Hello, New member here who recently quit smoking.

[GsxrKidd]

Hello everyone I recently quit smoking and am a new member to this forum. I started using smokeless tobacco instead of killing my poor lungs....
I tried the camel snus portions, and they were absolute crap.. only 35% bio-availability nicotine content AT THE MAX research tells me.....*edit* and I forgot to mention they taste like hot garbage *edit*
I recently ordered a 5can roll of General Loose Snus from my local tobacco shop for about 26USD out the door. (I was unaware of all the great deals online).
I am not a fan of the pouches, or portions as they are called, as you pretty much pay more and get less. The owner told me for the same price a 5 can roll of General portions would be around 25g per can instead of about 46g of loose snus.. I still think that sounds ridiculous...loose snus....lol.
Well, long story short, the owner of the tobacco shop I went to had to piggyback my order on top of one of his re-stock orders, and it could take up to 7 days until I get my REAL snus.

So in the meantime I purchased a can of American Kodiak Wintergreen moist snuff too hold me out, and I was curious, and I did do some research online (about 5 minutes I'll be honest) and could not find the answer I was looking for. So here it goes, Is Kodiak Moist Snuff Fermented, or Pasteurized (as I understand almost ALL Swedish Snus' are pasteurized, resulting in almost zero tobacco specific nitrosamines [the bad cancer causing crap]) ? Part of me is assuming that it is fermented as it seems all American chewing/dipping tobacco products are. Yet a sliver of my being is hoping that it is pasteurized. I know its only one can, but I am still curious. I just cannot get my head around why American companies would ferment their tobacco instead of pasteurizing it. maybe for productions costs??? And I am reaaally unable to get my head around this too, why would people even bother to buy American dip/chew when Swedish Pasteurized snus is far less detrimental to the health of your gums and mouth... and far less cheaper it appears too. I found a deal for a huge 10 can roll of General Loose Snus for about 29$ USD with shipping included....

Thank you for your time and consideration in your delicately picked answers.

[Lulie]

Hi and WELCOME! I too have recently quit smoking for snusing, and just wanted to applude you on your decision!

As for your question, I have no idea, but I am sure some of these clever snusing folk around here will know.

[Monkey]

Welcome!

American moist snuff is not pastuerized.....

[chadizzy1]

Welcome!

American moist snuff is not pastuerized.....

Correct. There is no American dip/snuff that is pasteurized.

The closest/safest you will get would be Timberwolf from Pinkerton, a Swedish Match subsidiary which has the lowest non-snus TSNA counts.

[Veganpunk]

Welcome to SnusOn!!!

[lxskllr]

Welcome to SnusOn!

I wouldn't get too wound up about dip. It's far safer than smoking, if not snus. American dip is fermented cause that's the way it is. Sounds dumb, but it's the American technique. If it wasn't prepared that way, it wouldn't be the same. I'd base your choice on flavor. Imo, snus' flavor is much more sophisticated, and it generally has less added flavor, sweetness, and other crap the American companies use to fool the rubes.

[GsxrKidd]

Welcome to SnusOn!

I wouldn't get too wound up about dip. It's far safer than smoking, if not snus. American dip is fermented cause that's the way it is. Sounds dumb, but it's the American technique. If it wasn't prepared that way, it wouldn't be the same. I'd base your choice on flavor. Imo, snus' flavor is much more sophisticated, and it generally has less added flavor, sweetness, and other crap the American companies use to fool the rubes.

I know this isn't the best of things to say, but I find myself more and more often not all that proud to be an American the way things are going.......

[lxskllr]

I know this isn't the best of things to say, but I find myself more and more often not all that proud to be an American the way things are going.......

I get hung up on that myself. I like the American ideal, more than the way it's practiced now. When is it suitable to say all is lost? Never? In that case Rome, Greece, Persia, and the UK have a better claim to greatness than we do.

[truthwolf1]

I know this isn't the best of things to say, but I find myself more and more often not all that proud to be an American the way things are going.......

RON PAUL will bring that back.

anyways, not mentioned yet is that there is a flavor aspect also with fermentation over pastuerized tobacco. SNUS seems to be more earthy flavored and dip more pukey smoked.. if that makes any sense.

I do like a occasional dip once in awhile but really do prefer the flavor of SNUS.

[chadizzy1]

RON PAUL will bring that back.

Amen!

[chainsnuser]

I just cannot get my head around why American companies would ferment their tobacco instead of pasteurizing it.

Welcome to the forum, GsxrKidd!

Fermentation is a common method of food preparation and food preservation. It's done with practically all meat-products, with milk products and also with many fruits and vegetables. It's nothing devilish, but natural and it makes many types of food palatable in the first place.

The TSNA-topic certainly isn't total nonsense, but it's hopelessly exaggerated. It's to a great extent fearmongering on the anti-tobacco-activists' part and clever marketing on the snus-manufacturers' part. As far as I know, there has no conclusive link been found between small amounts of nitrosamines and cancer.

I think the main downside of fermented snuff is the fact that it irritates the throat and turns your stomach upside down unless you spit out the saliva all the time. Apart from that, the pasteurized snus surely gives one some peace of mind, regarding the health effects, even if one doesn't buy into the exaggerated TSNA-propaganda.

I have no idea whether Kodiak is fermented or not, but you shoud be able to find out with your tastebuds. Fermented tobacco has a strong kind of leather taste or "barn taste". It's very noticeable.

Cheers!

[Mdisch]

Welcome to SnusOn!

And for a little question from myself - is it possible to get American snus in Denmark? I mean, I highly doubt that I would like it better, but I would like to expand my knowledge of snus so I sorta wanna try the American stuff.

[GsxrKidd]

Welcome to the forum, GsxrKidd!

I think the main downside of fermented snuff is the fact that it irritates the throat and turns your stomach upside down unless you spit out the saliva all the time. Apart from that, the pasteurized snus surely gives one some peace of mind, regarding the health effects, even if one doesn't buy into the exaggerated TSNA-propaganda.

I have no idea whether Kodiak is fermented or not, but you shoud be able to find out with your tastebuds. Fermented tobacco has a strong kind of leather taste or "barn taste". It's very noticeable.

Cheers!

well, It is Kodiak moist snuff, and the way I use it is roll it up into a pretty firm little ball, and place it a little to the left or right of my upper gum, so it hardly drips if at all. I understand this is called a Pris when using snus? Not sure how to pronounce it.. anyways, I don't experience the upset stomach or burnt throat really, since there is pretty much Zero drip... or melt as it is called?

P.S. I did not mean to turn this into a political topic, sorry about that :/

[Mdisch]

P.S. I did not mean to turn this into a political topic, sorry about that :/

No need to be sorry :-)

[GsxrKidd]

One other thing to add, besides the so called Snus sold by Camel (R.J. Reynolds), I have had one experience with a can of General dry mini mint portions, and I must say, it tasted like absolute crap to me. It was a mixture of salt and I'm not sure what else, maybe something I would find in the compost heap?? It tasted nothing like mint at all, but it did smell heavily like those small mint patties in the silver packaging. Too bad it tasted nothing of the sort....

I am hoping that the Loose General original will taste nothing like that.. since I've already ordered a 5 can roll. Anyways I'm not big into the flavored variety of tobaccos, or tea bag like pouches, so hopefully I will enjoy the original loose more than the 'mini mint'.

Curious. Anyone else have the same reaction as I?