once you get your shipment.

[superdevil]

I'd have to say that Snus and American dip are two completely different animals. I think my palette is just too American because I can't really get into Swedish snus... although I'm liking it more and more. In essence I'm forcing myself to like it because I'm getting tired of having to drive over an hour roundtrip to get the Camel snus, which if you like the flavored dip then you will probably really like. I LOVE the taste of Camel Original. It's sweet, got a lemony taste to it. But it's nothing at all like the Swedish.

Here's my recommendation, if you've got that batch of Swedish. Try upper lipping it first, because lower-lipping these salty sunsabitches will make you gag if you're not used to them. Upper lipping releases less saliva, retarding the "drip" you start getting. Don't throw your Cope away just yet, use it in conjunction with the snus until your palette overcomes the initial saltiness. I've noticed that American snus you pretty much get the flavor right off the bat and the Swedish you have to kind of work on for about ten minutes until the real flavor starts coming through. So keep your dip with you and save this snus for social events, relaxing at home, after dinner, etc. After awhile you'll start thinking less and less about dip and more and more about snus. Also, I can't swallow Swedish snus juice like I can the Camel. It gets my esophagus pissed off, so I spit like I was dipping some Skoal.

One final recommendation, if you can find it get the Redman dip. It's made by Swedish Match, the company that comprises a large chunk of the snus industry. They make a wintergreen, and its carcinogens are much lower than American dip. According to one study I saw, it's carcinogens were lower than some of the snus out now (that surprised even me.) But the Redman dip didn't irritate my gums anywhere near as bad as Skoal does.

[bondzai]

and Longhorn and Timberwolf likewise are Swedish Match.

[superdevil]

and Longhorn and Timberwolf likewise are Swedish Match.

True, but aren't the TSNA's in Longhorn and Timberwolf much higher than in the Redman? I seem to remember reading that somewhere.

[cocsp2002]

so basically what everyone is saying is that snus is an 'acquired' taste? someone told me that about copenhagen once, and I decided they were right, but I wasn't interested in acquiring that particular taste. I tell people cope tastes to me like the way fresh mulch smells when it's delivered loose to your home. From what I've read though, swedish snus have that strong tobacco flavor, but it's a very natural flavor. I agree, american dip is very overly flavored, but I guess I've just gotten used to it. I've been practicing upper lipping with my skoal, and I've found that I have virtually no urge to spit when I have it up there. Also, it seems that the pinch falls apart far less than when I lower lip it. I'm guessing that's because when it's in my upper lip, I poke it less with my tongue and it doesn't shift around as much when I talk or smile or laugh. Anyway, I'm still waiting on that shipment of snus, and I'll be back out on business for a couple more weeks, but I'll definitely post my initial impressions when I try it for the first time.

[sagedil]

Definitely let us know. I have a feeling you may decide that snus isn't that bad.

[snusfather]

I got lucky with snus. The first time I tried it I had gotten a big variety box from northerner. I popped a Grov portion first and almost immediatly said "THIS IS THE STUFF!" :shock: . That being said, most need time to get used to it.
I will be getting some Offroad original and wintergreen long cut snus tomaro (It should arrive tomarro). I will be trying both in the next few days and I'll post reveiws. Who knows, mabee the wintergreen will be of intrest to you. Welcome

[auggie]

Aye! Good luck with starting out. It took me about 2 weeks to get used to the salty flavor, but I'm glad I did - it really does get to be enjoyable eventually.

[cocsp2002]

So, I just got back today and my wife had considerately put all my snus into the freezer for me so it'd be fresh when I got back...here's what I got:
1 General los
2 knox (1 portion, 1 los)
2 skruf stark (1 portion, 1 los)
2 Jakobsson's (both large portion, 1 classic, 1 icefruit)
1 Offroad Cranberry los
1 Phantom los (the label is yellow...I've heard of blue, is there a difference?)
1 Taboca portion
I opened the skruf portions right away, maybe because I'm a sucker for slick packaging...I'll admit it, I'm a young guy and a whore for good marketing. I chose the portions mainly because I'm a submariner and I don't really have time to stop and bake a pris all the time, and partly because I was afraid I would really suck at baking and I didn't want to look stupid at work. Plus, it's the skruf stark, and being a cigarette smoker, more nicotine is always a draw for me. I have to admit though, skruf doesn't have much flavor, though I like the vaguely floral aroma when I open the can. Any recommendations on what to try next? I have to say, I liked the selection that buysnus sent me, and it seems like they tried to send me a can of portion and los whenever the product made it possible (for comparison?). The dipper in me feels like a cheater for using portions, though. Overall, I'm not having a problem with the flavor, and I see what you mean "saltiness", but it isn't salty like grizzly is salty. I'll admit that I'm surprised how well snus satisfies my urge to smoke, too! Since I opened the skruf, I've had one cigarette, and it was only because I was engaged in a conversation with a coworker and he walked to the smoking area, so I just followed suit. Flavors that caught my eye were the Jakobsson's icefruit and the Offroad Cranberry. It seems kind of like Offroad is the Skoal of snus in that they have a hundred different flavors, I guess for younger snussers who don't prefer the "natural" taste of more traditional snus? Now I feel like I'm just rambling, so I'll cut myself short, but do any of you blame me for being excited to finally join the club? I don't think you will...