Intro, and does snus improve with age?

[XMan]

Hi all!

I'm a relatively new snuser, having started with the aim of cutting down on my smoking. I was introduced to snus by a Norwegian I know, who while we were out drinking stuffed this strange teabag thing in his mouth. He offered me one (I think it was Gotterburgs Rape). I was quite pleased ith the nic-hit, but wondered if there was anything stronger.

With this in mind my first order was a roll of Skruf Stark portions from BuySnus (very good!) and a free can of Elyxr Energy (tasted OK to me, a hint of RedBull). My next order I wanted to try a few new ones out and ordered Kronan, Ettan, Ice Fruit, and General Exstra Sterk (all in portions, love the Ekstra Sterk!). I then tried loose (RL, Skruf Stark, General). Its very good, but I prefer the convenience of portions.

Now whenever I go online to buy snus I'm like a kid in a sweetshop - so many to try! My favourites are Skruf Stark and General Ekstra Sterk. I've just got a roll of Thunder off the back of some of the reviews on here and its very good, but I have a question. Most of my cans have a use by date a three or four months away, but the thunder is way off in October. It has an unusual smell, so was wondering if Snus needs time to 'mature', or is snus at its best when freshest?

[lxskllr]

Welcome to the forums!!

Snus is best when fresh, at least that's the consensus. I think that some like it a bit aged, but that's not the norm. As far as the funny smelling Thunder goes... You're not the first to comment on that. I'm guessing it's V2s special scent that you're getting. I haven't tried Thunder, and I decided I wasn't ever going to, so I can't comment from personal experience. You could try letting it air out, and see if it gets any better.

[sagedil]

Welcome to the forum XMan.

V2 is famous for having long best buy dates, I asked about it myself when I first saw it. The smell is just how it smells, has nothing to do with taste. Many people really like the Thunder, some don't, and some, because they are just plain old stubborn refuse to even try it because they have this obsession about strong snus even though Thunder hits so slowly you just end up using way less snus and still get a good nicotine hit. :wink:

Now where was I? Oh yeah, welcome to the fun XMan. I too am like a kid in a candy shop every time I order more snus, and I have been doing this for 2 years now. :lol: :lol:

[filip]

As long you store your snus in atleast +8 your portion snus will be realitiv fresh. I have had a snus that was like 2 or 3 months out of date, maybe not good as new snus but still good. Lös or loose or whatever you say is more sensitiv for the date.

[lxskllr]

and some, because they are just plain old stubborn refuse to even try it because they have this obsession about strong snus even though Thunder hits so slowly you just end up using way less snus and still get a good nicotine hit. :wink:

:^P

:^D

[bakerbarber]

I guess I'm the odd one.

I like my snus to "cure" a bit.

A fresh can of loose is a bit too soggy for me. A few days after cracking the label it's just the right consistency. I don't care for it too much when I get a bunch of juice when compressing it into my icetool.

Portions are good after a while too. White ones are never too old for me. Originals on the other hand seem gross if they dry out even a bit on me. I treat different kinds of snus differently too. I keep my loose snus in the fridge, I keep my white portions out in a drawer somewhere, I keep original portions refrigerated or on my person until they're used up. Any unopened snus I keep frozen.

[harpdog]

As far as I know the only baccy that improves with age is Pipe Tobacco and Pipers some them are obsessive about it. They setup tobacco cellars. They jar up lots of obscure blends. Then 5 yrs later smoke some and wow it really does work. I know I am one of them.

Some pipers have stock of since deleted lines of tobacco blends. In these jars the tobacco has improved not just in flavour but also in value.

Dunhill pipe tobacco since is end of production now sell at an amazing price.

[sychodelix]

The problem with "aging" any tobacco is that it increases the amount of TSNA's in it, and not just by a little...by a lot. If you are using snus as a hazard reduction method of tobacco, I wouldn't do it.

[XMan]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I wasn't aware that the TSNAs in snus increase by a lot as the snus ages - thanks for the heads up as part of my motivation for starting snussing was harm reduction.

By the way, I really do like the Thunder - so nice to sit at my desk at work and get a constant, gradual dose of Vitamin N. It aids my concentration!

[DarrylR]

Actually, steam pasteuration of snus seems to eliminate spontaneous TSNA production, compared to flame and fermentation cured oral tobacco:

One study examined levels of carcinogenic TSNAs in snus kept at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +23°C for 20 weeks. This exposure to a variety of temperatures over time did not produce a significant increase in concentrations of TSNAs, suggesting that the exposure to heat during manufacturing may itself have prevented microbial activation of nitrites. (citing: Osterdahl BG, Sloarach SA. Volatile N-nitrosamines in snuff and chewing tobacco on the Swedish market. Food Chem Toxicol 1983;21:759–762.)