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 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?!

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 5; N&J Black

NICK AND JOHHNY ~ BLACK PORTION:

Another that comes in the eye pleasing rosette presentation when ye open the tub. It's black too, like General ~ Onyx. But, it's no where near so powerful and particular a taste. Nicely moist, warm flavour though. Kind of wine like. Ruby wine with Pepper and Spice.

Onxy, I suspect, ye'd love or hate. Be hard to hate this one though!









Adm Says:

Appearance: Cool looking can, pretty "modern" design with the standard "ashtray" lid design for portions. On opening it up, the portions are arranged in the "star" patterns that Swedish Match seems to use for its' premium portion snus brands. The portions themselves are wedge shaped (thin at one end, fat at the other), but if you don't like that (I do) then a quick roll around between your fingers evens the snus out into the typical "pillow" shape. The portions are of course black. Which looks cool, but makes absolutely no difference to taste. This is a "white" type portion (despite being black), so is more dry at first.

Aroma: This snus has a pretty smokey aroma at first. It's actually very similar to General Onyx, with a strong bergamot (bergamot is a citrus fruit kind of a cross between a grapefruit and a lemon) and pepper smell.

Taste: Again - it's bergamot, pepper and smoke with some liquorice going on as well - but the Swedish salty kind, not the UK sweet type. This is a nice complex snus with the typical General taste, but with an added twist.

Longevity: Lasts a good long time. I've just had one of these in my mouth for about two hours and it was still giving…plenty of taste left. Good solid performance here!

Feel: The portion material is kind of velvety in texture. It's harder at first than a typical moist "regular" portion and can feel a bit solid in your mouth to start with, but it soon moistens up and gets comfortable.

All in all, a really nice snus. Good flavour, pretty intense and long lasting. I like it. Probably not one you'd want to use all the time as you'd get used to the difference which is probably its' best feature.

More Snus Has Arrived ..... (Snus Review 4)

I've just received a new consignment of snus. This time, I tried using Northerner again, only I asked them to send it by Swedish Post. I ordered on line, 17:20 on Saturday evening. It was in my local, today, Wednesday! We're realistically looking at a Three Day delivery window there! Sweden to Eire? Ye just can't do better than that! I'm a Very Happy Bunny then.

And, this time, I asked for five 'flavours' which I'd not tried yet ~ as well as a load of my old friend, General ~ Portion, which I know is a big favourite of mine. I've tried three already.

I'm actually prepared to take one out of my mouth a little prematurely, because I'm eager to experience the tastes. But, I really prefer to try one a few times, if I can, before saying what I think about it.

For now though, because Adm and I just happen to have been at the same one ~ and because it's so distinctive ~ I thought I'd give ye our, totally independent of each other, opinions of .....

Ettan Original ~ Portion

I wrote;

Dry. This is the first impression I got from this one. A dry, tobacco taste. I'd have to liken it to smoking Malboro or something similar. I think I've smoked a similar rolling 'baccy. Could it have been Cutters Choice? One of the Golden Virginia clones anyway.

Either way, it's the Most 'Tobacco' tasting snus I've tried, so far. But, it's not a flavour of tobacco I'd want to keep smoking. No more than I ever became a 'Malboro Man'.



Adm says:

" This is a fairly dry portion compared to some of the others - especially the Thunder, which is positively juicy.

The aroma is straight tobacco with light peppery hints

Taste is a very pure tobacco taste. No citrus, bergamot or whatever. To me, it actually tastes a bit like good pipe tobacco smells. Kind of an "old fashioned" taste to it - reminds me of my old Granddad for some reason - he was a pipe smoker, so maybe the smell is the link. A nice simple, quality tobacco taste with pretty low salt. Smooth tasting and lasts a good while. It takes a while to really get going though. The initial taste has a bit of "cigar box" to it if you get my drift, then after 20 mins or so the proper juicy tobacco kicks in.

Definitiely a nice "all day" suns. I think this would go really well if you were walking about outside in the cold for example.

Nicotine: 8mg per Portion "


And, will ye look at that? I swear, my own review was written and committed to Note Pad before I even told Adm I had more in! Yet Dry is the first thing either of us says of this one. Adm has a couple of weeks advantage on me. But perhaps I'm starting to appreciate the subtleties myself better now?

Adm tells me he's just about to get amongst a tub of Nick and Johnny ~ Black Portion. I tried that tonight. I'll say no more. For now .....

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

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.