Newbie to snus, quick quesion...

[jkh0208]

Hello everyone,
I'm new to Swedish snus and have a question. I ordered cans of portioned Göteborgs Rape, Grovsnus, Gotland Fläder (green), and General, all from 2 separate orders at swedish-suns.com and I've noticed some things that I'm unsure of. I've read around the forums and found a lots of different info, but none of it really anwers my questions. First of all, all 4 cans smell absolutely awful. I don't know how to describe the smell, but they all smell about the same. They all taste the same to me. I taste the salt, but I don't really taste anything else in regards to flavor. There seems to be a slight hint of some other flavor, but it's extremely similar between all four cans. I do get a slight spicy burn in my throat, but it's really minor and doesn't kick in for about 20 minutes. The first couple times I tried them, I got so dizzy and sick, and threw up quite a few times. That has got issue away for the most part, but I still get a pretty big nic high compared to cigs. First question, is the smell a bad sign or is it normal? Also, once I get used to them will I start noticing the flavors instead of just the salt? Last question, it seems to take about 15 minutes or more before I start noticing the flavor, even when I salivate quite a bit, and takes even longer with the Rape since it's a white portion. Is that also about the norm? Sorry for my ignorance on the subject.

[Langdell]

First question, is the smell a bad sign or is it normal? Also, once I get used to them will I start noticing the flavors instead of just the salt? Last question, it seems to take about 15 minutes or more before I start noticing the flavor, even when I salivate quite a bit, and takes even longer with the Rape since it's a white portion. Is that also about the norm? Sorry for my ignorance on the subject.

I think the smell you are describing is normal. Many snusers on here report that most snus has an "ammonia" smell when the can is opened. I never really noticed that myself, but enough people do notice it that I'd call it normal. I do think most snus tastes better than it smells.

Yes, at least after a week or two, the salt flavor will fade to the background and you'll taste more other flavors.

It is normal for any snus to take a few minutes to deliver flavor. (To speed up flavor delivery, I like to place the portion on my tongue for a few seconds at first.) It is also normal for white portions to take longer to deliver flavor than original portions. The flavor in original portions tends to come on quicker and stronger but fade more quickly than white. In white portions, the flavor comes slower and is somewhat milder but tends to last longer.

Welcome and happy snusing!

[bill77.017]

Hi jkh0208. Welcome to the forum, i,m new here myself. Sorry to hear you got sick on your first try of snus!!
In answer to your first question, some snus can smell very strong at first, but you get used to it. Check the expiry date to make sure.
And your second question, the longer you snus the more flavour you,ll start to see. Initally snus is very salty to beginners
and that will go after a week or two.

[Darwin]

Nicotine sensitivity is an extremely personal thing. Great big guy who smokes 3 packs may get bowled over by a 4mg mini and a 100lb. woman who smokes half a pack of lights a day might be in heaven with a 16mg extra strong portion. You just have to find your way. If the nic in regular 8mg portions is too much then minis may be what you need.

[jkh0208]

Thanks for the reply! That definately makes me feel better; I'd hate to have soured snus with the tax and shipping costs due to the Pact Act. I'm thinking about trying some loose once I get used to this stuff. Even though I don't care for the flavor yet, I still get some sort of satisfaction from this snus that I don't get from the Marboro or Camel American snus, and it's been doing a good job of keeping me off the sticks. If only I could talk my wife into making the switch! I'm not sure what ammonia smells like, but these things sure do smell strange and sour. At least they don't make me sick anymore. I'm looking forward to getting some flavor out of these!

Hi jkh0208. Welcome to the forum, i,m new here myself. Sorry to hear you got sick on your first try of snus!!
In answer to your first question, some snus can smell very strong at first, but you get used to it. Check the expiry date to make sure.
And your second question, the longer you snus the more flavour you,ll start to see. Initally snus is very salty to beginners
and that will go after a week or two.

I also got sick the first time I tried American Camel snus, though the marlboro seemed very week. I also didn't like the fact that American snus all taste like candy, and I wanted some herbal, earthy, traditional tobacco flavors without having to resort to nasty chewing tobacco or dip. One of my cans expires in October of this year, the other 3 don't have an expiration date unless they are just covered by the stupid warning labels that are all over these packs. I pulled the warning labels off, but the stickiness from the labels tore the original labels.

[Darwin]

The ammonia or sour smell is a natural effect of the processing of snus. As most will say, "Don't smell the snus!" For most the smell disappears when you put the portion in. It may take a few weeks or even longer to start appreciating the different tastes of snus because in general the "traditional" snus flavors are somewhat foreign to the American palate. One thing--if you really don't like something don't throw it away. Just stick it in the freezer and revisit it in a few weeks or months. You will probably be surprised, and you will also likely be surprised at how your tastes will evolve over the first few months of usage.

[bill77.017]

Thanks for the reply! That definately makes me feel better; I'd hate to have soured snus with the tax and shipping costs due to the Pact Act. I'm thinking about trying some loose once I get used to this stuff. Even though I don't care for the flavor yet, I still get some sort of satisfaction from this snus that I don't get from the Marboro or Camel American snus, and it's been doing a good job of keeping me off the sticks. If only I could talk my wife into making the switch! I'm not sure what ammonia smells like, but these things sure do smell strange and sour. At least they don't make me sick anymore. I'm looking forward to getting some flavor out of these!

Yeah Snus is great for quitting smoking, once you get used to it, you,ll really enjoy it. Wait till you try the loose snus, a lot better than portions for flavor and nicotine.

[Curtisp]

I got a little nauseous with a couple of my first portions too. Find the comfortable "pocket" in your upper gum line. Try and get it positioned and leave it alone. If you move it alot, or keep running tongue over it, it will drip, and juice up. The saliva is safe to swallow, not like american dips, etc. But give it time, the salt will fade, and the flavor nuances will come thru. Good luck.

[PipenSnus]

If the ammonia smell really bothers you (I hate it too), get some Hefty Fresh Extend baggies. Put the open cans inside with the lids off and leave them in the fridge for 24 hours or more. The baggies keep produce fresh by absorbing the gases that cause fruits and vegetables to spoil. The ammonia from snus is in the form of a gas. When you smell the cans the next day, there should be considerably less stench.

[jkh0208]

Thanks everyone! If I do get loose, I hope the nic doesn't get to me too badly. The nic in these normal portions seems to be a little higher than I'm used to, so I'd like to keep it close to that if I get loose. I don't want to go to the mini portions because the normal portions seem to be just the right comfortable size under my lip. I'd have to get the cheap pris tool since I don't want to spend too much on an ice-tool until I've tried the loose out. I hope it doesn't make me sick the first time I try loose! At least I get free medical if it does, lol!

[bill77.017]

Thanks everyone! If I do get loose, I hope the nic doesn't get to me too badly. The nic in these normal portions seems to be a little higher than I'm used to, so I'd like to keep it close to that if I get loose. I don't want to go to the mini portions because the normal portions seem to be just the right comfortable size under my lip. I'd have to get the cheap pris tool since I don't want to spend too much on an ice-tool until I've tried the loose out. I hope it doesn't make me sick the first time I try loose! At least I get free medical if it does, lol!

Take your time and get used to portions first jkh0208. Regular portions have about 8mg nicotine, extra strong portions go a lot higher. You.ll find what works for you soon enough. All the best.

[LaZeR]

Welcome jkh0208. The salt taste is normal at first as noted by others. Give it some days or up to two weeks and I guarantee you will be getting the flavor over the salt. As far as the nausea and vomiting, I would say if you can bear it out, this will also go away. Remember the snus delivery of Nicotine is much different than the cigs, the absorption is through your gum tissue and the residual is going down your throat which while considered relatively much safer than swallowing chewing tobacco and definitely safer than cigs, your system must get accustomed to a 'foreign chemical' being ingested. If the 'drip' is too much, I would suggest breaking in with some whites and/or as suggested try mini-portions and refrigerate or freeze your current stash and revisit in a month.

[ratcheer]

As to your not being able to taste the flavors (besides salt), do you have any allergy or breathing problems? Salt is a primary flavor that your tongue picks up, but most of the flavorings have to be detected by your sense of smell.

Tim

[LaZeR]

As to your not being able to taste the flavors (besides salt), do you have any allergy or breathing problems? Salt is a primary flavor that your tongue picks up, but most of the flavorings have to be detected by your sense of smell.

Tim

Kinda like a fart.

[jkh0208]

I'm starting to get used to it. I've noticed I like the Grovsnus the most. It doesn't make me sick anymore unless I do it for more than 45 minutes or so at a time, but it still makes me feel a little drunk. I'm starting to notice some flavor now too. I ordered some loose and a prismaster so I'll see how that goes.