Let me introduce myself

[Tom200]

TJENA, LÄGET!

Welcome onboard!

Sweden has given the world a number of great inventions - Ikea, Surstromming, snus and, I think it was Sweden where the first steam locomotive and the first landline telephone were built...
I wish I could do it like you - walk into a grocery store, open the snus fridge and grab whatever brand I am in the mood of using today... fairy tale country Sweden...

I used Ettan almost exclusively for years until the trouble broke out in Europe exactly one year ago. SM pulled their brands out of EU markets. I had no choice other than to switch to less popular makes like Oden's Skruf or V2, move that I do not regret by the way. Not only these brands cost less, they come in plastic tins which is a huge advantage as I often had broken lids and other damage done to cardboard cans as a result of improper handling of the packages by UPS. Budget brands also have a longer shelf life which is an important factor too when you live outside of Sweden.
I doubt if I would go back to Swedish Match products now.. unless I moved to Sweden perhaps.

Tjena! Läget är bra. Själv?

I know some important inventions come from Sweden. The computer mouse too I think. Surströmming however is shunned by most people because of the smell. Also not really part of the food culture in the South where i live.

And that you can go in to any shop and grab whatever brand you like...sadly that isn't the case. Many big grocery stores only have the big SM brands. Even most ordinary tobacco shops don't have that much to choose from.

Quite close to where I live is a part of town with many small immigrant owned shops. They are usually cheaper than the big stores. Also they have (in some cases) lots of budget brands and other less common types of snus to choose from.

There is only one tobacco shop in my city (3rd biggest) that has any of the really uncommon types of snus, dip, etc.

So I was suprised when I first saw this forum years ago and americans were discussing swedish brands of snus I (as a Swede) never had heard about.

[Tom200]

Tom............welcome

At first we thought you were Tom502 making a comeback (well………..Snuffy thought that...........I knew all along........but that's why I’m a mod)

Regardless..............even though it is not the 502 model................the 200 models knows all about hollow earth.............and Hitler......and UFOs....just like the 502 release

Now how much would you pay for all of this

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE

if you order now.............you also get the European Salad Shooter for FREE!!!!

But who cares

WELCOME!!!!!!

Tom twice 100

Thanks! I don't know if Tom200 is an improved model. It prolly isn't... But I do have a lot of knowledge about weird stuff.

And how much I would pay? What price are you asking? The salad shooter sounds damned interesting.

[Jan]

Tjena! Läget är bra. Själv?

I know some important inventions come from Sweden. The computer mouse too I think. Surströmming however is shunned by most people because of the smell. Also not really part of the food culture in the South where i live.

And that you can go in to any shop and grab whatever brand you like...sadly that isn't the case. Many big grocery stores only have the big SM brands. Even most ordinary tobacco shops don't have that much to choose from.

Quite close to where I live is a part of town with many small immigrant owned shops. They are usually cheaper than the big stores. Also they have (in some cases) lots of budget brands and other less common types of snus to choose from.

There is only one tobacco shop in my city (3rd biggest) that has any of the really uncommon types of snus, dip, etc.

So I was suprised when I first saw this forum years ago and americans were discussing swedish brands of snus I (as a Swede) never had heard about.

Tack, också bra!

You mention you live in the 3rd biggest city in Sweden, am I right in thinking it is Malmo where you come from? I have never been to southern Sweden but it is on my travel wish list as is a visit to Astrid Lindgrens Värld in Småland. I grew up on Astrid Lingrens books and was therefore fascinated with everything Swedish from quite an early age.

Until now all of my visits to Sweden had to do more or less with business. I have experience buying snus in Stockholm and in Dalarna, never came across a specialized snus store in any of those destinations. Ika, Pressbyrån were enough to satisfy my modest needs. I remember wanting to try Tre Ankare, quite a popular brand in Sweden, but I could not find it, even though I bought Montecristo, Granit and of course SM snus in rolls, all at a Pressbyrån outlet.
Another things I could not find in Sweden is the icetool. In fact I could not find a single person who would have heard of its existance. Quite strange for the birthplace on snus...!!!!

Jan

[Tom200]

Tack, också bra!

You mention you live in the 3rd biggest city in Sweden, am I right in thinking it is Malmo where you come from? I have never been to southern Sweden but it is on my travel wish list as is a visit to Astrid Lindgrens Värld in Småland. I grew up on Astrid Lingrens books and was therefore fascinated with everything Swedish from quite an early age.

Until now all of my visits to Sweden had to do more or less with business. I have experience buying snus in Stockholm and in Dalarna, never came across a specialized snus store in any of those destinations. Ika, Pressbyrån were enough to satisfy my modest needs. I remember wanting to try Tre Ankare, quite a popular brand in Sweden, but I could not find it, even though I bought Montecristo, Granit and of course SM snus in rolls, all at a Pressbyrån outlet.
Another things I could not find in Sweden is the icetool. In fact I could not find a single person who would have heard of its existance. Quite strange for the birthplace on snus...!!!!

Jan

I was also quite fond of (some of) Astrid Lindgren's stories as a child. And the TV-series Emil is probably the best adaption ever of her work. But I don't live in Småland. It's a different "landskap". "Landskap" is translated as "traditional provinces" but in some ways it's like american states.

Skåne especially is a bit different from the rest of Sweden. The accent and the attitude of the people is different. Also it used to belong to Denmark (100's of years ago). It was quite brutally incorporated into Sweden although some (snapphanar) fought back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snapphane

Here in Malmö we have one specialized snus store (there might be more). It's close to Triangeln and also has other kinds of tobacco (of course) and is quite expensive.

[Jan]

I was also quite fond of (some of) Astrid Lindgren's stories as a child. And the TV-series Emil is probably the best adaption ever of her work. But I don't live in Småland. It's a different "landskap". "Landskap" is translated as "traditional provinces" but in some ways it's like american states.

Skåne especially is a bit different from the rest of Sweden. The accent and the attitude of the people is different. Also it used to belong to Denmark (100's of years ago). It was quite brutally incorporated into Sweden although some (snapphanar) fought back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snapphane

Here in Malmö we have one specialized snus store (there might be more). It's close to Triangeln and also has other kinds of tobacco (of course) and is quite expensive.

Emil i Lonneberga, yes and Peppi Langstrump of course - my first book as a child.

Thank you for sharing a bit of history about your area. The whole of Sweden once belonged to the Danish king and there was a war of independence ( after the Danes beheaded a few dozens of free thinking Stockholmers an uprising began resulting in Sweden breaking away from Denmark). I am writing this for everybody to read, therefore correct me if I am wrong. I think it is to the benefit of us all to talk history and geogrpahy and culture as well on this forum, apart from talking snus, because this helps us understand each other better. It goes without saying that every snus lover wants to learn as much as possible about the country snus comes from!

You are now closer to Denmark than ever. With the Oresund bridge it takes you 10 mins by car to reach Kopenhagen which lies on the opposite side of the Straight of Denmark.
You have a local snus manufacturer in Malmo, F&L, is Granit popular there or.. not at all?

[Tom200]

Emil i Lonneberga, yes and Peppi Langstrump of course - my first book as a child.

Thank you for sharing a bit of history about your area. The whole of Sweden once belonged to the Danish king and there was a war of independence ( after the Danes beheaded a few dozens of free thinking Stockholmers an uprising began resulting in Sweden breaking away from Denmark). I am writing this for everybody to read, therefore correct me if I am wrong. I think it is to the benefit of us all to talk history and geogrpahy and culture as well on this forum, apart from talking snus, because this helps us understand each other better. It goes without saying that every snus lover wants to learn as much as possible about the country snus comes from!

You are now closer to Denmark than ever. With the Oresund bridge it takes you 10 mins by car to reach Kopenhagen which lies on the opposite side of the Straight of Denmark.
You have a local snus manufacturer in Malmo, F&L, is Granit popular there or.. not at all?

Great that you are interested in Swedish history! I am ashamed that I don't know so much about it myself. I have forgotten which king was which etc. Must be something wrong with our educational system... I do know a lot about Vikings and their mythology though. This is because I became interested as an adult.

Sweden belonged to Denmark? I checked it now and for while under the Kalmar Union Sweden, Denmark and Norway was ruled by a danish king. I had never heard about it before.

I am half danish btw. Denmark is the only other country in EU where snus is allowed to be sold, but only loose.

Also not to complain since in some cases you seem to know more about Sweden than I do, but the Öresund bridge is nowhere near the Straight of Denmark. I had no idea what the Straight of Denmark was.

But yeah.. The bridge makes it very easy to go to Copenhagen. Also if you visit Copenhagen you should come to Malmö. We have a festival here in August every year with lots of free entertainment etc. It lasts a week and is the biggest event of its kind in Sweden.

The snus you mentioned last is sold in many places so I reckon it's quite popular. Most ppl prolly don't know it's made in Malmö. I think it was the same company that made Rocker. Rocker was a very cheap (but interesting snus). Every snus in their line up was made to mimic General, Grov, Catch except one mint flavored.

BTW are you dutch?

[Jan]

Great that you are interested in Swedish history! I am ashamed that I don't know so much about it myself. I have forgotten which king was which etc. Must be something wrong with our educational system... I do know a lot about Vikings and their mythology though. This is because I became interested as an adult.

Sweden belonged to Denmark? I checked it now and for while under the Kalmar Union Sweden, Denmark and Norway was ruled by a danish king. I had never heard about it before.

I am half danish btw. Denmark is the only other country in EU where snus is allowed to be sold, but only loose.

Also not to complain since in some cases you seem to know more about Sweden than I do, but the Öresund bridge is nowhere near the Straight of Denmark. I had no idea what the Straight of Denmark was.

But yeah.. The bridge makes it very easy to go to Copenhagen. Also if you visit Copenhagen you should come to Malmö. We have a festival here in August every year with lots of free entertainment etc. It lasts a week and is the biggest event of its kind in Sweden.

The snus you mentioned last is sold in many places so I reckon it's quite popular. Most ppl prolly don't know it's made in Malmö. I think it was the same company that made Rocker. Rocker was a very cheap (but interesting snus). Every snus in their line up was made to mimic General, Grov, Catch except one mint flavored.

BTW are you dutch?

Hej!

I am not dutch, I am a Latvian citizen but I am half Finnish. My grand grandmother came from Sweden, btw. and I have German ancestry too, all of which combined makes me unsure as to who I am or want to be... So perhaps my fascination of the Nordic countries was somehow genetically predetermined.
Did you know Latvia once belonged to Sweden (I certainly wish It remained part of it)? Swedish kingdom used to lay on both coasts of the Baltic and the see itself was referred to as "Sweden's largest lake"...

Oops, I mixed up the Öresund and the Straight of Denmark. Thanks for pointing this out!

Speaking of Malmö, it should be mentioned that this is the place where a guy grew up who was later to become Sweden's famous football player Zlatan Ibragimowitch.

It is a shame that manufacturers are moving away from Lös snus. I know, the introduction of portions back in the 70s was what helped snus win back its popularity (snus use was declining up until then). In an earlier post you mentioned Taboca. I liked that and Montecristo as well, as Lös. I still add an occasional can or two of either brand to my orders but it is not the experience it used to be. I have heard of Rocker snus and remember it being sold online. Never got to try it myself, it was quick to disappear, but the name and the can somehow looked appealing. None of the budget brands in my view succeeded in copying (or imitating rather) General, Grov or Ettan. I am not sure whether they could not do it or they did not want to do it but some of those low cost varieties have value of their own. Like Granit, or Oden's Classic snus... these are sometimes referred to as "poor man's General", statement that is obviously false.

One day I'll visit both cities. Denmark is a lot different from the rest of the Nordic region for a number of reasons. First, it does not have a systembolaget (state monopoly on alcohol), second it is light years ahead of Sweden and Norway in its use of renewable energy (they say you won't find as many wind farms and as many bio gas extraction plants anywhere else in the world as in Denmark) and surprisingly, they are the only EU country (apart from Sweden of course) where snus (albeit only in loose form) is available in stores. Did Denmark choose to ignore the snus ban, I wonder or did they invent a regulation of their own? The reason portions are banned is obviously to make snus use less attractive to younger generation but could not the whole of EU follow Denmark's example if that is the case?

Have a nice day Tom

[Tom200]

Hej!

I am not dutch, I am a Latvian citizen but I am half Finnish. My grand grandmother came from Sweden, btw. and I have German ancestry too, all of which combined makes me unsure as to who I am or want to be... So perhaps my fascination of the Nordic countries was somehow genetically predetermined.
Did you know Latvia once belonged to Sweden (I certainly wish It remained part of it)? Swedish kingdom used to lay on both coasts of the Baltic and the see itself was referred to as "Sweden's largest lake"...

Oops, I mixed up the Öresund and the Straight of Denmark. Thanks for pointing this out!

Speaking of Malmö, it should be mentioned that this is the place where a guy grew up who was later to become Sweden's famous football player Zlatan Ibragimowitch.

It is a shame that manufacturers are moving away from Lös snus. I know, the introduction of portions back in the 70s was what helped snus win back its popularity (snus use was declining up until then). In an earlier post you mentioned Taboca. I liked that and Montecristo as well, as Lös. I still add an occasional can or two of either brand to my orders but it is not the experience it used to be. I have heard of Rocker snus and remember it being sold online. Never got to try it myself, it was quick to disappear, but the name and the can somehow looked appealing. None of the budget brands in my view succeeded in copying (or imitating rather) General, Grov or Ettan. I am not sure whether they could not do it or they did not want to do it but some of those low cost varieties have value of their own. Like Granit, or Oden's Classic snus... these are sometimes referred to as "poor man's General", statement that is obviously false.

One day I'll visit both cities. Denmark is a lot different from the rest of the Nordic region for a number of reasons. First, it does not have a systembolaget (state monopoly on alcohol), second it is light years ahead of Sweden and Norway in its use of renewable energy (they say you won't find as many wind farms and as many bio gas extraction plants anywhere else in the world as in Denmark) and surprisingly, they are the only EU country (apart from Sweden of course) where snus (albeit only in loose form) is available in stores. Did Denmark choose to ignore the snus ban, I wonder or did they invent a regulation of their own? The reason portions are banned is obviously to make snus use less attractive to younger generation but could not the whole of EU follow Denmark's example if that is the case?

Have a nice day Tom

Hi again! I have some problems replying because I'm using my mobile phone. The mobile version of the forum makes it hard to post and it doesn't work at all with the full version.

Cool that you are latvian and finnish. I kinda like the fins although they don't seem so fond of swedes. Also I had no idea Latvia once belonged to Sweden but I know Finland did.

And Zlatan yes. I have never met him. I am a bit interested in football (soccer). I think it was the year before last our local team (MFF) won the swedish cup. And Sweden is qualified for the European championship which is great.

I don't personally care that loose is becoming less common. Of course I think it should be available to those who use it. Also in your opinion which budget snus is most like Grov? The only one I tried which came very close was Rocker Red. Also why is there no Grovsnus mini? Grov is almost as popular as General. I wrote to Swedish match about this but no reply.

I know there is a lot of renewable energy in Denmark but since they have no nuclear power they use lots of coal and oil. So I think Denmark pollutes the air more than Sweden does.

And why only loose is legal to sell in Denmark? That we got to keep snus is because it was a product that was traditionally used. In Denmark portions weren't considered traditional, only loose. Still if I move to Denmark I'll have to switch to loose.

Have a nice day or night.

[Jan]

Hi again! I have some problems replying because I'm using my mobile phone. The mobile version of the forum makes it hard to post and it doesn't work at all with the full version.

Cool that you are latvian and finnish. I kinda like the fins although they don't seem so fond of swedes. Also I had no idea Latvia once belonged to Sweden but I know Finland did.

And Zlatan yes. I have never met him. I am a bit interested in football (soccer). I think it was the year before last our local team (MFF) won the swedish cup. And Sweden is qualified for the European championship which is great.

I don't personally care that loose is becoming less common. Of course I think it should be available to those who use it. Also in your opinion which budget snus is most like Grov? The only one I tried which came very close was Rocker Red. Also why is there no Grovsnus mini? Grov is almost as popular as General. I wrote to Swedish match about this but no reply.

I know there is a lot of renewable energy in Denmark but since they have no nuclear power they use lots of coal and oil. So I think Denmark pollutes the air more than Sweden does.

And why only loose is legal to sell in Denmark? That we got to keep snus is because it was a product that was traditionally used. In Denmark portions weren't considered traditional, only loose. Still if I move to Denmark I'll have to switch to loose.

Have a nice day or night.

Hej!

The only budget snus I can think of that would resemble Grov is Phantom Brown. It does not rival it, so to speak but its mild sweetness and course grind comes close to that of Grov. Maybe others would have different suggestions. Swedish Match is not a very reliable company and some of their actions are hard to predict or explain. They used to post here but as the turmoil began on European snus markets one year ago they did not even consider it necessary to comment on the situation.

You are quite right about the Finns, btw! The war Finland is waging on snus is more of a retaliatory act, rather than genuine health concern. After all, snus has always been consumed by Finns and Swedes alike. There are people i know of finnish, not swedish ethnical extraction, who feel being held hostage by their government actions. My guess is, the current government in Finland wants to distance itself from its former "big brother" and re-create a new, unique, identity. Finland aspires to become a completely tobacco free country by 2050 (I am not sure if that's realistic though, they would need to ban tobacco as a hard drug). Nokia is the only smartphone manufacture to use Windows phone software exclusively.... when you follow all those steps one by one a picture emerges of a country that is in sharp contrast to the "rest of club".

I am very fond of Finland and finnish people, they have built a wonderful country but black sheep are to be found everywhere - in Finland, Sweden, Britain, Belgium and so on.

Don't worry about not being able to reply to every post, there is no obligation. I seldom write anything when I have to rely on my mobile phone connection. Touchscreens are good for occasional email or web surfing but not for essays as long as this. It is enough if you read what we discuss here and post something occasionally whenever you can.

Have a nice day or what is left of it.