I'm Free ....!

 Nicotine free. Un fucking believable! After forty years of smoking, I gave up the fags and turned to Snus. After a year on Snus ..... I've been off That since this year.

 It's all down to " Phil' ". Philomena. Landlady of my local. Most sweet and caring woman I've ever known. Having had that pig flu' for a week, from new years day, I'd not been near the snus for a week, I guess.

 Mentioned this, in passing, to Phil', just as casual conversation. Only, she misconstrued what I was getting at. I'd Never intended snus as a way off smoking, let alone off nicotine altogether.

But, she took it that I was saying I was clean. I'd won some fight I'd never even considered myself in. She clasped her hands together and looked at me like ..... I don't know. But it broke my heart, right there, to think I could ever disappoint her.

 That day, I knew, I could never put even snus in my mouth again. Never have.

Gave what I had left to Dean O'. Never ordered my regular quota. Just 'Got over it'.

  Funny as fuck, actually. I'd drain the last suck from a mug of tea? ' Snus!!!! '. The urge would slam into me like a train! And be gone, just as fast.

  Weird little shit, like that. Like how a smoker will push their plate away and reach for their fags, automatically. Little things would make me 'Need' snus.

 Even going out my gate. It triggered the response of getting all the way up the track, going to chat with Pat'. Then realising I'd left my 'baccy at home. Couldn't possibly relax and chat without a fag. Forgetting my snus was the same.

Now? Those 'Flash Back', split second moments have lessened to the point where I really can't remember the last time I even had one.

My name is Ditch Shitter. I no longer need, nor crave, nicotine. I'm free.

Snus Review # 10 ..... General ~ Long Portion .....

  " General " was one of the very first brands and types of snus I ever experienced. My, then, verdict forms part of the first ever attempted Review I made here then. Ye can find that review: Here.

 What I didn't show ye there was my now more customary tub top shot. So, here it is:

 I'm really showing ye that because it makes a more visible contrast to the 'new' content that I'm here to tell ye about. See; They've brought out a new shape of 'Portion'. The little tea bag like pouches that hold the snus.

  Same snus. Same taste. Still my own bench mark. Just that the bags are now slightly longer and slimmer. Mean't to fit more comfortably behind the lip.

  I guess so. And I can see others now pouncing on this 'evolutionary' idea ~ watch this space! Only, it all makes little enough difference, to me, because I've never found any pouches uncomfortable in the first place.

  Still, that's what they've done now. And, to mark the occasion, they've changed the label on their 'Ash Tray' (What else can we call the little compartment for popping ye used snus?) lidded tubs. Thought I'd just show ye this.

The new, " General ~ Long Portion " tub:

 Almost a year, to the day, now. And General has featured in every order I've put in. I can't recommend a snus more strongly than that.

Snus Review # 9 ..... Odens Extra Stark (Liquorice) .....

" Odens Extra Stark ", to me, means Liquorice!!! I mean, we're Not just talking, ' A taste of Aniseed ' here. This is full on, in ye face (Groan!) Liquorice Flavoured Snus. And, frankly? I Love it!

Now, this isn't going to be one for everyone. It's ~ as its name suggests ~ Strong Stuff! FFS, don't attempt This shit first thing in the morning. Make ye sick, I shouldn't wonder.

But, Later? Much later ..... It's like a good whiskey! Something to be looked forward to and savoured.

Yeah. This one's Definitely going back on my next order! Think I might have to get Two tubs!

My only pisser though, with Odens stuff? As the shot shows; Ye don't get an 'Ash Tray' ~ for lack of a better term ~ in the lid. So, finish with one of these portions and ye have to look for a bin to pop it into. I'm happier, sat at the bar, just slipping my tub out of my pocket and sneaking the used one into the lid.

Don't let that put ye off though; If ye like liquorice. Which I don't, particularly. Not the black shit anyway. But, I like this!

Odens Extra Stark ~ Liquorice

Snus Order / Snus Review # 8 .....

Just this minute ordered my next load of Snus. And this being my eighth 'Review' posting on the stuff is interesting in itself - to me, anyway.

(All those of ye still out there sucking fags and droning on about how ye've tried all the ways of giving up smoking? Carry on. Fuck yeselves. We're not listening to each other, are we? What ever .....)

What I'm finding interesting though is that this is about my eighth post on the subject. And I last smoked a fag eight, or more, months ago.

Crunch the numbers; I'm consistently buying in 'Swedish Snus'. I have been, since bought some ~ for the craic ~ over eight months ago. And stopped smoking the day it arrived. (I clock my exact date a bit later, eight rather than nine months, because I ran out of snus and smoked a few roll ups to get me through)

Fact is though, I was smoking baccy at a tenner a day. My latest figures prove I'm now using snus at less tham a tenner a week! And it's having a negligible impact on my health. In fact, considering what we all know smoking does to us? I'm improving my health harm ratio, no end. I most definitely feel better and fitter these days, since jacking the fags.

But, anyway; I didn't start this post with a pious sermon in mind ~ sorry. I just wanted to record my latest preferences. Eight months into snus:


Nick & Johnny, Strong Portion 4
General, Portion 2
02 Original Strong Portion 2
General Sterk, Strong Portion 1
Montecristo, Portion 1



See? I love my General, Portion. That's my after dinner, along with the Jameson ration treat.

But, Nick & Johnny, Strong? Oh, baby! That's the one I like to take in my pocket. Ready for anything / any time. Tastes great and will Always fill that need.

General Sterk, Portion? Another one I had to try. I like it. It can last ages, without any overt sign, once one gets over the initial 'acidity'. My sort of second of the day job. Not a last thing at night snus: It'll give ye nightmares. Just like people complain of with those stupid Patches. Fuck of a dose of nicotine.

02 Original Strong Portion? Dunno. I just seem to remember that too was a goodie!

Montecristo? No idea. Just have to try some! :D

Like a well stocked and kept 'Ale Pub' this stuff, see? Spoiled for choice!

Offroad Coffee Vanilla (Snus Review 7)

I put in another Snus order, with Northerner last weekend. Mostly my favoured General ~ Portion, of course. Plus a couple of General ~ Sterk (Strong, for the unknowing). Couple of Nick and Johnny ~ Strong (I like that one too, a Lot). And, because I like the tastes of Coffee and Vanilla, I thought I'd try out this one, from OffRoad.

I'd seen reviews of it. Glanced over them. Opinions varied from 'The best thing since sliced bread' to 'Disgusting!'. I wasn't too sure then. But, I thought I'd risk it and chance a tub.

As ever, Northerner blew me away with how fast they processed my order. I hit Send, some time Saturday night. It was waiting for me, in the pub, on Thursday. Could've arrived on Wednesday, for all I know. Full marks to Northerner and the Swedish postal service then. Our own An Phoist can be pretty sweet too ;-)

But, enough of the back slapping. What about the snus ....?

One of the light brown ones. Open the tub and ye'll see that. And ye'll Smell the stuff! Like vanilla mixed with ..... what is that? Diarrhoea or something?! Roasted diarrhoea? Shut that tub! Get over it. Ye going to be putting this stuff in ye mouth, for fuck sake.

And there it is. Now ye looking at it. The lid. There's no 'ash tray'! (I don't know what else to call the little lid within the lid ye normally get with a snus tub. The little place to discreetly pop ye used portions) This one doesn't provide one.

Bummer. But, a very minor bummer though. Because no one would go out without at least two 'flavours' of snus in their pocket. We're talking Choices with this stuff. It's not like cigarettes. Think more like wines. So, as I'd always have a Nick and Johnny, or a General tub along too, I'll likely always have a 'bin top' too.

Shall we reopen the tub now? We've seen it. Had a sniff at it. Hang all that; Let's pop one in our mouths .....

I did this. First thing. Sat down at this computer. Mug of tea at the ready. Popped one in. Heaven! I genuinely got 'Coffee and Vanilla'. It was good! A richly creamy taste. It seemed to burst out in gentle waves and do me good.

As I find I'm tending to do, these days, after some six months of constant snus use, I left it in almost indefinitely. I've kicked the old habit of popping one in. Glancing at the time. Allowing myself two hours, max'. Now? Hour and a half? Four hours? Who cares? I even tend to sleep with one in. I may, or may not, just spit it over the side of the bed at some point. Pick it up in the morning.

This particular 'flavour', I'd say, isn't one of the longest lasting hits. But, it retains that taste well. It's certainly my 'First Thing' portion.

Thinking about it; What the hell am I going to do, if I use this tub up before I get another order in? General, eg. isn't exactly my idea of a snus to savour with that first tea! But, then again? At least one morning, for some reason or other, I found even this a bit much. So, I dipped it swiftly into my black tea. Came out lovely and reverted straight back to its Coffee and Vanilla after tastes.

I think it might be the salt levels that we need to get over, first thing, with this one. That and the 'novelty' of sniffing at it.

Face it; Some other things are great to get amongst, first thing when ye wake up. Doesn't mean ye want to stick ye fucking nose in there though. Ye not a Dog, are ye?!

Just Been for a Walk .....

More like a Route March. Or Forceful Invasion, actually. I was Unstoppable!

In fact, I just 'strolled' up to see Pat. Something, with all the ice and shit, I haven't done for ages. And that mean't walking right up the track, to the road and beyond.

Last time I ever walked up that damn track? I was resigned to the fact that, one day, it would kill me. It has a slope at the top and dragging one foot after another, as my heart pounded and my lungs burned, was a sure sign that I was fucked.

Now, of course, I haven't smoked a single fag since ..... what? November? Something like that. And now I'm fucking Superman! I strode out my gate and simply never broke my stride till I got to Pat's place! I was like a fucking Land Rover, chewing my way up that slope! My huge and powerful lungs effortlessly sucking in so much oxygen, plants were wilting as I strode by. What a fucking rush!

So, there we have it, peeps. If ye Still smoking, even after all we've tried to tell ye here, about Snus? I really don't know what else I can say. But, I'm the living proof of it. Maybe just three months off the fags, after a life time hard at them. I feel like a younger, fitter man. And I haven't gained a gram in weight either.

The choice is yours.

Snus Review 6 ..... Goteborgs Rapé

I'd noticed quite enough of a buzz around this one that I decided I had to try it. I can't say I was consciously aware that it's a white portion. I've learned to generally try to avoid white's. They seem not to be to my tastes. I'm showing more of a sterk man, myself. I like the stronger stuff. However, nothing ventured .....

So, I tried some. Here are my impressions:

Goteborgs Rapé: White, Large. In one word? GIN! If ye like a G n T, maybe this could be an absolute pleasure for you, now and again? However, I always preferred mine with more Tonic than Gin. I just don't like this taste ~ of what ever bloody berry it's supposed to come from.

Maybe Gin isn't made from a berry at all? Perhaps it just tastes like that? Anyway, as I discussed with a (Snus using!) friend the other day, and she said; " If ye liked Fruit that much? Ye'd eat more fruit. "

Yeppers. And I just don't eat fruit.

Gave it to Dean O', who declared he wasn't that averse to a drop of Gin now and then ..... He found it simply too 'acidic'. No good for him either then. I'll not be buying this one again.


Here's what my fellow Reviewer, ADM, had to say about the stuff:


Goteborgs Rapé: "Goat Rape" as I like to call it, is rapidly becoming one of my favourite snuses.

Here I have the "loose" version. The snus is just a moist grainy powder here that you gather up into a pinch and put into your mouth without the normal little "teabag" that portion snus comes in. However, I expect the flavour is very similar between the loose and the portion versions.

Anyway - the smell is of quality tobacco, with maybe a little herb and perhaps an undertone of gin to it as well. A nice clean smell without being overpowering. Different from many of the General brands.

Taste is similar to the smell. Good quality tobacco with a little salt. No real citrus here, but a definite juniper flavour which is where the gin smell comes from. Lasts a long time in the mouth and keeps that flavour.

The nicotine level is average with this - about 8mg per gram of snus.

I can do this snus all day without getting tired of it - it's a classic!

On the los vs. portion, to be honest I'm not really sure. The only one that I have both los and portion of is Ettan, but I haven't tried the los version yet. I'd imagine the flavours are very similar between the two though.

Finland In The House .....

True. It'll have been the snus, no doubt, that brought them in here. Could've checked what link brought the here. Bit pointless. Fucking obvious what it would be.

Bit like it's pointless me photographing their little location pin on my map. I'm telling they've been here. My little Visitors Country thing, on the left there, will tell ye. If ye can't believe that? What's the point of fucking reading this place?

I don't bullshit. Want that? Read what politicians say in papers ~ on line, of course. 'Mind you; I read their shit, now and then. Just for the amusement!

Snus Review 5; An Advanced Listing .....

Well, I've got an order made out now, on Northerner, which is actually where I tend to buy my snus from, now that I've sussed out that having it sent by Swedish Post is actually a far better option than FedEx. I'll be sending this one in just as soon as I remember to transfer the money to my 'Credit Card'. Do that in town, see?

Meanwhile, here's a sneak preview of what I have lined up:

02 Original Strong Portion *
Claq Qui, Strong Portion *
Ettan, Portion *
General, Portion *
Granit, Portion *
Grovsnus, Portion
Göteborgs Rape, White Portion
Nick & Johnny, Strong Portion *
Probe Whisky, Portion
Thunder Extra Stark, Strong Portion


How many of ye spotted that an '*' denotes one I've had before? Yeppers. Some I just wouldn't be without in my stash. Some, I feel like giving another go, trying to decide if they too are to become a permanent fixture in my line up.

I have four or five pretty much full tubs around me here right now ~ see how long this stuff lasts ye?! So, I'm comfortable that I'll be awash with more of the stuff in plenty of time yet. No more fags for me, ever!

How long's it been now? Two months? More? Dunno. But, I do know that I don't even think about my breath when I walk the Dogs now. And, now and then, this lovely little lightbulb comes on inside my head and just reminds me; " And this stuff isn't hardening ye arteries either! Less chance of a cardiac or a stroke! "

Yet, what continues to leave me shaking my head is the Smokers around me. They interrogate me about this stuff, to the n'th degree. They enquire as to cost. Effect. Health connotations. Where I get it. You name it.

Yet, the moment I suggest they try a portion? " Oh, No!!! ". They recoil like I've just asked if they'd like to put my dick in their mouths!

Five minutes later, they're shivering outside the door. Puffing away. You tell me .....

Club Snus .....

Check it out!

I just noticed, tonight, this guy had signed up as a Blog Watcher here. Seeing his avatar, I wondered what might happen if I clicked on it. (I honestly don't understand these things. I just write shit on here and, largely, leave it at that)

All I can say is; If ye interested in Snus? Click that muvva's little, orange coloured picture! Top left, as I type. Then just dive in. His place is full of fascinating looking links to shit about the Growing Revolution. People taking control of their addiction, their health and their fucking finances!

I'm sorry; With my infamously Not Worth The Name On It " Vodafone 3G ('Broad Band') " piece of crap 'Connection', I can't view even 'picture rich' sites, let alone You Tube stuff. Thus I'm only able to glimpse snatches of what " Club Snus " is trying to show us there.

However; I have looked upon it ~ And seen that it Is good! :D

Take a look. Here.

Snus Review 3

I've edited this post to announce that my mate and fellow snus man has agreed to join us and offer his own opinions of the snus's we try. From here on in, " Adm " will be sending me his own reviews and I'll be adding those to my own, once we both produce a review of the same ones.

I'll Not be reading what Adm has to say before writing my own. That way, we'll both be speaking completely independently and unbiased by each others words. We hope, this way, ye'll get a far better picture :-)

And, to kick off, I've slotted in the reviews he's already sent me. Check out my first posting about snus too, to see what Adm made of " Thunder ~ Frosted ".



I'm really finding my feet now. What? Two weeks solid since I had a fag? I don't even think about them now. Nor do I get the split second 'Flash Back' ideas to smoke one. Now I simply feel that I fancy a fresh bit of snus ..... In fact, I fancy one now! :D

There. That was a real toss up between my firm old favourite, General ~ Portion or Claq Qui ~ Portion. I seem to prefer the strength of Taste I get with General. Though Claq Qui is a stronger yielder of nicotine.




No. I don't know if " Claq Qui " means anything, in any language, either. Nor do I know who Roda Lacket might be. But, this stuff's grown on me. I find it agreeable at most any time of the day. But, with my Jameson Irish Whiskey, like right now, I tend to favour the complimentary taste of General.

And that fine point, I suspect, about sums up my view of Claq Qui; It hasn't got a particular flavour to it. Not as I've been able to pin down yet. But, that's no bad thing. It doesn't strike me as 'Citrus' / acidic on the lip. And it's definitely in the higher bracket of nicotine. So, a good one for smokers to try, perhaps?


Adm Says:

" Claq Qui
Personally, I love this snus. I think it's got a really rich taste of dried berries - maybe cranberry??? that comes through after a while. Although the can design shouldn't impact on the actual snus I just think it's cool. It's pure white, with marks that look like spatters of blood. OK - maybe I'm a bit strange! I think Roda Lackett just means "Red Lacquer" in Swedish. Not sure if there's any significance here though.

There's a good strong hit of nicotine here, and it keeps on coming. The flavour is strong and stays strong. I've really got nothing bad to say about this snus....apart from maybe that it's distinctive and if you were to do it all the time you'd grow used to it's unique flavour. It's a very complex flavour and great after a meal, or with a good beer or whiskey. "



Another one I'll certainly be buying again is 02 Strong ~ Portion. This one surprised me. I was surprised at how much I liked it! In fact, I'm sorry to say; A quick check has just shown me that I've bloody nearly enjoyed the lot! :o I may well have been using that one more than any other then, without even realising it? Goes to show.

There's still a pattern emerging here though. I'm well aware that I've been tending to reserve my General for after dinner, with my whiskey. As one might a fine cigar. 02 Strong I've probably been popping in my mouth through the days. Casually and unconsciously choosing that one from my small stash of favoured regulars.

It's certainly a goody. A hint 'Drier' of taste than many I've sampled, thus far. Nice nicotine hit. Puts me in mind of somewhere between a tailor made fag and a slightly drier 'baccy. Comparable to " Gold Leaf " 'baccy, perhaps?


Adm Says

" 02 Lab Series
Another interesting snus here. The can is minimalist but modern looking. The smell is very mellow with unique hints of nuts wood, and herbs.

The flavour is very subtle at first and slowly seeps out the signature saltiness of snus. The herbal, nutty taste balances out the mellow tobacco flavor flawlessly.

The most unique features of 02 are the longer, slimmer portion length and the non-drip formula. The portions fit snug in the upper lip and don't make your lip bulge too much. If you had a "customer facing" job, you could get away with using this all day and nobody would know you had it in. The non-drip formula works just as stated on the can. There is no drip, yet the moist flavor of the snus assaults the palate through the entire duration of use. Jazz......smokin'

Dosage-wise, this is another strong snus that hits fast and stays strong. Good for those of us giving up the fags! "




General Onyx ~ Portion was a wake up call! The portion bags are almost Black! They also come, packed in their tub, in a neatly presented rosette. Really quite something to open and gaze in upon. I'll take a photo of my next lot, before I use any and break up the effect.

This one has an amazing flavour. Like 'Winter Mixture' sweets - for anyone who remembers those? I'm not sure what that flavour is. But it's nice. In fact, this is probably a good treat for when one has to go out in the bitter cold. It 'warms' ye breath. Certainly worth a try. If ye hate it yeself, ye sure to find someone who'll enjoy that distinctive flavour.

Adm Says:

General Onyx;
This is my other "favourite snus" right now......It's just great in terms of presentation and taste - a real "premium" product. The can is really slick looking - black and silver, the star shape arrangement of the portions looks cool and the actual shape of the portions (kind of a wedge shape) makes them easy to place.

In terms of flavour, this ones a real winner. It's got the typical "General" salty, lemony tang, but raised up a notch and purified. The nearest thing to it I can think of is almost to strong Turkish tobacco, plus roasted, salt and peppered lemon. To me, that's all good! Another strong snus... loads of nicotine and good persistence. I've used these portions for over two hours and they've still been giving up the goods when I've got rid of them to eat or whatever....




And, finally; Granit ~ Maxi Portion. Moist and powerfully Tobacco! I had the Maxi Portion (for some reason) and this had been my 'morning' hit of choice for some days. I liked the facts that it gave me that all powerful wake up call, along with my first cuppa. It then stayed with me ~ in more ways than one ~ as I'd go about my first chores. So, by the time the Dogs were walked. Birds fed. Horses fed and mucked out. My second brew in front of me; I was just about ready to settle down for a decent surf. Only by then might I be considering something else.

Sadly, it proved all too popular! That and, I suppose the bigger portions giving less to a tub? I've done the lot! Worst is, I don't think I even thought to put more on my order, which I sent in yesterday!




Never mind. I have plenty of others coming to me. Some, old favourites. Some I'm eager to try and offer ye my opinions of. And now we have Adm along to share his own views too, without us comparing notes first. So, now ye'll get truly open and unbiased reporting :D

I'm Fucking *Starving!* .....

Alright. With respect to those who genuinely are Starving .....

But, I couldn't half do with some munchies! It's the bloody snus, see? Smoking fags is famous for it. People even use it as an excuse not to try and give up. I never have. Because I've never needed an excuse not to try giving up. I just smoked because I liked doing it. And because Not doing it caused me immeasurable misery and stress.

I have one of these 'metabolism's', or what ever it is, see? Eat like a fucking horse and not gain a pound in weight through a year of it. So, I can eat what I like. When I like. Not a cellophane rat in hells chance of me becoming a bloated, ex smoker. Just not an issue, with me.

Nor is it the issue here. I'm just So Fucking Hungry!!! LOL! Christ; I had my usual dinner tonight. Only a few hours ago, in fact! And I started feeling peckish over an hour ago. Now I'm genuinely sitting here, thinking about the Tosco 24 Hour, over in the big town. It'll cost me £30 to get there and back. But, by fuck; There Be Munchies!

02:30. It's getting hard to resist. I could ransack the place for all manner or late night snackettes. Probably find things there I simply can't get locally. Bring in a store of things to attack, when the pangs of appetite attack me. As they will. I had this last night too, but tried to ignore it.

I've actively smoked a fag, before now, just to stave off hunger. Works too. Smoking a fag can be like having a sandwich. Quells the rumblings. Only, while I've just looked and seen I have some baccy stuck away there? I'm simply not interested in it. I'd as soon eat sticks and grass to solve this problem.

Fuck it. 'Saturday Night', isn't it? Taxi's round here tend to work till around 04:00 tonight. I'll see what happens.

Trouble is though; It'll all happen again tomorrow night. And the night after! I'm developing a proper appetite. I'll be needing to eat something before my customary, once a day, late in the day meal next!

Shit. Eggs are good. Scotch Eggs. Very filling. I've been discussing pickling eggs, on Jims lately. All this fucking snus. It's been creeping up on me. A natural level of appetite.

Jesus christ; I'm SO thinking of calling a taxi ....!

Snus Review - 2.

Nick and Johnny ~ Strong (Portion) lived up to expectations! Comparable to my, so far, favourite of all time, which is General (Portion).

N&J has a less pronounced tobacco taste. It just lacks a certain 'In Ye Face' quality I find from General. But, so far? General and N&J ~ Strong are Ditch's Top Two! These are the ones I take out with me.

Phantom Brown (White Portion) ? Not one I'll be buying again. It's just not for me. It's got a 'Fruity' flavour to it, without the citrus. What it has instead though is the 'Opal Fruit' factor. My mouth was running with saliva. So much so that I felt I was trying to drink this thing!

It also lacked 'Power', for me. Didn't give me that all encompassing 'Tobacconess' that I ~ a strong smoker of forty years now ~ yet require. Fruity tasting. 'Wet' in the mouth. Mild in apparent nicotine rush. For you? Maybe. Not for me. I've given that tub to Dean 'O. He thought it quite ok. We'll see how he gets on.


Now, I actually got called away in the middle of all that. It's been a couple of days since and I've thus got a little bit more experience under my belt ..... Or should I say Lip?! :D


Granit (Maxi Portion) is one I've had a few hits of now. Not sure why they call it 'maxi'. The portion bag's the same as usual. The nico' hit doesn't seem tremendous, to me, either. In fact, this is what I'd currently consider a middle of the road, tobacco tasting snus. I.e It's not got any noticeably added, 'artificial' flavours ~ no citrus or what ever. But it's not strong in what it Does have. And what it does have then is a mild taste of tobacco.

One I'll probably try to keep a tub of around the place though. Could be a better day starter than N&J. It's likely also one I'd offer to a tailor made smoker, as a first try at snus. If they liked the flavour but, perhaps thought a bit more kick might be up their street? Then I feel I'd happily enough let them sample Nick and Johnny (Strong) next.

Snus Selection .....

It's here!




My first, very own, hand picked selection of Swedish Snus! I've even bought a small selection of the loose stuff to try out too.

Experts roll the loose, very moist powder into a little pellet which the Swedes call a " Pliss ". That means a 'Pinch', apparently. Well, so they might. But I know it took me years to master skinning up a perfect roll up and I wasn't prepared to go through all that again. So I bought the sweet little tool that cuts and forms ye a perfect portion in a second.

It looks like a little syringe, to be honest with ye. Only, where a needle would go, there's just the blunt end of the plunger. Ye pull the plunger back the calibrated distance ye require the dose to be of and just stick it into the snus. Push the plunger down and out pops a perfectly formed little pellet. Easy as that.

I have one in as I type. " Gottlandssnus ~ Anis ", Loose. Pellet's holding together perfectly well, despite me having it under my bottom lip (Top's traditional. But, I have no top teeth) and I'm drinking tea. Good as gold.

Taste, from this one, is a little disappointing, as yet. No where near as strongly Aniseed flavoured as I'd have liked. But then, I'm now directly comparing this to the " Thunder ~ Frosted Spearmint " Portion I just had. ('Portion' snus comes in tiny little tea bag like envelopes. Just pop one in and enjoy, straight from the tub.

The Thunder hit home like a spearmint felling axe! It must be said. Though I didn't find the nicotine hit off it as strong and satisfying as I had earlier done with my first love, " General " Portion. Now, That's the one Id encourage Any 'real' smoker to try first! I really feel that that's a Bench Mark snus.

Strong, tobacco flavour right off. Good, satisfying saltiness to it. It may scare the less Tobacco orientated, for the initial minute after it goes in. But then it settles down to become simply the best thing since a cigarette. Then, in a day or so? It becomes a smoke!



*** My mate, Adm says of the Thunder:


" Here's my take on Thunder Frosted Extra Strong Portion;

I personally never thought I'd be a fan of "flavoured" snus, but I
bought a can of this to try anyway. It's a mint flavoured snus, extra
strong on the nicotine and is actually Norwegian and not Swedish.
The blurb says it has 16mg nicotine per portion, which is a LOT - by
comparison, Claq Qui has 13mg and that's a strong snus already.The
portion material is really soft and comfortable, and the portions
themselves seem a lot moister than many "regular" portions. Especially
good if it's been in the fridge as it feels extremely nice going into
your mouth.

The mint taste is quite strong and definitely gives a superb fresh and
cooling hit at first. It's more like a cross between spearmint and
wintergreen as it has a cool freshness, plus a sweetness that doesn't
quite overpower the tobacco flavour, but certainly gives it a run for
the money. I thought the mint flavour would wear off quickly, but it
seems to be a stayer, just mellowing out after a while. This portion
that I'm working on now has been in for 90 minutes or so and is still
giving out goodly amount of flavour.

Lots of nicotine in this! I can really feel it coursing through my veins, so
it's probably not a "beginner" snus if you don;t already have a
nicotine habit. If you do though, and don't like the idea of the more
"pure" tobacco snusses, then this would be a good one to try as the
mint taste is really quite enjoyable.

Definitely something a bit different. Although I probably wouldn't use this as an
everyday snus, I'll certainly order it again. I might even be tempted
to try their "berry blast" snus as well.....

My only negative to this snus is that it's not a good one to use while
drinking beer or tea as the mint flavour clashes with those.....you
probably shouldn't eat with it in either for similar reasons. And just
because that's a pretty disgusting thing to do anyway. "


I've edited that in as Adm and I are both bang at the snus and I figured it'd be good to get more than just my own opinions and descriptions of what we try. Watch out for more of Adm's comparative reviews later on too ;-)

Oh yeah. Now this Gotlandssnus Anis is starting to work a bit more. I'm definitely breathing aniseed out my nose now! Lacks a certain purity of taste. But these things can take more than five minutes to grow on one. I've seen many people report that. One seldom chucks a tub after one try.

Unless that is, of course, like Dean O' and I, ye try something like the " Skruf " we both tried to trial earlier. That's one of the 'Citrus' flavoured ones. Me? I dislike citrus anything. One taste and I was like, " Blurrrgh! " and had to get it out. Dean persevered. In fact, he lasted days on it. But then, even he had to admit it was just too 'acidic' on the lip and he wont be bothering with that sort again.

Ok, finally ~ for now then ~ This pellet's giving off tiny particles and I'm spitting them off the tip of my tongue, much as one tends to do with stray bits of 'baccy from a roll up. I'm used to that, so it's not bothering me. Might you? Maybe I haven't got the knack yet?

As I do so though, the mouths natural sucking and swallowing reflex is certainly releasing more aniseed. But, again, it's not so pure and strong as I would've liked it.

What next? I don't think I can resist trying a " Nick and Johnny ~ Strong " Portion! And so many others here to try out over the coming days to! I'll let ye know what I think of them as we go along.

Meanwhile; In a rush for that Rush? Sort yeself out some " General " Portion, and throw those fuckin' fags in the bin! :D

Snus Update .....

Just Un Fucking Real!

I'm sat here, enjoying my penultimate 'Baggie' (" Portion ") of Snus. I have just one left in my tub. Shit. And, with that, I just poked a 25g pouch of Golden Virginia into my bod' warmer pocket. God help me if I found myself in town and without any Snus tomorrow!

Fact is? By tomorrow afternoon, I'll be smoking fags again. What a fucking Drag! I'm really, seriously pissed off about it. Back in the old routine. My energy levels will drop, again. I'll be furtively sneaking from shop to shop, place to place. Trying to suck sustenance from half a roll up, before clipping it and dashing around the next place on my itinerary.

Since 18:00, Friday, November 6th, this year I've tasted Freedom! Tomorrow I rejoin the herd. I'll have run out of Snus.

For now, anyway. Because, today, I put in an order for €50's worth! If that can get here by the weekend? Dean O' and I are in for a regular little Snus Fest! We'll be falling upon the wide and rich variety I've ordered and sampling as much as one can in an evening or so.

If not? I'll be Praying for the phone to ring on Monday ..... some guy from FedEx asking me where the hell I am!

Let me make this easy for ye, people: I've been a case hardened smoker for forty years. I'd sooner die that suffer the withdrawal symptoms of trying to 'Give Up'. (They say we're more addicted than Smack Addicts! What hope have we?!)

I smoke a gram of tobacco per hour. 25g pack, at €8.50 lasts me about 24 hours. Effectively? Two days.

Single tub of Snus, costing about €2.50, max', has lasted me Three and a Half Days.

I can't count. But, even I can see that's cheaper than shit!

On top of that, there's been this feeling of freedom. I go in pubs, travel in taxi's, eat my dinner, wander through shops. Never once bothered by the urge to get the fuck out and get one sparked up.

Best of all? I'll be back on the fags by the time ye read this. So what? Doesn't overly bother me. Just a passing inconvenience. Because my Snus supply will be here soon. I'll suss my favourites and order a rolling stock of those.

And, I now know; The moment I have another tub of Snus in my pocket? I can just breeze out that door and not even care about 'A Smoke'.

Snussed In Fucking Credible!!!

This is never fucking Real, is it?! I walked into my local, tonight, at 5.40pm. At 5.45, I crept out for a crafty fag, having just spent ten minutes in a taxi and ordered my pint etc. At 5.55 I was told my Snus had arrived! About 6.00pm, I popped this weird little tea bag like thing under my lip and offered the tub round.

None of my fellow smokers accepted a ..... I dunno. What do we call this shit? A 'Dose'? A 'Tab'? A 'Hit'? We really, as yet, have no common term for it. They call them " Portions " on the tub. But 'Portion'?! Ask a bloke in a pub if he fancies a Portion ....?! Fuck off!

Anyway; Dean 'O turned up ~ and refused to try it. We went about our business and went back to his place. I took my Snus out while I ate my kebab. Put it back in and drank my beer, as normal.

Around 8.00pm, I fancied a fresh Hit. I put the used one in the special compartment in the lid of my Snus tub and popped a fresh one under my lip. We sat and drank beer as we watched an excellent film.

By Ten O'Clock at night, Dean'O was aghast enough to want to try it. I gave him a hit of my General (Portion), and the poor guy virtually spat it out. This is one of the stronger 'Portions'. High Nicotine and Strong Taste of Tobacco.

Happily, I also had some " Skruf (Original White Portion) available. Much Milder in all departments. Apparently has a slight, lemony tang flavour to it? Dean 'O didn't spit that one out.

I left Dean's and am now home. Soon as I got in, just before 10.00pm, I popped my third General of the evening. I also served myself my customary Jameson Irish Whiskey. I'm sat here Enjoying the fuck out of both, as I type this report. The Snus in no way disturbs the taste of the Jameson. And ~ in case ye haven't registered this yet ....? I haven't smoked a fag in FOUR Fucking Hours!!!

I've eaten. I'm drinking alcohol. I'm relaxing and perfectly happy. I have Absolutely No Desire to skin a fag and put it in my mouth! Why the fuck Would I?!

I Don't Believe I just did that! I swear to god; I just hit for the next paragraph. Paused to think what to say next. My right hand lifted up and hovered, uncertainly, over my desk! I was looking for my 'baccy and skins! LMFAO! That's how much of a 'natural' smoker I am! I skin a fag virtually without conscious thought! I'd have skinned one then. Only, I don't actually Fancy one!

My friends and fellow, life long, full on Smokers? All of ye. Addicted or not; This is nothing short of Fucking Revolutionary!!!

I didn't get this stuff to try and kick smoking. I'm quite contentedly resigned to smoking. I Know it'll kill me ~ but, so will much else. I just wanted to try this 'for the craic'. Another novelty. 'Games that men play'.

I'm absolutely fucking astounded at the effect it's having on me! Nothing 'should' make a life long, Heavy Smoker feel this way! It can't be physically possible. Our governments Must know about Snus, obviously. They Beg us, nay; FORCE us to give up smoking ~ or Pay!

So; How come this shit Isn't available in the shops? It's At Least half the price of 'Tobacco', as we know it. It has absolutely Zero effect on those around us, just Looking For a reason to bleat! I don't breath this shit on anyone. It doesn't sting their eyes. It doesn't obscure their view. I don't smell of it.

Fuck me; Unless they want to put their Tongue in my mouth ....?! It's about as bad for our health as yellowy coloured stuff on our sandwiches ~ probably less so, judging by the findings of " The Leitrim Experiment ".

Yet, it's not Allowed to be sold, retail, Anywhere in the EC, except Sweden and Norway. Ye see absolutely No mention of it amongst the plethora of govt. 'Give It Up' sites. No Way is ye GP going to know about it. " Talk to (Fill space with some NHS / Govt Dept) About Giving Up Smoking " ?

No! Fire up ye fucking computer and check out The Northerner. There be the gear. Take ye picks. It's perfectly straightforward and legal to buy it, from them or any other Swedish or Norwegian source, for ye own use. 'Thank You, Brussels!'.

11.35pm. I haven't smoked a fag since 6.00pm. I see no reason to. I feel fine, thanks.

Fuck this; I'm getting me a stock of Snus!

Let's spread the word;

Here's the Revolution!

Snus .....

No. It's not a typo or an acronym. Perhaps it is a Swedish word though? I'm really not sure. What ever. Sweden appears to be the epicentre of it. And I'm going to get some.

In a nut shell; Snus is a medium through which one can gain the nicotine which smokers, such as myself, 'die for'. Yet the impact on ones health is probably about on a par with drinking coke ..... No. Scrub that. I wouldn't drink coke! I suspect Snus is safer.

So, it's a 'Medium' ? Well, sort of Mild, Medium and Strong, really. Comes in all sorts of strengths, flavours, even several forms. But, it's basically tobacco. (Hear me out!) Tobacco is a plant. It synthesises a chemical we call Nicotine. Nicotine could kill ye, stone dead on the spot, if ye ingested a small amount of the pure stuff. Of course, so could Parsley.

But, we smokers are addicted to nicotine. Not parsley or it's chemical constituents. In fact, at the levels we consume nic', it doesn't really matter. It's the other shit we take in, as we inhale the chemical morass formed by setting fire to the nic' harbouring vegetation ~ And the vile concoction of additives they lace the raw vegetation with, simply in order to make it all burn at an acceptably uniform and convenient rate!

In short then? Nicotine addicts smokers. Actually more strongly than Heroin does Smack Heads, believe it or not! But, nicotine doesn't kill smokers. The shit we go through to get that 'fix' does.

Back to Snus then. Snus is tobacco ~ Pay attention at the back! ~ hard to get nic' without that plant. Only, ye don't burn and inhale its smoke. Ye don't chew it. Ye don't even sniff it up ye nose. No. Ye just poke it under ye top lip! :o I shit ye not!

First uproar? " No Fucking WAY am I shoving a gram of cigarette tobacco under my lip! " Err ..... No one's suggesting ye do, mate. That'd be on a par with 'Chewing Tobacco'. That stuff can seriously fuck up ye face.

No. Can we please just forget all about " Tobacco ", as we think of it? Tobacco is just a plant. So is Barley. Do one load of things with Barley? Add things? Ye get beer. Do and add other things? Whiskey. Or even refreshing Robinsons Barley Water. Just so the tobacco plant. One treatment creates cigarettes. Another cigars. A certain way gets ye snus.

Put brutally simply? About 50% water. 5% Salt. The rest made up out of 'baccy and what ever flavourants and the odd thing to make it all come together? That's snus, in laymans terms.

Well, anyway, I'm gonna get some. From Here.

I'm Not trying to give up smoking. Given up trying to give up, decades ago. But, having used Snuff before, I know how an alternative source of Nicotine can drastically cut down on ones need to actually Smoke. This is 90% economics ~ Snus works out cheaper ~ and a passing nod to the fact that I'm simply too fucked to even fuck. I could use some breath.

No soap box then. Not evangelising or proselytising. Just bringing up something else that has caught my notice and which might be of some interest to some others reading this shit.

Week or two and I'll likely be telling ye what I make of the actual stuff; Snus.