Gotländs Julesnus, The original Christmas snus!

Well, my dear Snustopians, There's only 2 days left before Christmas and, I figured now would be the perfect time to review the original Julesnus, Gotländs Julesnus. You may be wondering why I waited this long after reviewing V2's Nordströmmen's Julesnus to do the review on Gotländs. I did this for three reasons. First off, V2 released their version first so, once I received it, I was excited to tell you about it. Second, I wanted to really spend time with Gotländs' so I could give an accurate review of it without getting it confused with V2's. Third, what better time to review a snus that was specifically created for Christmas than, as close to the holiday as I could! I know what you saying, "Jeeze SnusGuy, you waited until the end of the season to review this one and we may not be able to get any!" Not to worry Snustopians, Julesnus is not like Kardus. Both versions will be available until the end of the year and, it's not a limited run. They simply stop producing at the end of the year. You'll have a chance to get it if, you already haven't! So, Let's get right into the review of Gotländs Julesnus!


If you guys are anything like me, Christmastime holds alot of great memories for me. It's a time for being with friends and family, Christmas Carols and great feasts with Turkey, glazed ham, cookies of all kinds, Gingerbread and spiced ciders! And, of course, presents! I personally, like giving presents more than receiving but, every once in a while, I get a present that totally blows me away! This year, Gotländssnus gave the snus world a very special present, Julesnus!


Gotländssnus was the first to create a Julesnus in 2003 and has been producing it ever since. Like V2's, Gotländs Julesnus comes in both lös and portion versions. The portions are a white portion snus and, have a great feel in the lip. As I've said in previous reviews, white portions are dry and, can have a bit of a rough feel in the lip due to them being dry. Gotlands Julesnus, in my opinion, doesn't have that rough texture. The portions are soft to the touch. Even after an hour, there's no irritation to speak of.


The lös version is a fine cut snus with a great mouth feel as well. Although handbaking would be traditional, I recommend using an Icetool or Prismaster with Gotlands Julesnus unless, you have perfected your handbaking skills! Why, you ask? Simple. Because the cut is a bit fine and, the moisture level is lower, it takes a bit of working to get a pris that will keep it's shape longer than 15 minutes. Since my handbaking skills are not the best, The tools give me the best pris with Julesnus but, feel free to to try it either way! The cans in both versions are made of plastic, as is all Gotlandssnus, with the lid being embossed with the company's mascot and the year in Roman numerals. Now, on to the taste.

You may be wondering why I spoke earlier about the memories that Christmastime brings me. No, it's not because I over-researched General Ekstra Sterk tonight! It's because Gotlands Julesnus tastes just like Christmas. Gotlands describes their Julesnus to taste of Glögg (Mulled Wine), Gingerbread and Cinnamon. The Gingerbread and Cinnamon you all know of but, Glögg you may not. Glögg is a red wine, flavored with mulling spices like Clove, Cinnamon and other sweet spices. If you remember the review of V2's Julesnus, you'll remember that the predominant flavor in their Julesnus was Glögg. With Gotlands version, the Glögg takes a subtle backseat to the Gingerbread and Cinnamon. The best part is, the base flavors are not different in the portions. The only difference here is, flavor strength. In my opinion, the portions have a bit more flavor initially and, is gone within an hour. The lös, has a subtle flavor in the beginning and, gets a bit stronger after 20 minutes and lasts up to 1½ hours. Every time I put in a portion or pris, fond memories of Christmases past come flooding in. I guess the best way to describe the taste of Gotlands Julesnus is, the scent of a Christmas Candle and the taste of a Gingerbread cookie! The way I remember my Grandma's kitchen smelling at Christmas!

So, what to drink with Julesnus. Well, in my opinion, Gotlands Julesnus would be considered a "dessert" snus. Due to it's complex flavors, it tends to be subtly sweet. I'd pair it with a good, after dinner brandy, a mildly dry, red wine or, in my case, a mild, unsweetened, tea. I've had it with black coffee and honestly, it made the snus and the coffee bitter. My staple Diet Coke goes well too but, the best thing I've had with Gotlands Julesnus is, Spiced cider! The sweetness of the apples in the cider and the reinforcement of the same spices in both really plays well to bring out the gingerbread flavor and, ironically, the light flavor of the tobacco!

There is a slight dark side to this snus though that I feel you all should know. The portion version can get bitter when left in for more than 45 minutes. Unfortunately, this is a trait with most of Gotlands' portions. This doesn't mean that the snus is bad or, on my list of snus I don't care for. It's just that you can't leave the portion in for more than 45 minutes! I look at it this way. Most Swedes only keep snus in for anywhere between 15 minutes and a half an hour. Me keeping snus in for longer than that, without flavor loss, is a bonus!

My recommendation for Gotlands Julesnus is outstanding! I highly recommend you get yourselves at least a few cans and experience the tradition from the company that began it. So, to end where we began, meaning, why I talked about memories, Christmas really does bring back the best memories! I have a roll of each in the freezer so, during those hot, summer months, I can break out a can or two and, relive those memories created when it was cooler!

Well Snustopians, I want to take the opportunity, here in the end, to wish all of you, and your families, a safe and joyous Christmas! May all your Christmas wishes come true!

Happy Snussing!

Kardus 2008 Limited Edition, In a league of it's own

Welcome back Snustopians! I know I said in the past that, I'd try to get reviews out to you every couple of days but, this snus took some time to compile. Each time I try a new snus flavor, I usually spend a day or two using only that snus so, I can give my honest opinion about it. Every once in a while, I come across one that takes more time due to the snus' taste complexity and/or texture. This would be one of those times. Since this is a limited edition run, I realize that it may be sold out before you have the chance to purchase it but, fear not Snustopians! The best things in life are definitely worth waiting for! So, without any further ranting by me, I present to you, Kardus 2008 - Limited Edition Snus.

Industries world wide have what would be called "The best of the best" within each line. For example, the best, most luxurious car would probably be the Rolls Royce. Private jets would most likely be the Gulfstream V. Even food and common drink have their best of the best. For Steak, Kobe Beef would be the one. Even beer has it's best reserve, made by Sam Adams called Utopia so, why not snus! Here in Snustopia, Kardus fills that spot. I could cut and paste quotes and links to Swedish Match's site to complete the review but, as you guys know, I'm not like that and, neither is Snustopia. At the end of the review, I'll attach the link to their official press release site so you all can read it.

Kardus 2008 has been four years in the making starting from the ageing of the tobacco to final production. Most snus is produced, presently, by machine but, Kardus is a completely hand made lössnus which alone, makes it special. By hand made, I mean completely hand made. Even the wooden box it's presented in is hand made by Ulf Mellström, who trained at the Carl Malmsten Center for Wood Technology and Design. a picture of this beautiful and unique box is pictured to the left. The tobacco for Kardus is made from tobaccos from Hungary and India which are air cured. Then, once the tobacco has aged, it's hand cut. Not fed into a machine by hand but, a person using a cutter and hand cutting each leaf! Swedish Match wanted Kardus to taste of extremely high quality, single malt whiskey and, have done so! Upon opening the plastic can inside the box, your first smell is of a single malt whiskey. Swedish Match definately hit the nail on the head with this flavor. I know what your thinking, "why couldn't we just stick a spoonful of Makers Mark in a tin of Phantom Original lös?" Because Kardus is more than that. The flavor is very unique. SM's website states that it tastes of spicy Tropics and windswept Scottish moors. Well, in my opinion, It does have a spicy note but, since I've only seen the Scottish moors on tv and, they haven't invented Smell-o-vision yet, I get a completely different taste.

As I've told you all in past reviews, I'm not a drinker and, I was a bit standoffish when I smelled the whiskey in Kardus but, I was willing to sacrifice myself for the land I love, Snustopia, and, put in a pris and was really surprised! I thought the whiskey would be the predominant flavor but, it's not. You can defiantly taste the essence of a fine malt whiskey but, it smells more powerful than it tastes. The flavors of the fine tobaccos really shine thru! The odd thing about Kardus is, there was really no salt taste. Just pure tobaccos and fine whiskey.

My dad always said "Simple is always best" and now I know exactly what he meant. Swedish Match succeeded in doing exactly what they set out to do with Kardus. Create a special, one of a kind snus that didn't play on trying to synthesize any flavors. Just add the components that will let the pure tobacco taste shine thru with, a little single malt and salt to help it along. Ok, so now you get, I hope, the taste of Kardus. I know it wasn't as long as I normally do but, I wanted to keep it simple, just as Swedish Match kept Kardus' taste.

"So, if the snus is hand cut, wouldn't that make the pris uncomfortable or, hard to bake?" That's a really good question! As any Snustopian who has used American dip will tell you, long or rough cut tobacco will hold a pinch better than finer cuts. Since the surface area of each grain of a rougher cut of tobacco is greater, there's more space for other grains of tobacco to grab onto, making it easier to mold! This is actually the only snus I've been able to hand bake a pris and, have it stay together longer than 15 minutes. The pris I have in now has kept it's shape for over an hour! I normally recommend using an Icetool for most lös but, Kardus is different. When I first opened Kardus I instinctively grabbed my Icetool and began trying to load it up. First mistake! Since the snus is hand cut, you don't get the consistent pieces you normally get with machine cutting so, during shipment, the smaller pieces settled to the bottom. When I loaded the pris in my lip, I got a layered pris. The bottom stayed together and, the bigger pieces on top fell apart. This just added to the whole Kardus experience for me. A simply flavored snus that hearkens back to earlier times should be hand baked! Once I got the new pris in, total joy! The tobacco is very easy on the gums when hand baked. After a few more times with the Icetool, I got a good pris but, the edges are hard and makes the pris uncomfortable. I definitely recommend the hand bake method for Kardus.

As we all know, most snus is great with different beverages and, I normally give you my suggestions for what will go well with it. In the case of Kardus, nothing I'm able to drink will go well. "SnusGuy! Are you saying Kardus isn't good enough for any drink? Even Diet Coke!" No. What I'm saying is, Kardus was designed to be the world's most exclusive snus. It's also the most expensive snus on the market. A box of Kardus 2008, with 100 grams of snus, will run you around 60$ USD plus shipping. Since I can't drink anything alcoholic, all non alcoholic drinks, with exception to H2O, will ruin the taste experience. Think of Kardus as an after dinner Cognac. A snus meant to be enjoyed after a great dinner or, just relaxing after a hard day at work. If I could drink, however, A snifter of Cognac or a single malt on the rocks would only enhance the flavor and enjoyment!

Even though Kardus is expensive, it's definitely an experience everyone in Snustopia should experience at least once. I like to have a pris after the week is over whenI have the time to just sit in the study, listen to some Mozart or Bach and relax. If it is sold out, Swedish Match has been putting out a version of Kardus every December since 2006 (it may be longer but, that's as far as my research has led me). I hope all of you, resident Snustopians and tourists, get the chance to try Kardus 2008 Limited Edition. I look forward to what you have to say about it so, please post replies so other Snustopians can see what others taste!

Click here to read the press release for Kardus 2008 from Swedish Match!

Claq Qui by Röda Lacket - Another new strong snus!

Well Snustopians, before we go into tasting Claq Qui, I think it may be best to do a little explaining about why the recent reviews have been on strong snus. Since before Snustopia was created, and about the same time I began my journey into Swedish snus, there's been a clamor among snus users for a larger vareity of snus with a higher nicotine content. I jumped on the bandwagon as well recently since there were only 4 brands with a Nicotine content above 11 mg per gram. The only one I liked was Skruf Stark portions which have 14 mg per gram! In response to all the requests, Swedish Match has answered the call by offering 3 new higher nicotine "Sterks" and one of them, General Ekstra Sterk, is the strongest snus on the market with 15 mg per gram! I haven't yet tried this snus yet but, Claq Qui is one of the new 3 and, a unique one at that! So, without any further delay or, rambling from me, here's my take on Röda Lacket Claq Qui!

As you all should know, especially if you have read some of the first reviews, Röda Lacket lös is one of my favorite snus brands. When the rumors began to come out about Swedish Match getting ready to release a Stark portion version, in the beginning of November, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Now, for those of you that have read the prior reviews, you'll also know that lös snus is my favorite over portion snus so, for me to be excited over a portion snus is, a pretty big deal! When the first tin finally came, I knew this was going to be a very different and, unique snus. Take a look at the picture to the left and you'll see what I mean. When I first saw the tin, the graphics caught my eye. Since I didn't (and still really don't) know what exactly "Claq Qui" meant, I figured it was a French saying and, with that, decided that the red splatters were paint and, this snus would be an Artisan type of snus. Boy was I wrong! After doing a little research, I found that the "Claq Qui" was meant to mean "Fight Club" due to it's strength. A video made by Northerner.com about Claq Qui can be found by clicking here, that gives you some insight on what the snus is supposed to be like. It's really well made so, definitely take a look! Here's a reason to have a look at the video, when you watch it, you'll have the answer for what the splatters really are!

Ok, I know your sitting there saying "SnusGuy! Yea, the can is cool and, so is the video but, we're not going to taste it! Get on with the snus taste already!" I know, I know, I did go a bit overboard on the tin but, with this snus, you need to take it all in to get all that Röda Lacket intended it to be! So, on to the snus it's self.

Claq Qui is a strong, White portion snus that has the classic Röda Lacket flavor of pure tobacco, salt, licorice and a hint of Strawberry but, with a twist. The twist being a pleasant, bitter taste due to the higher Nicotine content. Just as a side bar, most high Nicotine snus will have a bitterness in the back of the throat as well as a slight burn so, don't be alarmed, that's the way it's supposed to be! My snus-blog brother, Aaron, over at 1Fed1Dead is probably Röda Lacket's biggest fan and, also tastes the original Röda flavor in Claq Qui as well. His blog has some great reviews on snuff as well. Check em' out sometime.

The salt content in Claq Qui is a little higher than the other Starks I've tried but, not enough to keep me from using it as an "All Day" snus. If you are a jogger or use snus during work where you are doing strenuous work, keep a bottle of water handy though. I used Claq Qui while helping a family member move last weekend and, did dry my mouth out so, just thought I'd throw that in.

As I do with most snus reviews, I try to pair snus with drinks. Since I can't drink Alcohol, I'll give you some non-alcoholic choices. Since Claq Qui is a strong snus, It's a great "first thing in the morning" snus that goes well with coffee. I like it with my Pumpkin Spice coffee as well as a plain Café Americano. A medium strength tea with lemon will go well too but, I love it with Southern style sweet tea also. Since I'm addicted to Diet Coke, I usually say that "Diet Coke goes well with everything" but, not with this. I think the Diet Coke adds to the bitterness of Claq Qui and, can make both taste bad but, it does go well with energy drinks, believe it or not! Monster Energy drink and Claq Qui is a match made in heaven in taste and, getting you ready for the day or night!

My overall recommendation for Claq Qui is great! Everyone should try, at least, one tin of Claq Qui. Know this though, If you have never tried a snus with a 13 mg Nicotine content, be careful. The first couple of portions can make your head spin but, after the first 5 or 6, your body will adjust and you'll be fine. I say this because some Snustopians have not liked Claq Qui because of this. If you do experience this, use 1 portion a day until the spin stops. I really hope you'll try Claq Qui and, watch the video that the fine folks at Northerner. com put together. I'm sure that, once you try it, it'll become a favorite as it has for me!

(Here's some homework, post a reply after you watch the video and, let me know if you figured out what the color splashes are!)

Grovsnus Svart - The new Strong, Black portion in town!!

Welcome back Snustopians! I hope everyone had a great holiday! Today, we're going to review the newest edition to the Grovesnus line, Grovesnus Svart. Before we go on, I guess we should begin by explaining what "Svart" means. Some of you that are relatively new to Swedish snus, and Snustopia for that matter, may confuse the word "Svart" with "Sterk" or "Stark". "Svart" is Swedish for "Black" while "Sterk" and "Stark" means "Strong". It is confusing because Grovsnus Svart is both! Yes, Snustopians, this snus is a black portion and STRONG! Since this snus is really new, I wanted to finish the entire tin before doing the review. I normally don't do that because I have a few different flavors open at a time but, Grovsnus Svart, I had no problems doing that with! I actually grabbed it before any other and, went thru the tin in 2 days! Well, enough babbling! On to the review.

In the last review of General Onyx, I had told you that there are very few "Black" portion snus' out there on the market. Grovsnus Svart is another of them. The portion material is the same material used in Onyx which, only makes sense since, Swedish Match makes them both but, that's where the similarities end! One would think that since the portions are the same color and, manufactured by the same company, the taste would be pretty similar. Wrong! This is why I like Swedish Match products. They produce the majority of the major brands of Swedish Snus but, they all have their own flavors and personalities. Anyway, Grovsnus Svart is very unique in flavor and, Nicotine content.

Grovsnus Svart is the Fourth edition to the Grovsnus family This snus is classified as a White portion snus. I know, your saying "Snusguy! you just said it's a Black colored portion!" Remember back to the Onyx review. The color of the material isn't what classifies the snus. White portion means it's a dry portion. I tend to think this: If the portion material is "Black", it usually means it's strong. In my case, "White" portions tend to be a bit rough on the gums but, this snus has a good feel to it meaning, it didn't feel rough on the gums. Even after an hour, this snus felt comfortable. It's the same feeling I have with Onyx.

The portion material isn't the only thing special about this snus. Grovsnus Svart is a Strong snus as well. At 12 mg of Nicotine per portion, it's 1 mg higher than Onyx. Don't be alarmed though, It's not so high that it will send you into a head spin but, it's the perfect level to quell any cigarette craving you may have. But, the flavor is the real reason I went thru the first tin so fast!

In my opinion, some of the high Nicotine snus' have a bitter flavor after 20 to 30 minutes of being in so, with the first portion I tried of Svart, I prepared myself for it. It never came! Now, most of you already know that I tend to favor the lös varieties over the portion due to portion snus being more heavily flavored than lös. Not in a bad way, mind you, it's just that I like the subdued flavor that lös has. Even though Svart is a portion snus, the flavor is extremely mellow. Pure tobacco flavor with some flowery notes. The salt content is mild and, you'll get the burn but, in my opinion it's due to the higher Nicotine and not the salt. The burn is the same level you get with Onyx but, the salty flavor is less noticeable. Grovsnus Svart is the perfect snus, for me, to wake up with and, to relax with simply because of the flavor.

Grovsnus Svart is another great snus for those of you looking to stop smoking. The high Nicotine content makes Svart a perfect replacement for a cigarette. As you all know, I don't drink but, a few other Snustopians have told me that they have used Svart when at the local bar and, didn't get the smoking cravings they would get with other snus. I personally like Svart with my morning coffee. The flowery notes give the coffee another flavor dimension and, really gives me a jump start. What I wouldn't recommend is, using Svart near bedtime. I already made the sacrifice for Snustopia and, can tell you first hand that, unless you like crazy, vivid dreams and, waking up in the middle of the night, I'd switch to a lower Nicotine content portion about 4 hours prior to bed.

Overall, I can honestly say that Grovsnus Svart has made it into my regular use rotation. (That's something since I have only 2 other portion snus there so far) At about $3.40 USD a tin, it's less expensive that it's High Nicotine cousins and just as tasty, if not more! I highly recommend you give it a try!

Christmas comes early to Snustopia!!!

Yes my fellow Snustopians you heard right! Christmas has indeed come early to Snustopia direct from the great folks at Swedish Match! Today, we will be doing a special review on General Onyx portion snus. Why is it special, you ask? Well, let's do the review on the snus first then, we'll go onto why this review is special!

General Onyx is a strong, large, white portion snus. The nicotine in this snus is 11 mg per portion which makes it stronger than the standard white portion but, the Nicotine content in this snus is not the only thing that makes Onyx unique! Take a look at the image to the right. This is a can of Onyx. As you can see, the can is unique to Onyx in the fact that the label is entirely matte black with gloss black embellishments. The other unique piece of the can is the lid of the used portion compartment. It looks like it's Aluminium but, it's actually a plastic lid with an embossed foil label. The body of the can is plastic as well. General Onyx is one of my absolute favorites and, the can is one of the reasons why. When I'm out and about, I always get to talk about snus when I take the can out for a portion and, after talking to them, thier first order will almost always include Onyx, simply for the can! I know your saying "Who cares about the can! I want to know what the snus tastes like SnusGuy!" Well, without further delay and, less cantor (I know.....cheesy), on to the portion review!

If you thought the can was cool and unique, the portion will blow your mind! Upon opening the can, you'll find the portions are Black. Take it easy, they haven't gone bad, it's just the color of the portion material. General wanted to keep the Onyx theme going by putting the tobacco in an "Onyx" colored pouch. The other thing you'll notice is, the portions are arranged in a circular pattern. Swedish Match calls this a "Star" pattern and, this also makes Onyx special. Swedish Match is the only snus manufacturer that uses this arrangement and, they only use it for "special" snus. There are a few other brands that Swedish Match has that use the Star pattern and, as we do more reviews, you'll see them.

The flavor is the real reason why I like Onyx. Onyx was included in my first snus order and, has been in every order since. Onyx flavor is basically, full flavored tobacco with citrus, salt and peppery notes. The tobacco flavor is the predominant player here with the citrus a close second. The salt along with the peppery note give this snus the flavor of a roasted lemon with salt and pepper lightly sprinkled on it. Trust me, the color of the portion has no effect on the flavor and, is not a coloring that will turn your teeth black. I say this because, when I first used it, I thought the same things!

General Onyx is a snus you could use at anytime of the day. The higher Nicotine in it, makes it a great snus for first thing in the morning with either a cup of Earl Gray or, coffee. I have had it with both and, I prefer the tea (hot or cold). It really brings out the lemony flavor and enhances the tobacco flavor as well. Ironically, I also have it with a Diet Coke and, volia, Diet Coke with Lemon! I highly recommend this snus for the new snusser who is trying to quit smoking as well.

"SnusGuy.....are you going to forget the reason for the "Special Review?" Not at all. While I am still unclear as to why Swedish Match decided to do this, I'm glad they did. About a week ago, Swedish Match announced they were releasing a Limited Edition of General Onyx, which they were limiting to a run of 1000 cans worldwide. The thing that was special about this edition was the can. The can is made entirely out of Carbon Fiber! The can was designed by Swedish Match and produced by the same supplier that develops carbon fiber parts for Porsche and Koeningsegg! What's really special is that Swedish Match has chosen to give can #889 to Snustopia! The picture on the right is the carbon fiber can with it's presentation pouch. Snustopia, and it's founder, is extremely honored by being picked to receive such a glorius gift!

Gifts aside, I encourage you to give General Onyx a try. I'm positive you'll enjoy it as much as I do and, will become another favorite in your rotation!

God jul från V2!!(Merry Christmas from V2!!) Nordströmmen Julesnus!

Well fellow Snustopians, it's that time of year again! The time of year that most people love and, my favorite time of the year! Here in America, we know it as Christmas time, Chanukah or Kwanzaa. In Norway and Sweden it's known as Advent. No matter how or where you celebrate it, it's meant to be a celebration, to spend with family and friends, good food and drink and to celebrate life. To the kiddies, they mainly remember the gifts and waiting the entire year for that special gift they asked for! Not a bad thing but, we adults like gifts too! I know I do and, V2's Nordströmmen Julesnus is the one I've been waiting for since I heard about Julesnus in June. There are two companies that make Julesnus, Gotlandssnus and V2. Today, we'll be reviewing V2's!

As I said in the last review, V2 is a relatively new player in snus and, Nordströmmen Julesnus is thier version of a snus created for the Advent season. This is the first year that they have made a Julesnus and, I was impressed with their efforts.

V2 offers both a portion version and a lös version of Julesnus and, they both have their own unique taste and character. As you all know by now, I prefer lössnus over portion so, we'll review the lös first but, before we go to that, let's go over the base flavors.

Julesnus is designed, and advertised, to taste like Christmas. V2's rendition's do taste like Christmas but, not what most Americans would envision Christmas to taste like. This snus has all the tastes of a Scandinavian one! Glögg, Cloves, spiced fruit and Gingerbread are the predominant flavors in this snus. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of tasting Glögg, think Mulled Wine or, Red wine with Clove, cinnamon and Ginger. Although there is a major taste difference between the portion and lös versions (same base flavors just, a difference on which is more predominant) all the flavors are in both to varying degrees of intensity.

The lös version is, in my opinion, is the best out of the two. The cut of the tobacco is a coarser cut which means that it works perfectly for hand baking. An Icetool or Prismaster can be used but with caution. Since it's a coarser cut, it is generally drier than most lös flavors we are used to from V2. If the pris is over compressed, it will leave you with a hard feeling pris in the lip. I just pack the Icetool as usual and, put a small amount of pressure on the plunger against the lid to get the loose bits together. You could add a couple of drops of your favorite beverage in the tin as well to give it more moisture if needed. The initial flavor, in my opinion, is Gingerbread and Clove. Salt and tobacco are in the background but, like most of V2's flavored lös, just barely. The finishing flavor is Glögg. Again, it's not strong just, like a hint. I'm half Norwegian and, when I was young, we celebrated Advent. The flavors in V2's Julesnus lös take me back to when I was a kid, in the kitchen with my Oma helping her make Julekake and Krumkake cones listening to her say "holde seg borte fra Krumkake jern, det er varmt!" (stay away from the Krumkake iron, it's hot!) Overall, V2 really hit a home run with their version of Julesnus!

Julesnus portions, on the other hand, are completely different from the lös! Where we initially got the sweet flavors of spice and fruitiness in the lös, Glögg takes center stage with the portions. Surprisingly, there isn't a salty flavor with this portion. It's there but, this snus is so densely flavored that, only the flavors of Glögg, fruits and subtile spices come thru in a good way. When I initially opened the tin of portions, Glögg was the only thing I could smell. As the tin sat for a bit, the Glögg smell became less overpowering allowing the other flavors to make themselves known. The actual portions are a "white" type and a bit dry. Again, adding a bit of your favorite beverage would help but, to stay in the holiday spirit, I'd add a few drops of Glög or a spicy red wine like a Cabernet or Zinfandel. If you're a non-drinker, like yours truely, or, don't like wine, H2O will do just fine.

In my honest opinion, I prefer the lös version of this snus solely due to the predominant wine flavor in the portion version. This withstanding, I do believe that V2 has done a great job with both versions. I have asked other Snustopians for their opinions and, some love the portions, some love the lös, some love both and, a few didn't care for either but, as I've said in prior reviews, we all have different tastes and, will taste different things. At under $3 USD a tin, you can try both and, if your one of the few that dislike both, it didn't cost much to find out. If your looking for a snus that really offers you the chance to experience the tastes of a Scandinavian Christmas, V2's Nordströmmen Julesnus will give you that chance! I highly recommend you give both a try!

V2's Offroad Cranberry Lös, Don't let the price fool you!!

Welcome Back!! Sorry we haven't met in 2 weeks but, my internet connection has been acting weird and, I had to replace the modem so, you will now be seeing more reviews and random talks about snus and snuff more often!! Praise the I.T. gods. ;>)

Before we get into reviewing Offroad Cranberry Lös, I need to tell you a bit about this company. V2 is a relatively new snus company located in Silkeborg, Denmark and owned by Marc and Patrick Vogel. They currently produce mainly the Offroad and Phantom brands (as well as others), in portion and lös versions. They began production in 2006 and have been producing high quality snus at a remarkable price ever since! All of V2's snus is priced below $3 USD a can but, as the title says, don't let the price fool you into thinking their product is sub-par. Other snus manufacturers could take a page from the Vogel's book when it comes to making an outstanding product and, not charging an arm and a leg for it.

The current thought process has been that "Low price means low quality" and "you get what you pay for". This is simply not true with V2's snus. I, for one, was a card carrying member of this thought process until a fellow SnusOn member convinced me to try it. Well, I'm hooked! Not just because of the price but, the flavor and, quality of the ingredients would make you think it costs just as much as the more expensive brands. We will be doing reviews on ALL of V2's snus but, today, let's get into Offroad Cranberry Lös!!

Hopefully, many of you by now have tried some form of snus and have formed some opinions. Some of you probably like the pure tobacco flavored snus and some, like the different flavored snus. This snus is unique in the fact that most Swedish snus has the salt and tobacco flavors first and foremost. Offroad Cranberry, on the other hand, has the Cranberry flavor in the spotlight! As with all of V2 snus, in my opinion, whatever the flavor on the can says it is, that's what you taste. There is no mistaking what flavor it is and, the flavor is not subtle, like other flavored snus is. If you like Cranberries, this snus is for you!

The snus itself is a medium grind tobacco. Great for using a tool to form the pris or, the "hand baking" method. It is also seems to have a higher moisture content which also makes it ideal for hand baking. Nicotine content seems to be on the medium side. I can't find a definite nicotine number but, if I had to venture a guess I'd say it has about 8 mg. Pris feel in the lip is pretty comfortable, being a coarser cut than Skruf lös you would think it would be rougher on the lip and gums but, it's not actually. Over time, the pris is pretty durable no matter how you form it. I have had a pris in for about 2 hours with very little slide.

Flavor, obiviously, is Cranberry with a subtile hint of tobacco and very little salt. There are also hints of pepper but, no citrus which, is a staple in most Swedish snus. All of the acidity seems to come from the Cranberry. Again, the pris lasts about 2 hours and, the flavor could go on forever, if you let it! Offroad Cranberry is also unique from other snus in the fact that it's a sweet snus. As we've discovered in previous reviews, Swedish snus tends to be salty in flavor but, Marc and Patrick, in true V2 fashion, have taken their snus one step further by adding a sweet note.

In my opinion, this snus is one of the best! Although snus purists will say that it's too sweet or "Candy Like" we here in Snustopia think it's a great change from the traditional flavored snus. I rate Offroad Cranberry Lös as one of the best. It has made it's way into my regular rotation and, I'm sure it will become a favorite of yours! Marc and Patrick, keep up the great work and, we're looking forward to the new flavors for 2009!

GetSnus.com!! First online shop based in the US!

Greetings fellow Snustopians! As you know, I created Snustopia to share Swedish Snus with the entire world. "Well," I thought "I've gone thru the why's, the what's and the how's but, I never went thru the where's very well". Today, we will discuss just that! You definitely can't try something without knowing where to get it and, get it rather quickly. GetSnus.com will take care of these issues!

If you remember from the first post, I said back then that the best places you could buy snus online were headquartered in Sweden like BuySnus.com and Northerner.com. That was then. Now, a new player in the online snus shops has emerged in the US.

GetSnus.com is a company headquartered in Pennsylvania. Although they are affiliated with the Swedish Match company (the same Swedish Match that has the General brands of snus), they carry other snus brands as well. GetSnus is a relatively new company, opened this year, and began with a limited vareity of snus. The brands they started with were General portions and General lös, Ettan and Catch Dry labels. As of the writing of this review, they now carry these brands along with the V2 brands Phantom (lös and portion) and Offroad (Lös and portions), Röda Lacket (Lös and Portion), Göteborgs Rapé White Portion, Nick & Johnny East, West and Orginal portion and Grovsnus (lös and portion). According to their reps, they will keep expanding their selection as they grow but, keep in mind that it was only a month ago that they only carried the General brands, Ettan and Catch! If they continue this rate of growth, they will become the Number One shop here in Snustopia!

One reason they are the favorite here, is the fact that their shipping is the best of all the shops I've tried. Overseas shops give you the option to ship thru other carriers but regular post is the least expensive. GetSnus ships UPS and will ship for free with orders over $50.00 USD! I placed orders with the two shops I mentioned above and with GetSnus to get a speed comparison. Obviously, GetSnus won with a time of 3 business days from PA to IL. Northerner and BuySnus were tied with 7 business days from Sweden to IL. Even though we here in Snustopia still use Northerner and BuySnus for brands not carried by GetSnus, GetSnus gets our business for the staple snus.

Customer service is top notch and, the quality of the product is great! This is great and all but, what are their prices like? Are they comparable to the other 2? Here's the funny part! In select states, you can go to your local Tobacco shop (Tobacco shop, not the local cheap smokes shop) and buy General Brand snus. In that shop, you may pay up to $5.00 USD a can for General Portion snus. Northerner charges $3.60 USD and BuySnus.com charges $3.80 USD. GetSnus charges $3.50 USD!!! This will be the same snus you buy in the Tobacconist shop here in the US for $1.50 more!!!! I know your saying "Shipping costs Snus Guy, shipping costs!" Here's an example of shipping costs, I ordered 15 cans of snus from GetSnus and paid $4.95 USD shipping by UPS! That's half the amount of the Swedish Post and, 4 days quicker!

Don't believe me? Try it yourself! This company is so confident you'll like snus and their company that, they will send you your choice of one from 5 different snus' for the cost of shipping!!! That's $1.00 to you and me! (new customers only please). You don't have to order anything else! This is your opportunity to not only try Swedish Snus, if you already haven't but, to give GetSnus a try as well. Here's some homework due the next time we get together, spend a dollar, order the free can of snus from GetSnus.com (their link is on the top right of this page) and post your experience with snus and GetSnus!

Skruf Stark Lös! Loved by ALL Snustopians!!

Yes, I love Skruf Stark Lös! In my opinion, this is the best Strong lös snus out there. Before we go on to the review, we have a new word to learn about. "Stark". Stark basically means "Strong" and, Stark isn't the only word used for strong snus. Sterk is also used by some manufacturers as well. "But Snus Guy, when you say "Strong", do you mean in flavor or nicotine content"? Sterk and Stark are used to describe the nicotine content. Now that you know the meaning of Stark, let's go on to the review!

Skruf Stark Lös is a loose weight snus like the Göteborgs Rapé we reviewed. You will need to either Hand Bake a pris or use a tool to form the pris. In texture, Skruf Stark is a coarse, wet snus that has a wonderful flavor and a good amount of Nicotine. By "Wet" I mean it has a bit more moisture than the Göteborg's but not much. The nicotine content is 12 mg/g which makes it much stronger than most. In my opinion, you'll begin to feel the nicotine after about 5 to 10 minutes after putting in the pris and, it lasts for about 45 minutes. The flavor, on the other hand is a different story!

Although most of the online shops describe this snus having a strong tobacco flavor, I feel it isn't as overpowering as it's been described by them. Yes, you can tell it's tobacco and, the flavor's definately there but, what I have noticed with Skruf Stark, the other flavors are detectable as well. So, what are the other flavors, you ask? Well, Bergamot and Rose Oil that's what! I know that when I first started snussing, I had no idea what Bergamot was so, I obiviously didn't taste it!. I will save you the trouble of looking it up and tell you that Bergamont is a fruit.

Bergamot is a citrus fruit that looks like a cross between an Orange and a Grapefruit. Bergamot tastes fruity, sweet and spicy with a Basalmic undertone. Bergamot Oil is not only used in this snus but in all other kinds of products from foods to perfumes To the left, is a picture of a Bergamot Fruit. Kinda looks like a Pear shaped Orange outside and, a grapefruit on the inside. It basically grows in Italy. Skruf Stark has a hint of this and, I think only comes out after about 30 minutes but again, as a background flavor. The other flavoring in this snus is Rose Oil.



Rose Oil is basically what the name implies, oil made from Roses. If you really concentrate on the flavors in Stark, you'll get the hint of Roses from the snus but, if your just keeping the pris in for 20 to 30 minutes (bad form here in Snustopia since the flavors just begin to come out after 40 minutes) you'll miss it. Since the predominant flavor in this snus is the Tobacco, it will take a little time to get the other flavors.

My recommendation for pris making is, definately a medium loose to medium pack if hand baking or, slight to medium compression when loading a Prismaster or Icetool. If you make the pris too tight, it will take forever for the flavor to come thru and, if made too loose, guaranteed mudslide in 30 minutes. My preference is a medium compression in the tool. What's medium compression? Push the plunger against the lid just until you see juice begin to come out between the lid and the bottom of the tool.

Pris flavor/longevity, I have had a pris in for almost 1½ hours then the flavor kind of goes flat. Again, your pris longevity may vary depending on compression/baking and the freshness of the snus. Speaking of freshness, let's discuss storage!

Skruf Stark Lös likes cold in my opinion. I keep the open cans in the fridge at all times but, if you're taking it with you, just keep it as cool as you can. I feel when the snus gets warm or room temp, it loses some of the background flavor and gets harder to work with. any unopened cans I keep in the freezer. A fellow snuffer on SnusOn.com has come up with a trick if you like cold lös and don't use a can up in a few days. Just take the can out of the freezer, open and tap out the frozen snus puck on the lid. Break off pieces or, cut into quarters and place a quarter in an empty can. Great trick in my opinion! (Thanks Starcadia!!)

Well, I hope you will add this snus to your next order. I don't think you'll be dissapointed. As I always say, the review is my opinion on what I taste in the snus and, what I taste may not be what you taste. Also, feel free to add your review to the replies and, I'll add it to the post. Happy Snussing!!!!

Lost in Snuffland!!

Well, I've got a confession to make. We will be reviewing Skruf Stark Lös today but, I've been across the proverbial pond, in Snuffland, for the last week sampling a relatively forgotten form of smokeless tobacco, Nasal Snuff.

As you all may have guessed from reading previous posts and reviews, I tend to throw myself head first and 100% into things I want to try. With nasal snuff, I did just that! For those of you who have not heard of nasal snuff, let me give you the Cliff's notes version of what it is. Nasal Snuff is a powdered form of tobacco that is sniffed, or snuffed, thru the nose where the nicotine is absorbed by the mucous membranes. Snuffs are sometimes flavored with aromas ranging from Vanilla to Chocolate (yes Chocolate which, in my opinion, is awesome!) and and almost every flavor imaginable. Some have a mentholated component added which, if you have Sinusitis as I do, can be soothing and opens the sinuses quite well!

Nasal Snuff is as old as the hills and may just be the oldest form of tobacco use as well! Theories have its use beginning 2000 B.C.E. but, it can positively be established that snuff was gaining in popularity nearer to the 15th century, in Europe. Speaking of Europe, there are many different grinds and moisture variations as well, most of which, were developed in Europe. America also produces a few different types as well but, the grinds and moisture levels tend to be the same. We will take the field trip to Snuffland soon where I'll go in depth about Nasal Snuff and review some of the flavors but, right now, there is an up and coming snuff manufacturer in England right now that is taking the Snuff world by storm. That company is Toque Snuff.

Toque is, in my honest opinion, the most innovative snuff manufacturer operating today! The link to the right will take you to their online store where you can see the different flavors they are producing. The other thing that is appealing about using snuff is it's price. Relatively inexpensive, at an average of around $2.50 USD for a 10g can. Depending on how much you use, a can could last quite a while. I know you're sitting there saying "Snus Guy, sounds like you may be wanting to move to Snuffland! Could it be you have changed your opinion about Snus and Snustopia?". Here's where the confession comes in to play.

While I was doing my research, I had so fully engrossed myself in using nasal snuff that I had all but forgot about my first love. I literally snuffed morning, noon and night and only used about 3 pris' of snus all week. I was convinced that I was going to go with snuff as my mainstay and snus would take a backseat to the Snuff world. Then I remembered something. Skruf Stark Lös.

I remembered that Skruf Stark was what sealed the deal with my love for snus and, I had not had a pris of it for a solid week. I said to myself "I'll have one last pris of my old friend and, off she'll go to the abyss of the freezer". Boy was I wrong!!! That pris brought back all the reasons why I love snus. The feel in my lip when I come home from a hard days work (hard day is dependent on who you talk to), how I loved the taste with my favorite beverages, the slow and lasting release of nicotine that calms me, all the feelings came back. It was then that I decided that there will be no replacement for my beloved snus, only an accompaniment! I will always love snuff but, my love for snus will never be replaced! This is the reason there has not been a post in sometime and, I promise, there will be more snus reviews but, we may throw a snuff review in from time to time. That's my story and, I'm sure your done listening about my snuff adventure. If your interested in trying nasal snuff, do visit Toque Snuff first. They are a great company, dedicated to making the snuff experience more enjoyable from ordering to consuming.

So now, if your ready, we'll start a new post and, it will be on the review of Skruf Stark Lös!!!

Göteborg's Rapé No. 2, Our first portion review!

Welcome back everyone!! Sorry for the length of time since our last tour. I have been outside of Snustopia scouting a field trip location. I think I found one! It's Snuffland but, I'll speak more to this land in a later tour.

Today, we will be reviewing a portion snus called Göteborg's Rapé No. 2. This snus is a large, white portion snus. If you remember back to the lesson on the differences of Portion snus, this is also a dry portion snus. Göteborg's Rapé No. 2 is one of my personal favorite portion snus for many reasons but, the number one reason is that it is Lingonberry flavored.

You maybe asking "what is Lingonberry? I've never heard of that flavor"! Well, unless you live in Norway or Sweden or, have been there, most of us have never seen a true Scandinavian Lingonberry. Lingonberries or "Cowberries", as they are sometimes called, are a berry that grows on a bush, close to the ground in cool, wet climates. The picture to the left is of Lingonberries on the bush. To me, Lingonberries have a very unique taste and, are pretty hard to describe but, they taste like a cross between a Cranberry and a Strawberry with a little citrus thrown in. This snus does have real Lingonberry flavor and, for those adventurous enough to try an exotic flavor, give this snus a shot! Well, that's enough of the Horticulture/Culinary lesson, let's get into the actual review of the snus!

Since this is our first portion snus review, we are going to first start with the can. Why the can first, you ask? because there is a unique part of the lid I need to tell you about! As in Sweden, we here in Snustopia like to keep our cities clean! Since portion snus comes in a tea bag like pouch, you obviously can't eat the portion or, just spit out the snus and expect it to return to the land where it began like lössnus can! (Lössnus pris' will biodegrade faster since it has no pouch to contain it.) Major cities in Sweden began having this problem when the "Smoking Ban" was in place and, snus became more popular. In response to snus portions being expelled in the streets, Snus manufacturers began incorporating a space in the lid of most portion can lids to put used portions in until a suitable place to throw them away could be found. The picture to the right shows a can of snus with a used portion compartment. Some have a hinged top, some just pop on and off. Either way, this is a very ingenious invention and, all Snustopians are encouraged to use it.

Most portion cans are made of either plastic or metal. The plastic ones are the ones that have the special compartment. (I haven't seen a metal one with the compartment yet). The Göteborg's Rapé No. 2 can is plastic. This is to keep excess moisture out and, plastic or metal, keeps the snus fresher longer than the conventional paper cans.

"So, how's the snus taste Proffessor"? Sorry, I can get a bit off topic when trying to explain something! As I said before, this is one of my favorite portion snus because of the Lingonberry flavor. This snus does have a subtle salt taste, like all portion snus does but, the flavor of the berries and tobacco are center stage here. There are about 24 portions in the can and, each portion has 8 mg of Nicotine. While Lingonberry is the predominate flavor, you will notice flavors like Pine, Juniper and citrus in this snus. Kind of like standing in the middle of a Swedish forest in the spring. Again, this is what I taste in this snus.

The flavor with GR #2 seems to last about 1½ hours but remember, you'll probably get all the nicotine out of it after 45 minutes. In my opinion, leaving this snus in more than 1½ hours, the snus tends to get bitter. My recommendation is to take it out after an hour or so.

I highly recommend trying Göteborg's Rapé No. 2. It's a Swedish Match product and, it has the Gothiatek seal of approval so, you know it has been produced to the highest quality standards Sweden and SM have to offer. Göteborg's Rapé No. 2 can only be purchased in the US from Swedish online shops like BuySnus.com (Link is on the top, left side of this blog) or Northerner.com. Average price for a can is around $3.75 USD. (Depending on the shop.

Once you have tried this snus, please feel free to post comments on what your experience is and, we'll get them posted! On the next tour, we'll be reviewing some of the snus shops available online including a new shop based in the US called GetSnus.com.

Portion Snus. The big and small of it!

Welcome back!!! I hope you all had a great day off! Today, we will be discussing the different types of Portion snus. My goal for this post is, by the end of it, you will know a bit about the world of portions, the differences between them and lössnus and have enough information to make an informed purchase. This may be my longest post yet due to there being many different types of portions so, please be patient and read the entire post. I just do not want you to make the same mistake I did in the beginning. So, if your ready, pop in a pris of lös, grab you favorite beverage (yes, you can drink and read here in Snustopia!) and get ready to enter the land of portion snus!

You're probably sitting there right now thinking, "well, his post on lössnus wasn't that long so, what could be so different about portions?" Plenty! Not only is it a relatively new way to enjoy snus (the first portion snus was introduced in 1973) but, it is also a more convenient and discreet way to enjoy it as well. Did you know that out of the near one million snus users in Sweden, women make up almost 10% of them? Some people attribute that to the creation of Portion snus! In my opinion, this is why this post will take some time and is extremely important here in Snustopia.

Ok, before we go into the different kinds of portions, let's go over what a portion is! A portion is exactly what the word implies, a portion of snus. It's the way the portion is presented that makes the difference or, changes the word into a term. Portion snus is a portion, in grams, of lössnus placed in a pouch made of a tea bag type material. The amount of snus in the pouch varies on the size of the portion (from 0.5g for mini portions, 1.0g for regular portion and 1.7g for maxi portions), the amount of portions in a can depends on the manufacturer. In my experience, most Large portion cans have 24 portions, Maxi portions are delegated by the weight of the snus (typically 24g) and mini portion cans have 24 portions. So, there you are, we have already discovered the 3 basic types of portions. Mini, Large and Maxi. Don't be fooled by thinking that the size of the portion dictates the amount of nicotine in it. You would be making the Number 1 newbie mistake here in Snustopia. As we will discover thru tasting the different portions, good things don't always come in Maxi packages!

The picture to the right shows two things. One, a portion of snus in it's tea bag type pouch and two, the typical size of a Mini portion. Mini portions generally hold the smallest amount of snus but not necessarily the smallest amount of nicotine. So, since we are looking at a Mini portion, let's explore a bit. While the typical Mini does have the smallest amount of nicotine (4 to 6 mg per portion) and tobacco (0.5g per portion) there are some Minis that have just as much nicotine as a large. We'll get into the specific brands later in the tour but, just be aware. Since the portion is small, this portion is generally used by women and, have flavors created just for women. (I personally think highly of some of them and I'm a man. It's just marketing and marketing is the same no matter where you go in my opinion.) Don't let the stigma get to you. As I said in the first posts, try them ALL. no matter who they are geared to. There are male Snustopians that like minis and female Snustopians that like Maxi's. I personally use minis when I'm at work because they are more discreet. Anyway, if you want to see the actual size of a mini and, are not ready to order from BuySnus.com and, live in the US, you can get a can of Camel SNUS or Marlboro snus. They are basically mini portions and will give you the feel of a mini and an idea of size. One other thing about Minis, they are generally "White" or dry portions. We'll get more into the difference later.

Large portions are pretty much the norm for snus. Most manufacturers make their portion snus in large portions. Why, I don't know but, in my research, this seems to be the practice. They are generally twice the size of a mini and use the same material for the pouch. They also come in either White portions or Original portions. "White" portions are dry meaning, the manufacturing process does not add anymore moisture to the product. "Original" portions have added moisture or "snus juice" sprayed on them in the final stage to enhance flavor. The main difference is, White portions have less tendency to "Run" than Original. I personally like the juice so, I prefer Original portions. Most American snus is White. This is one of the reasons why they do not need to be stored cold after opening. Large portions also have 1.0g of snus inside and, this is where it gets interesting, anywhere between 6mg and 12mg of nicotine per portion. The amount of nicotine is not dictated by the amount of snus. The amount of snus stays the same. It's the type of tobacco and, the part of the plant that does that! There are portion snus out there that have more nicotine than a Maxi portion. There are a few large portion snus out there that are black. Not to worry, this is a part of the marketing and do not effect the taste, in my opinion. One of them is General Onyx and, I think LD still uses them in one of thier snusses as well. The picture to the right shows a "White" portion snus and to the left, General Onyx and it's "Black" portion.

The last type and, the largest of the portions, is the Maxi portion. Maxi portions have the most tobacco in them and, generally the highest nicotine levels. Maxi portions generally have about 1.7g of snus and their range is above 11mg of nicotine. I haven't seen a white maxi so, in my opinion, they are all Original. (If anyone here has seen a white Maxi, please post a reply and we will edit this statement.) These are the only differences in regards to Maxi. They use the same tea bag material and overall, they are a larger portion. About 50% larger than a Large portion.

There are many sub-categories for these sizes and, we will explain them as we run into them because if we went ahead and explained them now, the post would be a mile long, we'd never get to any reviews and, I'd have to blow a horn every 30 minutes to wake you up!!! As long as you remember that there are three main classes of Portion snus (Mini, Large and Maxi), there are two main types (White and Original) and, nicotine levels are dictated by the type of tobacco not, the size of the portion, you'll be OK. Just remember, don't be intimidated by the marketing of a snus. Just because it says it's designed for women doesn't mean only women can use it or, just because it doesn't say it's for women ,women shouldn't use it. Try them all and make the decision yourself.

I know today was a short lesson but, the next lesson will be exciting because we will begin to review the actual snus. I felt that without a little knowledge about the differences between Lössnus and Portionsnus and, the differences between all portion snus, you wouldn't have the tools you need to either grasp the reviews or, if you will be tasting along with us, what you were purchasing. I promise, from here on out, the posts will become more exciting and, we may travel outside of Snustopia on field trips to other lands with other smokeless products! Class dismissed for today!!!

Different types of Snus and Göteborg's Rapé Lös

Today, we will not be visited by any part of Snustopia's ministries! Hurrah!! Instead, we are going to go forward with the difference between Lös snus and Portion snus. We will also review one of the staple snus here in Snustopia, Göteborgs Rapé Lössnus.

You may be asking yourself by now "It seems like we took the long way around the lake instead of taking the bridge!". In fact, we did. I took you this way because there may be some in the group that don't know the basics of snus and, it's important to know the basics in order to to enjoy your time here! Without knowing where snus comes from, you wouldn't know that it takes up to 7 days to get it. If you didn't know that snus can last up to a year in the freezer, you wouldn't know that you can save money by buying in bulk and, If we didn't explain how to read the Best Before date on the can, you would be throwing away good snus (which is frowned upon here in Snustopia!). Now that you know the reason for going the long way, let's move on to the 2 different types of snus.

Lössnus or, Loose snus in english, is the original snus that dates back over 200 years. it is basically the way it sounds, loose tobacco. Depending on the cut or grind, (Fine, Medium Fine, Coarse and Long) the appearance can range from wet mud to "American Dip". The picture to the right shows an open can or lös snus. In a way, the snus resembles the American snuff "Copenhagen". It should! Copenhagen's origins are in Sweden (meaning that Swedes that immigrated to the US in the 1800's brought the idea with them NOT that Cope is made in Sweden) so, the two are relatives if you will. The noticeable difference is, the Swedish Lössnus has more moisture than Copenhagen and is a bit finer of a grind. There are some snus brands that look identical to Copenhagen (Offroad Long cut) but that's where the similarities end. Since Swedish lössnus has more moisture, it will hold a shape better which means it's cleaner in the mouth amd, in my opinion, easier on the gums. The grind has a lot to do with mouth feel but, moisture is just as important. I mention moisture alot with lössnus simply because it plays a very large role in the overall enjoyment of the snus and, as a way to tell your snus is aging. As lössnus sits out, it will tend to dry out. As I mentioned in one of the previous chapters, you can rescue it with a couple of drops of the liquid of your choice to bring it back. Most residents of Snustopia will add a bit of liquor while others will use water. use whatever you prefer.

So, how do I use lössnus? Easy!!! There are 3 basic ways to use lös. Bonde or "Hillbilly" method, Hand Baking and using a portion tool (which is what I do). The Bonde method (which translates loosly to Farmer from Swedish but, I don't suggest using this word around Swedes since it is a deragetory word and will offend our friends to the North East) is basically the preferred method of "Dipping" only placing the portion in the upper lip instead of the lower lip. It is here where we need to intorduce a new word into your vocabulary, "Prilla" or "Pris". Pris (pronounced "Price") is the old world translation of "Portion". It is not used too often anymore. It has been replaced by "Prilla" which has the same meaning. In Snustopia we believe in tradition so, we will refer to a portion of lössnus as a "Pris". Outside the country, feel free to use either. :>).

The "Hand Baking" or "Hand Rolling" method is an art of taking a portion of snus and forming it into a cylinder shape by manipulating it with the fingers and the palm of your hand. When I began using Lös, I had a hard time getting it right. Even with the help of a video, I could not get the technique down just right. There is a video available at a very informative forum called SnusOn.com by a member named Zobeloot that shows the Hand Baking method. I am a member there and learned much of what I know about snus there. Please visit sometime and view the video.

The last method and, in my opinion the easiest is, Using a tool!! To the right, is a picture of an Icetool. This is the best tool to form the pris and, the official portion tool of Snustopia! There are cheaper tools out there but, in my opinion, the portions they make are not the correct shape and become flimsy over time. At about $2.00 USD, Prismaster is available at most online snus shops. For the beginner, they are a great training tool to see if you like lössnus. When you do make the decision and it's to use lös, I'd highly recommend purchasing an Icetool. Starting at around $40.00 USD they come in either Stainless Steel (The picture is of this model) or High grade Aluminum and assorted colors. They also come in two diameters. 3 ml and 5 ml. (3 ml is pictured) The way to deceide on the size of an Icetool is, Hand Bake first, decied on wheather a thick cylinder is more comfortable or a thin cylinder. Then purchase the size. If your like me, you purchase both. Sometimes I like a fatter cylinder over the thin one. I know your saying "Let me just go pick $90 off the money tree out back and be like you!! NOT!!". Let me just say, I didn't buy them at the same time. I bought the 3 ml first then, the 5 ml about a month later. Just remember, It's not necessary to buy an Icetool to use lös. The cheap Portionmaster will work until you make the decision. The Icetool will last long enough to pass down to your grandkids so, it's up to you but, all reviews on lössnus will use the 3 mi Icetool.

The method for the Icetool and the Portionmaster are the same. You just set the plunger to the desired length of the pris, push the tool down repeatedly to fill it, press the bottom of the tool against the can top to pack the

pris to the tightness desired, place the tool in your upper lip, just to the left or right of the piece of skin in the middle of your upper lip and press the plunger while moving the tool back and, enjoy the pris for as long as you desire! that's it! No messy hands like Hand Baking, and a neat pris in your lip with little or no mudslide. (as long as you leave it alone! the more you play with the pris with your tongue, the more you run the risk of a mudslide!) The picture to the left shows the tool and the finished pris using the 3ml tool. I promiss you, you will not be disapointed if you get an Icetool! So now, you've seen how we make a pris with lössnus and, what lössnus looks like. Let's go into our first taste review!

The first snus we will reviewing is Göteborgs Rapé Lös. Since we used this snus in the method piece above as an example, please refer to the pictures above for the look of the snus can and contents. This snus is made by Swedish Match and is one of the staple snus in it's line. The grind of this snus is Fine and the moisture level is perfect for either one of the 3 usage methods. Göteborg's Rapé has a medium nicotine level with a mild tobacco taste. Other tastes are of Juniper and herbs along with the ever present saltiness although not pronounced, just in the background. In my opinion, this can be used as an everyday snus and enjoyed with a variety of drinks. For those here in Snustopia that, like to kick back after a long day with a cup of coffee or Iced Tea, this is a great combination for relaxing. Since it has Juniper notes, Gin and Tonic made with either Bombay gin or Tangueray would be a great to enhance that flavor. For those of us that don't drink, Coffee and Tea will bring out the Tobacco and Herbal flavors quite well. I have this snus in my regular rotation and place it in my top 5 favorite snus. Depending on the method used to make the pris, the flavor lasts for up to 2 hours without going sour or bitter. I recommend keeping this snus in for around 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours although the nicotine will have gone out within 45 minutes. Since it's not an Extra FIne grind, mudslides are at a minimum when keeping it in under 1 hr. Snustopia rates this snus an overall 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the lowest.

See. As I promissed, we have just posted our first review of a great Lössnus. I encourage you to try this snus and reply with what your opinion is and, we'll add it to the knowledge base here in Snustopia. Please remember, the reviews given are MY opinion of what I taste. You may taste other flavors that some won't. That's the great thing about Snus and Snustopia. Everyone's tastes are different and we want to know what you taste! I know I didn't explain the Portion snus but, I figured it's easier to give you the differences using a Portion snus rather than a lös so, tomorrow, we will explain the portion side and review a portion snus.