01 Original & 02 Strong portion snus, reviewing the flavors of a new snus brand!

Welcome back Snustopians!

Like I promised in the pre-review of 0102 portion snus, I can now bring you a full taste review of this completely new brand to Swedish Match, 01 Original portion and 02 Strong portion snus. I know what you are all saying, “Snus Guy, how can you give us a taste review when the snus isn’t due to be released until October?” Well, remember how I first received the information on 01 and 02 portion snus? I was out taking another constitutional last week and was met by the same person, the one in the white lab coat and dark glasses, only instead of just dropping an envelope in my path, he actually handed me a small package and asked me to give my usual, unbiased opinion and to spread the word throughout all Snustopia! So, I rushed back to my office and immediately opened both cans and, well, let’s begin the review of 01 Original and 02 Strong portion snus and we’ll discover this new brand of snus from Swedish Match together!


Like we discussed in the pre-release review of 01 & 02, this snus brand is completely new to Swedish Match and was created with quite a lot of input from snus users. “Snus Guy, if Swedish Match wanted to make a new brand, why are the cans so plain looking?” Great question! The answer is pretty simple. This is what the snus using world wanted. The panelists basically told them that they were tired of seeing brand names on everything from snus cans to clothing and wanted a snus that was just, well, snus! No intricately designed logos or catchy names. They wanted simple in the snus and the name so, Swedish Match delivered with a gray plastic can that looks metallic, a clear plastic label with icons to explain what the snus is and gave each a simple, yet memorable, name, 01 & 02. The name came from the test cans which they marked simply, test 01 and test 02. But the cans and the labels aren’t the only thing that makes 01 & 02 unique to the snus world; the portion changes themselves are a first for Swedish match as well!

If you’ve read most of the reviews here in Snustopia, you’ll probably already know that there are basically 3 sizes of portions; Mini, regular and maxi and all three have been pretty much the same shape which is kind of a short rectangle. The feedback that Swedish Match was getting included the shape of the portions. Snus users said that the shape of the portions caused them to move around and become visible when you would smile. What Swedish Match did was to create a longer, thinner portion that would stay in place better and become virtually invisible when it was in the lip. As you can see in this picture, the 01 & 02 portion is a bit longer and thinner than the portion of General Ekstra Sterk. 01 & 02’s portion is of the original type which means that each one does go thru the final step in the manufacturing process that adds a bit more moisture to them. As you all know, this helps the flavors marry together better and release flavor faster when it’s in your lip. Each portion still contains 1 gram of snus and there are 24 portions in each can. The Nicotine content for 01 portion is 8 mg each and for 02 portion its 13 mg each. “That’s great and all Snus Guy but, how do they feel?” Let’s take a closer look at the portions and find out!

The material that 01 & 02 portions are made of the same soft material that Swedish Match uses in all their portion snus and, with the longer shape, is pretty comfortable in the lip. I’ve had a portion of each in for over 2 hours with no discomfort whatsoever. The new longer portion did stay put better and also was easier to keep up and added to the comfort in the lip. The other thing that helped with comfort was another innovation in 01 & 02 portion snus, the “No Drip” formula. “Hey Snus Guy, what does “No Drip” mean?” Well, we know it as how much a portion runs or the amount of juice it gives off. This was another thing that the panel of snus users was looking for, a portion that runs less. While I had each portion in, there was basically much less juice that came out of each one. Mind you, I keep a portion in for up to 2 ½ when I’m reviewing a snus but, remember; Swedish snus, as you may or may not know, is designed with Swedish snus users in mind. I bring this up because most Swedish snusers keep a portion in for between 15 and 45 minutes before discarding it. In my time reviewing 01 & 02, each portion remained drip free for about 1 ½ hours. After that time, they did begin to drip but, much less than any other portion I’ve reviewed. My recommendation for length of time is about 1 ½ hours max. While 01 & 02 portion snus is pretty much “No Drip”, this brings up an interesting question; what does 01 & 02 portion snus taste like?

One would think that a portion that doesn’t run or “drip” would be either dry or pretty tasteless. Well, we do know that the portions are not dry. In actuality, 01 & 02’s portions feel just as moist as most regular or original type portions that Swedish Match makes so, that just leaves the tasteless theory. “So Snus Guy, you’re saying they are tasteless?” Not at all. Like I said in the beginning, 01 & 02 are probably the most unique portion snus to date. Let me explain a bit; Both 01 & 02 have the same flavor first off. Swedish Match explains the flavor as having a “New fresh and natural tobacco taste” which is true but what does “Fresh and Natural” tobacco taste like? What I taste is the typical earthy, peaty flavor of the hand selected tobaccos from all over the world along with a touch of salt. What was missing was the citrus! Don’t get me wrong Snustopians, this is not a bad thing and also answers another request from the snus panel which was a snus that was just pure tobacco flavor with nothing else.

“But Snus Guy, there are snus brands out there that have only tobacco flavors. What makes 01 & 02 so special or different?” It’s in the intensity of the flavor that makes 01 & 02 different from the others. 01 & 02’s pure tobacco flavor is a fresh change to what was previously out there due to its tobacco flavor being pretty subtle. Brands like Ettan, for example, are pure tobacco flavor but it comes on strong due to the amount of juice that can come from it. 01 & 02’s tobacco flavor is pretty light but, it can be tasted after about 10 minutes in the lip but really doesn’t juice, unless you want it to. In order for me to really taste it, I had to make it run but, I think it’s due to me being used to running portions. There was only one difference between 01 & 02’s flavor and its 02 that has it. Due to 02’s higher Nicotine content, there is a slight burn in the lip and, if you want it to, in the back of the throat. There is a dark side to 01 & 02’s flavor though and this comes to play after the portion is in for longer than 1 ½ hours. The flavor tends to get a bit weird. What I got after about 1 ½ hours was an oatmeal type flavor. Not the Apple and Cinnamon type but the same taste as the brand that comes in the cardboard can with the picture of the old Quaker gentleman on the front but, again, 01 & 02 was designed to be used for a maximum use time of 45 minutes! I still recommend a maximum time of 1 ½ hours for complete enjoyment. So, what drinks go well with 01 & 02 portion snus? Let’s take a look!

As you all know, my staple drinks are Diet Coke and Monster Energy Drinks but, as one brave Snustopian kindly told me, sometimes drinking a Diet Coke with a snus can be a good way to ruin a good tasting snus so, I decided to forgo them both and tried a few other types of drinks. Unfortunately, I can’t drink alcoholic drinks anymore so, I’ll leave these pairings up to you but the first non alcoholic drink I tried was iced tea. I tried both sweetened and unsweetened and the unsweetened iced tea was a really good match. Since 01 & 02’s flavors are pretty light, the unsweetened iced tea helped to bring the tobacco flavor out while adding a bit more earthiness to the overall flavor. The sweetened tea seemed to add too much sweet to the mix and basically drowned out the tobacco taste all together. I tried iced coffee with 01 & 02 as well but the coffee proved to be too strong a flavor for the snus and completely overpowered it. But the drink that really went well with 01 & 02 was suggested to me by a fellow snusers friend of mine, Italian Soda!

Italian Soda, for those of you that have never tried it, is basically sparkling water with flavored syrup added. The lemon flavored soda was the best because it actually enhanced the snus’ flavor but didn’t completely overpower it. If you haven’t tried Italian Sodas before, you can usually find them in Espresso cafes or Gelato shops and I really recommend trying it with 01 & 02 portion snus.

My overall recommendations for 01 & 02 portion snus by Swedish Match, Snustopians, is this; Swedish Match set out to create a brand new snus brand that would be made with a tremendous amount of input from its customers. They pretty much asked the snus world what they didn’t care for and created a snus brand around removing them. New Snustopians will really like 01 & 02 simply due to its light taste and comfortable mouth feel. Seasoned Snustopians will find that the “No Drip” formula takes a bit of getting used to since we’re accustomed to an original type portion being runny but, after a few portions, will enjoy it’s light flavors but, I’ll leave the final decision up to you.

Swedish Match plans to release 01 & 02 portion snus in the beginning of October 2009 and what better place to get it than at Snustopia’s best place for Swedish snus, The Northerner. If this is your first time ordering with them, simply click on the banner to the left and get 10% off at checkout! Just tell em’ That Snus Guy sent you!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our trip thru 01 & 02 portion snus by Swedish Match and found it fun and informative. As always, I encourage you to leave any questions, comments or suggestions you may have below and I’ll answer them as soon as I can!

So, until our next review Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

0102 portion snus, a pre-review of a new snus family from Swedish Match!

Greetings fellow Snustopians!

It’s been a pretty exciting day here at the Ministry of Information and everyone here is filled with anticipation on the release of Swedish Match Lab’s newest brand creation, 0102 portion snus! Before I go on about this totally new brand of snus, actually, it’s a brand new way of looking at Swedish snus as a whole; let me tell you how I came to find out about it.

During my morning constitutional in the gardens at Skruf Square, I was approached by a man in a white lab coat and dark glasses. As he passed by me, he dropped a gray catalog envelope with the words “Top Secret, for your eyes only. 0102 Labs” and “2 TSG” typed above it. Well, “TSG” is my code name in Swedish snus circles so; I casually picked it up and raced back to my office to see what exactly it was. It was exactly what I hoped it was, pictures and a synopsis of a new family of portion snus by Swedish Match called 0102 with a note saying “Let everyone in Snustopia know about this innovative, new snus before its too late!” Since it didn’t have any samples of the snus its self, I felt it was imperative to at least let you Snustopians know what it is, when it will be available and, most importantly, why it came to be! So, without further delay, I give you a preview of 0102 Original and Strong portion snus!



Like I said, the mysterious Lab worker didn’t include any cans of 01 or 02 so, the taste review will come in due time but, he did include a bunch of pictures which, I have posted in the picture review in the upper left corner of the page. As you can see, this snus family will be pretty unique in a couple of different ways, first being that there are two different types in the family. While they are both regular type portions, there is a difference in the Nicotine levels in them. 01 will be an Original strength portion with 8 mg of Nicotine per portion and 02 will be a Strong portion with 13 mg of Nicotine per portion. The portions themselves are also unique because they will be longer in size. This will allow the portion to sit better in the lip and move less and each can will have 24, one gram portions.

The other unique thing will be that the portions are said to be “No-Drip” portions. “Snus Guy, No-Drip? Does that mean that they are dry? Well, according to the documents I’ve read, the lab guys at Swedish Match Labs have created a new formula that keeps the snus moist but, makes it drip less. Once I can get my hands on a can or two, we’ll look at this part more but for now, we’ll take them at their word! If you take a look at this picture, you can see that even the cans get a makeover with just plainly “01” or “02” on the top and a new set of icons on the side that explain exactly what you can expect the snus to be. There are used portion compartments on the lid in a configuration much like the General Ekstra Sterk cans.

I know what you all are thinking, “Snus Guy, why would they call them 01 and 02? Why not give it a more creative name?” Good question! The answer is pretty simple. 0102 was developed with a lot of input from Swedish Match customers and the snus using world in general. Researchers typically ask panels what they would like to see in new brands but Swedish Match Labs asked them something that’s rarely asked, what they didn’t like in the current brands and what needed to be changed in order to create the “Ultimate” snus brand. The results were pretty startling. The panelists basically said that they were tired of seeing logos and brands wherever they go and on everything they see from buildings to ……well…… people! They wanted something simple, effective and new. And they wanted it NOW! With this information in hand, they passed it on to their team of highly intelligent, super creative scientists, no, not these guys to the left, real scientists and asked them to create the ultimate snus based on this criteria.

They came up with the formula and the flavor but, what to call it? It needed to be really simple according to the panelists and something that would be really easy to remember. They looked at these two test cans and voile, 01 & 02 portion snus were born! Yea, I know it sounds too simple to be true but, that’s really how they came up with the name!

Swedish Match plans to release 0102 portion snus the first week of October 2009 and, when it’s released; you’ll be able to get it at Snustopia’s best shop for snus, The Northerner. If it’s your first time buying snus from them, just click on the banner to the left and get 10% off on your first order!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our pre-review of 0102 portion snus by Swedish Match and found it fun and informative. Like I said in the beginning, once the Ministry of Information gets me some cans of it, I’ll do a full taste review of it! If you have any questions about 0102 or any other snus or, any suggestions on a snus you’d like to see reviewed, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them as soon as I can!

So, until our next review Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

Nick & Johnny Black portion snus, reviewing a new member in the Nick & Johnny snus line!

Greetings Snustopians!

Today I thought I would bring you the first taste review of a snus destined to be released this month but, for now at least, will be released first in Norway. As you all know though, Swedish Match does tend to change their minds when they feel there is a call for a new snus flavor in other places so, we’ll have to see what the future brings. As you all remember from the Nick & Johnny East and West review, there was a time that we Snustopians thought that when Swedish Match discontinued them, it would not be long before the entire line was gone so, it’s great to see that a new member of the Nick & Johnny family was born. This is also a first for Snustopia. Usually, I get new snus flavors after they have been released but, the great folks at Swedish Match have allowed us this sneak peek of Nick & Johnny Black and felt the need to share it with all Snustopians so, without any further blabbering from me, let’s take a look at the newest creation from Swedish Match, Nick & Johnny Black portion snus!

When the package first arrived at my door here at the Ministry of Information I thought I forgot about another snus order I made because there was no return address on the plain, white bubble envelope just “To: That Snus Guy” and the address here in Snustopia. The only way I knew it was snus was the Swedish postage mark in the corner. When I opened the pack, there was simply a can of Nick & Johnny Black and a note that said simply, “Please review, will be available in Norway by the middle of September!” At first glance, the can pretty much looks like a can of Nick & Johnny Stark and the label looks like the negative from the Nick & Johnny Stark label but once you really take a look at it, there’s an elegant feel to it. “Hey Snus Guy, how does a can of snus look elegant?” Well, take a look at the picture to the right and you’ll see what I mean.

While the can its self is the same white, pearlescent plastic can that Nick & Johnny Stark has it’s the label that has the elegant feel. It’s the opposite of the Nick & Johnny Stark label with a black background and the lettering in gold. The word “Black” is in a white cartouche that has the look of a single paintbrush swipe and the word “Strong” in white along the side. They have even changed the label on top of the used portion compartment cap to match the label on the side. “Snus Guy, your can OCD is coming out again! Let’s hear about the snus already!” Sorry, it is a pretty cool can though.

Let’s start with the portions themselves. Nick & Johnny Black is classified as a White type, black portion which, as you all may remember, do not go thru the final step in the manufacturing process that adds a bit more moisture to them like Regular type ones. While this can leave the material a bit dry, Swedish Match uses the same soft material they use in all their black portions and stayed pretty comfortable in the lip for over 2 hours. The portions are also arranged in the unique “Star” pattern that Swedish Match uses for only the most special portion snus. Not only does this look pretty cool in the can, it gives the portions a wedge shape and adds to the comfort in the lip. “Sounds pretty good so far Snus Guy but, what about the Nicotine?” Well, let take a look at that!

Swedish Match describes Nick & Johnny Black as being pretty similar to Nick & Johnny Strong in every way with the exception of the portion color and Star pattern. The Nicotine level in Nick & Johnny Black is the same 11 mg per portion that Nick & Johnny Stark has but this is where the similarities end. The taste is where we need to look next!

Like I said, Swedish Match describes Nick & Johnny Black as being similar to its Stark sibling in taste but I taste a few differences and think the flavor is closer to another snus in the Swedish Match line, General Onyx! “Snus Guy, Onyx? It can’t be!” Well, there are quite a few similarities in the taste of the two. They both have a mild tobacco flavor and hints of citrus with a salty background but where Onyx has a Lemon flavor, Nick & Johnny has a bergamot taste. I know what you’re saying, “Snus Guy, what’s a bergamot?” Bergamot is a citrus fruit that’s grown in Italy and Spain and has the flavor that’s a cross between a lemon and a grapefruit. Its ability to blend well with the earthy, peaty flavor that tobacco has is truly unique and is the major taste difference between Nick & Johnny Black and Onyx. It’s also the common thread between both Nick & Johnny flavors and then there’s the saltiness. Nick & Johnny Stark has a light saltiness and the flavor of the tobacco takes center stage but in Nick & Johnny Black, the bergamot and salt are more predominant and mixes well with the hand selected tobaccos giving Nick & Johnny Black a taste that is pretty different from Nick & Johnny Stark! So, what drinks would go well with Nick & Johnny Black? Let’s take a look!

I thought I’d forgo my staple drinks of Diet Coke and Monster Energy Drinks and first start with the drink that went really well with Onyx, Lemonade. I figured since I tasted similar flavors in Nick & Johnny Black, it should go really well but, I was half right. The lemonade did go well with Nick & Johnny Black but it added a slight bitterness to it. I tried an iced green tea which also went well but my favorite was iced Earl Grey! Why Earl Grey, you ask? It’s because of the bergamot. You see, the thing that gives Earl Grey its distinct flavor is the addition of dried bergamot peel in the tea. That bergamot flavor along with the light bergamot flavor in Nick & Johnny Black helped to bring the tobacco flavor to the front as well as dimming down some of the saltiness. Overall, I really liked the flavor combination! Just as a side note, my staple drinks didn’t do too badly either with the Diet Coke being a neutral and the Monster adding a bit of sweetness.

My overall recommendations for Nick & Johnny Black portion snus Snustopians, is this; fans of the Nick & Johnny line will not be disappointed with this new addition. Fans of strong snus brands will find that Nick & Johnny Black’s 11 mg of Nicotine is perfect for an all day snus while beginners who want to try a stronger snus will find it’s a great higher Nicotine starter snus but alas, like I said in the beginning, Nick & Johnny Black will only be available in Norway for the time being. If Swedish Match does decide to release it to all Snustopians, you can be sure that Snustopia’s first shop for all things Swedish snus, The Northerner, will carry it! Until then, give them a try with your next order and, if it’s your first time ordering thru them, just click on the banner and get 10% off at checkout!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed this trip thru Nick & Johnny Black portion snus and found it fun and informative. Know that if Nick & Johnny Black does become available to the entire snus world, I will make sure I let each and every Snustopian know as soon as I do. I invite you all to leave any questions or suggestions you may have in the comments section below and I’ll try to answer them as soon as I can!

So Snustopians, until our next review, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

Still Catch Violet Licorice, reviewing the third flavor in the Catch snus collection!

Greetings Snustopians!

Last week I received a package in the mail that simply said “To That Snus Guy, please review as soon as possible!” I thought perhaps that the guys at the Ministry of Information were trying to get me back for the last alcoholic drinks comparison I had them do because the package smelled like black tea. I looked at the package bit more closely and saw that the postmark was from Sweden and knew it was snus but what kind of snus would have the scent of black tea? Then I realized it must be the newest flavor in the Catch collection! I was right; it was a roll of Still Catch Violet Licorice. Since the name implies that the flavors should be flowery with a hint of licorice, I knew I had to get a review done on it quickly so you Snustopians knew what it tastes like and why it has a black tea scent! So, without any further rambling from me, let’s get right into our review of Still Catch Violet Licorice mini white portion snus!



Still Catch Violet Licorice is the third limited edition flavor, of a total of four, to be introduced in the Catch Collection and manufactured in Kungälv, Sweden by the folks at Swedish Match AB. Still Catch Violet Licorice is classified as a mini White type portion which means that each one is about half the size of a regular sized portion and do not go thru the added step in the manufacturing process that adds a bit more moisture to them. While this leaves the material a bit dry, Swedish Match uses the same, soft material that they use in all their portion snus which is pretty comfortable under the lip. I’ve had a portion in for about an hour and a half with no discomfort what so ever.

Each can of Still Catch Violet Licorice contains 20 portions that have .5 grams of snus each. You may be saying to yourselves “only 20 portions Snus Guy? Why only 20 when most portion cans have 24? What gives?” Actually, 20 portions are the norm for Minis. If you think about it, the amount of snus in a portion dictates the amount of Nicotine it will have. Most of Swedish Match’s mini portions have between .3 and .5 grams of snus with Nicotine contents between 4 and 5 mg per portion. The total amount of snus in the can is between 6 and 10 grams and always comes out to 20 portions per can. I know, I took the long way around the explanation so, back to the review!

The Nicotine content in Still Catch Violet Licorice is approximately 4 mg per portion which is also the norm for a mini portion snus. While for most seasoned Snustopians this amount of Nicotine is low and most will double up on the portions, New Snustopians will find that 4 mg of Nicotine is the perfect level to begin with! Now that you know the makeup of the snus it’s self, let’s take a look at the can!

“Hey Snus Guy, you’re not going to let your can obsession take over, are you?” No! Still Catch Violet Licorice’s can is made of the same gray plastic that the other Catch Collection cans are made from with the only difference being the color of the label. That and the fact that Swedish Match added “Still” to the name! The label is purple to reflect the Violet in the snus’ name with gold embellishments just like the other two flavors. There is also a used portion compartment in the lid, under the Still Catch logo label but, before I let my “can obsession” get the better of me and I start to bore you all to death, let’s take a look at what you all came here for, Still Catch Violet Licorice’s flavor!

Like I said in the beginning, Still Catch Violet Licorice had the scent of Black tea but it’s a complex scent. When you really sit down and analyze the scent, you can really pick up the individual scents. “Snus Guy, we’ve always read at forums that you shouldn’t smell the snus. It’ll turn you off!” Well, personally I smell each and every can of snus. For me, its habit but the reason others say this is that some Swedish snus has an ammonia smell. This doesn’t mean that the snus has gone bad, on the contrary, the Ammonia smell is a natural byproduct of the Swedish snus manufacturing process and is typically found in snus that is tobacco flavored. Other flavored snus will have this smell in the background but with Still Catch Violet Licorice, this is not the case.

What I smell is licorice and an herbal scent that, when combined with the tobacco, gives the snus a black tea type scent. The flavor is just like the smell with the Licorice flavor being predominant. The flowery flavor of Violets gives the snus an herbal taste and really combines well with the licorice and the hand selected tobaccos from around the world. The earthy, leather flavor of the tobacco mixes with the herbal taste to give Still Catch Violet Licorice a sweet taste without the need for any added sweeteners. The addition of the licorice flavoring to the others is what gives it the slight tea taste in the background.

The flavor is pretty unique for a snus but the only downside is how long it lasts. I’ve had a single portion’s flavor last for about an hour when it pretty much went flat but, doubling up on the portion, or using two portions at the same time, made the flavor last for another half hour. I look at it this way Snustopians; Mini portions are made to suit Swedish tastes and usage habits. If the flavor in Still Catch Violet Licorice lasts for more than 45 minutes, which is the max time that the Swedish keep a portion in, anytime after that is a bonus so, my recommendation for keeping a portion of Still Catch Violet Licorice in is about an hour max. Ok, let’s take a look at what drinks go well with it!

As you know, I always review snus with my two staple drinks, Diet Coke and Monster Energy Drinks and Still Catch Violet Licorice was no exception. The Diet Coke was actually good in a unique sort of way. Like I said in the beginning, Still Catch Violet Licorice has an iced tea type of background flavor with a licorice front. The unique thing about the Diet Coke is that it takes the iced tea flavor out and enhances the licorice one. The Monster’s bitterness also gave Still Catch Violet Licorice another flavor dimension by dimming down the licorice flavor but the one drink that went really well shouldn’t be too big of a surprise, iced black tea!

I tried a green iced tea and it was just too light a flavor to have any effect on the snus. The flavored iced teas like Peach and Raspberry interfered with the licorice flavor and drowned out the tobacco flavor all together. The iced black tea enhanced the underlying tea flavor while bringing the tobacco taste to the front more. The licorice flavor was actually pushed more to the back and gave the snus a natural sweetness that brought it all together but, I’ll let you decide which is best!

My overall recommendations for Still Catch Violet Licorice by Swedish Match Snustopians, is this; Swedish Match created the Catch Collection to have a unique twist which is that 4 times this year it’s flavor will change and each one will be a unique, limited edition. Still Catch Violet Licorice is the third in that line and should be tried by all Snustopians! With a lower Nicotine content, new Snustopians will like the smaller size and the light flavor. Experienced Snustopians will like the unique flavor as well but, may find the 4 mg of Nicotine a bit on the light side but, since this snus is only available for a limited time, you should try at least one can before it’s gone but, like I said, the decision is yours. At around $3.60 USD a can from snus shops like The Northerner, it’s a small price to pay to give a snus that won’t be around long a try!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our trip thru Still Catch Violet Licorice by Swedish Match and found it fun and informative. Remember, if you have any questions about this snus or, any questions or comments about snus in general, feel free to leave them here and I’ll do my best to answer them as soon as I can!

So, until our next review Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

Nick & Johnny Stark portion snus, reviewing a snus that made the cut!

Welcome back Snustopians!

I was sitting in my office this week looking over all the reviews we’ve done so far when I realized that my 1 year anniversary with Swedish snus was last Sunday! Well, I actually didn’t remember it until the guys from my Ministry of Information presented me with an anniversary gift while they were singing the Snustopian National Anthem. It is a beautiful tune and sounds a bit like the theme song from Sanford and Son! At least that’s how the guys played it. Anyway, the gift they presented me with was a roll of a snus we’ve mentioned in a previous review but, never really did a proper review of. That snus is Nick & Johnny Stark portion snus.

If you remember back to the review of its siblings, Nick & Johnny East and West, we only mentioned Stark in passing but it’s the only one of the past Nick & Johnny family to avoid being discontinued. So, I figured if this flavor made it, we need to find out why it did and what makes it so special. Now, if you’re all ready, grab a comfortable seat, your favorite snus and a cold drink and get ready to discover Nick & Johnny Stark portion snus!



I know what you’re all saying, “Snus Guy, why would your Ministry of Information give you Nick & Johnny Stark as an anniversary present? We all know your favorite is Skruf!” Well, I think it’s because either they really like Nick & Johnny Stark or, I’ve been working them too hard lately and they were trying to make a point! Either way, I’ve been meaning to do a review on it for some time now. Nick & Johnny Stark was introduced to the snus world by Swedish Match in 2007 and, at that time, was the second strongest snus in the Swedish Match line behind General Onyx. It was also released as a totally new flavor with a focus on the younger crowd.

“Hey Snus Guy, why did they decide to call it Nick & Johnny?” That may surprise you! According to Swedish Match, Nick & Johnny were actually real guys and the snus was named after them. The sketch on the used portion compartment cap is of one of them! Whether or not this is the actual way Nick & Johnny was named, Nick & Johnny Stark is a unique snus in its flavor and Nicotine content so, let’s find out why! But first, let’s take a look at the basics of it then we’ll get to the flavors.

Nick & Johnny Stark is classified as a regular type portion since it goes thru the final step in the manufacturing process that adds a bit more water to each portion which helps the flavors marry and release its flavor faster when it’s in your lip. The material that Swedish Match uses for Nick & Johnny Stark is the same soft, teabag type material that they use in all their portion snus and stays pretty comfortable in the lip. I’ve had a portion in for over 2 hours with no discomfort to speak of just a bit of wrinkling. Each can of Nick & Johnny Stark has 24 portions that have 1 gram of snus in each one. The Nicotine level in them is 11 mg each which is why this version is named Stark or Strong.

The can that Nick & Johnny Stark comes in is pretty cool in the fact that it’s made of a white pearlescent plastic with a plasticized paper label. The lid is where the used portion compartment is and its cap has a sketch of one of the guys on its label. The can is round which is unique because the other two Nick & Johnny flavors, that have been discontinued, were square and part of the reason they were cut but, I’m letting my can obsession get the best of me so, before you all say anything, let’s go on to the flavor!

Like I said in the beginning, Nick & Johnny Stark’s flavor is pretty unique for a couple of reasons. The first being that it’s a pure tobacco flavored snus with very little added to it. The flavor of pure tobacco may not be something that all Snustopians have tasted, let alone understand when used in descriptions on Swedish snus flavors so, let’s explain it now so everyone understands! Tobacco has a very similar scent of Fall leaves. “Hey Snus Guy, why Fall leaves?” well, they are leaves and dried like leaves get in the Fall and, have the same scent as a pile of them when they are not processed. They do have their subtle differences in taste though. Tobaccos from Honduras and Cuba for example, have peppery notes in them while tobacco from America has a bit of a leathery flavor. There are even some tobaccos grown in Sweden that have a flowery, herbal taste and smell. In Nick & Johnny Stark, the tobacco flavor is of fall leaves and leather with a slight pepperyness. I hope this cleared up the pure tobacco flavor description a bit but remember, different people taste things that other people don’t so, what I taste in a snus may not be what you taste. Ok, let’s get back to the flavor review!

Along with the tobacco flavor, there are other elements in Nick & Johnny stark like licorice and a smoky flavor. While these elements are very subtle, they give the snus its unique character. The licorice flavor actually gives Nick & Johnny a bit of sweetness while the smokiness enhances the tobacco flavor while adding a bit of mellowness and depth. Tying everything together is the salty taste that, not only helps to raise the Ph level so the Nicotine comes out, brings the flavors together to make a well rounded snus flavor with the added Nicotine level that Swedish match was aiming for. The flavor also lasts for a pretty long time as well! I’ve had a portion in for over 2 hours when the flavor began to die out. So, now that you know what Nick & Johnny Stark tastes like, let’s see what drinks go best with it!

As you seasoned Snustopians know, my staple drinks are Diet Coke and Monster Energy Drinks and I try both with every snus I review. The Diet Coke did pretty well in bringing the smokiness out a bit more, it also took some of the saltiness away so the tobacco flavor could shine thru. Monster on the other hand made the snus a bit bitter but did bring the smokiness out as well. The best drinks I think that went well with Nick & Johnny Stark were iced black tea and iced coffee! Both drinks really complimented the snus for different reasons. The iced black tea enhanced the tobacco’s flavor while adding another depth in the earthy flavor. It also brought out the smokiness to add an element of sweetness as well. The iced coffee brought out the tobacco flavor as well but dimmed out the smokiness. This was not a bad thing though. Coffee tends to have a bitterness that mixes well with tobacco and intensifies it making the flavor of Nick & Johnny Stark even more unique.

My overall recommendations for Nick & Johnny Stark, Snustopians, is this; new Snustopians looking to explore the higher Nicotine brands will like Nick & Johnny Stark because it is strong but, not the mind numbing strong of the Extra Starks. Seasoned Snustopians will like the pure tobacco flavor and the higher Nicotine content plus the fact that it will make a great morning coffee snus but, this is my take, I’ll let you decide. At around $3.30 a can at stores like The Northerner, You really can’t go wrong with adding a can or two to your next order!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our trip thru Nick & Johnny Stark and found it fun and informative! I encourage you to leave any comments or questions you may have about it or any snus in general and I’ll do my best to answer them as soon as I can.

So until our next review Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

http://www.snustest.com/