Notes from a new snusser.

[Cap'n SnusBeard]

Does a new user of snus that has never smoked feel like throwing up and turn green? Just curious.

Hah, well I'd never used any form of tobacco before, and when I had my first 'proper' pinch of snus I did feel pleasurably light-headed. Not green, though!

[Craig de Tering]

Yeah, I gave it to one guy who had never touched anything tobacco before and in about six minutes he got woozy and dizzy and had to take it out :lol:

Yeah happens to some folks.
This buddy of mine is a year older than me, had never touched nicotine, doesn't drink alcohol etc. etc.
He got curious after seeing me with the weird can of black stuff so I made him a pris and after a while he got like high and fell asleep after 10 mins. (we we're at his place watching TV) but after like 20~30 mins. he had to suddenly get up a go (1)throw up in the toilet and (2)take a very long watery dump. LOL@nicotine.

Another guy there who sporadically smoked cigars just felt lightheaded, nothing that heavy.

[victor meldrew]

I'm a very new snusser. I've tried several pouch of Ettan, and became quite green after 5 minutes...
Now, I enjoy my Mocca mint, Metropol Licorice, and purchased today mini Catch Dry Mini eucalyptus and licorice because of the good reputation and advised by a colleague completely addictive !
I bought Wise eucalyptus as well... to stay wise !

[mizanation]

zero, thanks for the info, you really know your stuff.

[standfast]

Whew!.....zero,after all that and the snus.I'm thinking.You must have regenerated or should I say awoke some cells.Hell...you might as well throw in some genetics!

[riff]

Well, on the heels of Cap’n SnusBeard’ testimonial, and with a little encouragement from phish… :lol:

I used to smoke cigarettes, for a brief, misguided period in school. Like zero – mathematics… Hmmmm, must be something about that field of study, we all smoked like fiends. Ironically – maybe it was my salvation – I was always into endurance sports, so when I used the “patch” to quit, better performance bolstered the decision. Looking back on it, I can’t imagine how I could have ever inhaled the stuff.

So beyond the odd social cigar, tobacco was abandoned, until I heard about snus…. And darn it, curiosity got the better of me! So I found Northerner.com, ordered the tasting box of mostly mini portion snus (I hope there actually are other women out there who use snus?!) and popped the first one in (I think it Catch Dry licorice).

It certainly does not have anything like the effect I remember of those first few puffs of a cigarette, but I found it very pleasant – hard to describe. So that was a couple of months ago, and nowadays I would guess I use 2-3 mini’s per day. I like the taste, and there is something very satisfying in that sensual, tactile experience of having that little portion inconspicuously placed under one’s lip!

So then all this talk about loose snus… And darn it, curiosity got the better of me! So I browsed around the online snus shops until I culled the descriptions of “milder” loose snus, and ordered a can of RL and another one (name escapes me, it’s in the fridge). I opened it and… ew. Now what? Smelled kind of… I don’t know what! So I tried picking up a pinch between thumb and forefinger, and… it fell right back into the can, except for all the crumbs it left on fingers, desk, clothes,…. ops:

OK, being pretty determined, I then tried the three finger approach, managed to get a chunk to stick together, pulled out my upper lip, and moved fast, hoping I could get it in before it all fell apart! Marginal success: some on hands, some more on clothes, but lo and behold! I did manage to wedge a bit in there! Hey! What is that gritty sensation on my teeth? Sure enough, felt like I had a mud patty falling apart in there! So I trudged off to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and… Saw that apparently I had tried to eat a whole bag of oreos, most of which ended up around my mouth!!! :shock: ops: ops:

Gargle, gargle, brush, rinse, and try again! Two days later (today!) I am on my third pinch (is it called “priss”?) and have managed to keep it intact for around 30 minutes or so…

What is the “normal” amount of time it should last? And, by the way, with the loose snus, I most certainly DO feel a buzz, which is a surprise, since I don’t think I use more than what the mini portions contain.

But I just cannot see myself using the loose snus anywhere except in the privacy of my home.

Any lessons that you veterans want to impart would be happily received! And thanks for bearing with me in this interminably long post!!

[Zero]

Hahaha, yeah loose is a bit of an art to get working for you. I use either an icetool or roll the snus into bars or cylinders. I find loose stays put better in the center of the top lip rather than at the sides. When put to the side, it tends to start softening and melting away near the back, dripping down your throat and generally getting messy after a time. Put right in the center, though, it stays drier and doesn't fuss about as much. Leaving it alone is key as well - the more you fuss and poke at it with your tongue, the faster it turns to a messy lump of snus-mud.

Ironically, since the novelty tends to be amongst kids in scandinavia, these two norwegian kids have one of the best vids showing the technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxWQQzpVwe0

In the style of typical adolescent excess they're rolling rather large prillas - especially the second kid! Nevertheless, they're instructive beyond their years.

[phish]

I find giving it a little poke with my tongue initially helps it stay in place. At first I was very self-concious of using it in public and stuck to portions but now when I am around friends it doesn't really bother me, most of them are familiar with it and even give it a go once in a while. I even forget about it sometimes and end up wondering why the shop assistant is staring at my lips.

It is all a personal preference do what ever you feel comfortable with but I think loose is the ultimate level of snusdom that most snusers eventually climb to.

[Subtilo]

When it comes to lös I only rarely do anything that could really jeopardize the pris. But when I use portion I'm a true Sir Poke-A-Lot.