Another newbie joins the ranks

[PipenSnus]

Hi everybody!

I've been lurking on the old board for about a week, and thought the board change was a good opportunity to join in and add my $.02. I've been a cigarette smoker for 35+ years, mostly menthol, about 1.5-2 packs a day. I took up pipe smoking about a year and a half ago, thinking it would get me free from inhaling tobacco smoke. It worked for a while, but little by little the cigs crept back into my life.

A few months ago I saw an article about snus. I'd never considered using chew or dip before -- I grew up around family friends and relatives who did, and the spitting just turned me off completely. (Apologies to the dippers/chewers in the crowd.) But when I found out snus was spit-free, I thought, "This might be worth a try."

So when my local drugstore started carrying Marlboro Snus recently, I got curious and bought some. I ended up trying Peppermint, Mild and Rich. Yes, they're way too sweet, and far from being nicotine bombs, and I may get jeered for saying this, but... I kinda liked the flavors. But I thought I owed it to myself to try the real thing.

So I did a little Web research, found a number of vendors, and found you nice people, too. I've placed a couple of online orders -- about 9 or 10 brands to sample -- which should be here next week, I hope. I also visited my local B&M, which only carries General, and picked up a can of the Mini Mint and a freebie sample pack. I can already tell that General Mint is going to be a fave -- great peppermint flavor & long-lasting.

My goal is to get rid of the cigs completely, still enjoy an occasional pipe of good tobacco, but to be primarily a snuser. I'm not going to rush quitting cigs, just let them drop away naturally.

I'm happy to meet you folks.

Oh, and BTW, since I know some of you are probably curious, here are the brands I ordered. A good selection, I think, although feedback would be appreciated:

The Starter Kit from PremiumSnus.com, which includes:

Skruf Portion
General White portion
Catch White Eucalyptus
Thunder Extra Strong Original Portion
Göteborgs Rapé White Portion
Röda Lacket White Portion

And from The Northerner:

Northener Energy Snus
Oomph Citrus & Menthol 6 mg
Lab O2

[Frosted]

A very warm welcome.
If you were a menthol smoker I'd order either the 12mg Thunder Frosted or the 16mg Thunder Frosted. I'd also stick by General initially as it's standard and pretty good.
But yes - your order will do you fine - my only big hate on there is Lab 02 and Oomph.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Welcome to SnusOn! Looks like a great selection. I don't think you'll have much trouble getting off the ciggs. The snus will give you the nicotine you need and you can use your pipe for the hand to mouth addiction. I quit a very heavy cigg habit with snus. I also enjoy a pipe or cigar occasionally. Keep us updated on the progress.

[timholian]

Nice to see you on the forum! I have successfully quit smoke with snus and I didn't try very hard. lol Instead of having the morning smoke I just decided to try a snus and haven't looked back. I wish you luck in your endeavor.
Your order looks good to me and I only have two suggestions thus far...
Gotlands green portions: tastes of apples
Nick & Johnny strong: tastes of heaven

[Robert81]

Welcome to the forums. I highly recommend you try some Oden's Cinnamon (high nicotine), General Wintergreen and General Mint. BTW another amazing website to order from is http://www.buysnus.com, they usually have cool promotions going on and their shipping time/customer service is excellent.

[danielan]

Welcome to SnusOn!

Oomph is great stuff.

I'd also try a "fruity" one or two.

Maybe:
Skruf Tranbar
Gote #2
Jacobbson's Ice Fruit
(ditto) Gotland's Green
Discreet is really sweet, but cheap - depends on your tastes - I think it is tasty after meals.

Also,
Maybe try some Offroad. It's cheap and it has some fun flavors in limited editions.

I smoked Camel Lights for 20+ years and I am really enjoying the variety.

Oh, and if you didn't get it in your sampler, General Portion Mint (not mini (which is good too)) is also great.

[PipenSnus]

Thanks very much for the warm welcome, and for all the great suggestions on brands to try. I've already had my eye on some of the brands you've recommended as possibilities for future orders.

The General sample packs have 3 portions each of Original, Original White, Wintergreen, and Mini Mint. So far I've tried the Mint (which I love), the Wintergreen (OK, but probably won't end being one of my top 5 faves), and the Original White.

I liked the Original White when I first popped in a portion, but after about 10 minutes a bitter taste showed up. Wasn't bad at first -- tasted like an unsweetened iced tea with lemon, if you grilled, salted and peppered the lemon. But the bitterness grew, and by 20 minutes it was intolerable, forcing me to spit out the portion. So the rest of the Original and Original White portions are now in the freezer. I'll revisit them once I get more snusing experience. Maybe I'll enjoy them more then.

[Snusdog]

Welcome

The order looks nice. I'd throw in some Grov at some point but there will be plenty of time for that.

Enjoy and let us know what you think when the order arrives.

dog

[tom502]

Welcome. One thing I found for me, is snus was an aquired taste. It took me two attempts to get into it. I used to smoke, and was not used to oral tobacco at all, and when I 1st tried a snus, which was American Camel, it about knocked me out. Then I got a can of General mini mint, and while it was better, it also was strong to me. Just was not used to it at all. I actually quit snus shortly after that, though I did try more brands. I got into nasal snuff, and after a while I tried snus again, and this time it did not affect me as badly, but it still took a week or 2 to get used to it. It all seemed so salty to me at 1st.

Now, it's been over a year, I guess. I've tried a whole lot of brands.
Personally, I like the V2 made snus, Offroad Original, Phantom/Rothbrix, I used to say Thunder Original was my fave snus, but now I don't feel a need or want for starks.

You also may want to try some loose snus sometime. It has a large fanbase. My uneven top teeth though made it uncomfortable for me, but I did like the taste if it.

[MojoQuestor]

Hi from me as well. Enjoy the snus!

[PipenSnus]

Welcome. One thing I found for me, is snus was an aquired taste. It took me two attempts to get into it. I used to smoke, and was not used to oral tobacco at all, and when I 1st tried a snus, which was American Camel, it about knocked me out.

Thanks for the advice, neighbor.

Tobacco strength doesn't seem to be a problem for me. I think that's because I've been smoking a pipe for over a year, and I've gotten accustomed to and enjoy some pretty strong blends of pipe tobacco. And since nicotine is absorbed through the soft tissues of the mouth with both pipe smoking and snus, I'm also used to the more gradual way you get your nicotine fix.

It's cigarettes that sometimes knock me back on my heels, because they deliver nicotine in a quick blast. If I haven't had a cigarette in a while, and then light one up, I get dizzy. But I can smoke a big pipe of Old Joe Krantz or University Flake (both very robust pipe blends) without a problem, other than maybe a slight case of the hiccups.

[Jonnymh1]

Hi and welcome! I've been using snus for about a month and I quit smoking 3 days after starting to use snus. Just let it happen naturally though, we're all different. I just finished my pack of cigs and told myself if I wanted to buy more I could, but I found snus to work well and haven't had the urge to smoke. I was shocked how quickly I gave up smoking. But not everyone quits so quickly.

I had a very similar experience that you're having with the General snus. I bought some Camel snus first and used about half a can and then found a local store that carried General and I picked up a sample pack. The first one I tried was the General regular white and I had it in my mouth for all of 10-15 minutes before I decided the taste was too bitter for me so I spit it out. Then I started using General Mint and after about 3 cans of that I started noticing that same bitter flavor in the background and started craving it. Then I pulled out another regular white and LOVED it! Kept the regular in for a whole hour, so now I'm using the regulars too... Yes, I think the regular snus is an acquired taste, but it won't take you long to love them... Stick with some of the flavored snuses for awhile for an easier transition.

Also, as for the nic hit from cigarettes, I just got a can of nasal snuff yesterday. I had never tried nasal snuff before. The can I got was from Northerner and it is the Gawith Apricot Snuff from Poeshl. If you are used to nasal sprays at all, then the nasal snuff feels very similar to take. It definitely gives you a nic rush very close to a cig. I used it twice yesterday and once this morning. The apricot smell lingers for about 30 minutes and the hit was nice. I think I'll keep some around to use occasionally when I'm wanting something quick and immediate. It took 2 to 3 minutes for me to really feel it whereas the snus takes 10 to 15 minutes to start feeling the rush.

Welcome again and have fun with all the varieties available!

[PipenSnus]

Actually, I like bitter flavors. I like my coffee strong, my chocolate dark, a nice pint of Guinness, and the toothy bitterness of a good burley pipe tobacco. But I need at least a little sweetness alongside the bitterness to provide some balance. I didn't find any in General Original. Maybe I will sometime in the future, maybe I won't. Not a big deal either way -- there are lots of brands to choose from, and everyone's tastes are different. I'm sure I'll find a few "desert island" snus brands sooner or later.

Sam Gawith makes good pipe tobacco, too. Their St. James Flake is a favorite of mine.

[Snusdog]

Actually, I like bitter flavors.

Gotlands gul (yellow)
Gellivara (only in los)
Landstroms (only in los)
Knox (more pungent than bitter)

dog

[PipenSnus]

I don't think I'll be ready to try los for a good while yet, although I'll probably get around to experimenting with it eventually. I'll probably always do portions, however, if only for the convenience and stealth factors, especially when I'm out and about.

I'd already considered Gotland's Yellow (I have a can of the Green on order already). I'll have to add a can of Knox to a future order. Thanks for the suggestions.