Pioneer Snuff

[lxskllr]

Where else did you hear about the anis?

Other people around here. There's a couple posts that mention it. I first thought it was people picking up hints of anis in the old formulation. It was sort of there if you used some imagination, or had rockin' taste buds, but it's become apparent to me that they're adding flavor, because too many have mentioned it. The anis wasn't pronounced at all from the original blend. It was as much anis as American leaf chew is bourbon. The flavor was there, but you had to work for it, and fill in some blanks.

[truthwolf1]

In the begining from memory I think it definately came off as just a straight dark tobacco but over time with a lot of use maybe you start to pick up more flavors?

[GoVegan]

I have been using Pioneer all day for weeks now. It tastes fine to me.

[UsualSnuspects]

Nope. Chad from snubie.com wrote to Petter and paraphrased his reply:

Pioneer said they switched to a different manufacturer for the bergamot oil they use in Pioneer which he says did have a certain anis flavor they noticed after they got it. *He told the employees not to use it but after a mix up it ended up being used.

I've created a ticket at Northerner.com requesting my money back/full credit for my 16 cans. The fact the Pioneer would still ship this makes me cringe. What else does he tell his employees not to put in the snus?

[chadizzy1]

Nope. Chad from snubie.com wrote to Petter and paraphrased his reply:

Pioneer said they switched to a different manufacturer for the bergamot oil they use in Pioneer which he says did have a certain anis flavor they noticed after they got it. *He told the employees not to use it but after a mix up it ended up being used.

I've created a ticket at Northerner.com requesting my money back/full credit for my 16 cans. The fact the Pioneer would still ship this makes me cringe. What else does he tell his employees not to put in the snus?

It was a simple mistake, I'm sure. It happens, I can't tell you how many times I've had products that didn't taste the same from batch to batch.

[UsualSnuspects]

It was a simple mistake, I'm sure. It happens, I can't tell you how many times I've had products that didn't taste the same from batch to batch.

Oh hi Chad.

Yeah, I'm a bit emotional about it atm since it's all the snus I have.
I'd be more understanding if someone from Pioneer would have responded to me, or better yet, for Petter to have announced something having been aware of the error. Other small manufacturers with unpredictable flavors at least have some presence on these boards. Luckily with liasons such as you we're still able to figure out what's going on.

That said I'd love this stuff if it didn't taste like my grandmother's pastilles.

[chadizzy1]

Oh Luckily with liasons such as you we're still able to figure out what's going.

I'm around anytime you guys need help, just shoot me a PM or email.

[squeezyjohn]

Blimey - how can you get BERGAMOT pure essential oil that tastes like caraway/aniseed?? I thought that the point of pure essential oils was that they were ... well ... pure??

After all the waiting and anticipation for this stuff I've now got 6 cans and it's pretty horrible. I can't stand the taste of caraway FWIW so that clouds my judgement - it is a flavour favoured by the Swedes so I assume it isn't as disastrous for them as it is for me. Wish I could have tasted the first batch though - it sounded amazing!

[lxskllr]

Well, I just came into possession of some fresh Pioneer with an expiry of Aug 25. It's the same old Pioneer I know and love. Earthy, spicy, with a medium salt content. I don't notice any anis, other than by inference as I noted earlier. The flavor's subtly different from the stuff I had from 2011, but it isn't a drastic difference. I'd attribute it to the artisan nature of the operation. The tins are much improved over the earlier versions. They resemble the tins used by V2, and without digging one out of the freezer for comparison, may even be the same. I did have a hard time getting it open. I have long nails on my right hand, and still couldn't cut the label with them to get in. I ended up just unpeeling the label to open it. Not a big deal, and kind of nitpicky, but whatever. The tin's better, and that's all that matters. The old tins were horrible.

I stand by my recommendation for this snus, and still prefer it to Ettan which is probably it's closest comparison. It also comes in an honest 50g tin, which are getting pretty rare. This is one of the best values in snus, and I encourage everyone who can to give it a try.

[whalen]

All I have are the original tins, but I guess if you were to plant the thought of anis in your head you might get a hint, but what i get from it is what was always there, and I like it, and I strongly dislike anis. It is good to hear that it is still the same with an improved can. I am really pulling for these guys.

[UsualSnuspects]

Thanks for the update, lx. It'll be in my next order. Any idea if the new can fits inside the Icetool Loose Snus Can now?

[lxskllr]

Any idea if the new can fits inside the Icetool Loose Snus Can now?

Yea, it should. It's the same size as typical snus cans, and I suspect it may be the same tin V2 uses, but haven't checked them side by side.

[Snusdog]

Well, I just came into possession of some fresh Pioneer with an expiry of Aug 25. It's the same old Pioneer I know and love. Earthy, spicy, with a medium salt content. I don't notice any anis, other than by inference as I noted earlier. The flavor's subtly different from the stuff I had from 2011, but it isn't a drastic difference. I'd attribute it to the artisan nature of the operation. The tins are much improved over the earlier versions. They resemble the tins used by V2, and without digging one out of the freezer for comparison, may even be the same. I did have a hard time getting it open. I have long nails on my right hand, and still couldn't cut the label with them to get in. I ended up just unpeeling the label to open it. Not a big deal, and kind of nitpicky, but whatever. The tin's better, and that's all that matters. The old tins were horrible.

I stand by my recommendation for this snus, and still prefer it to Ettan which is probably it's closest comparison. It also comes in an honest 50g tin, which are getting pretty rare. This is one of the best values in snus, and I encourage everyone who can to give it a try.

I have been eager to hear your thoughts on this before I throw anymore in with an order. I still have some of the original batch which I like.....but I am not a big fan of anis.....so i am glad to hear the problem has been corrected and that it is back to its original taste

[UsualSnuspects]

I asked Northerner if they have the new cans in stock, and they said that no, the cans are still the same. Where did you get yours, lx?

[lxskllr]

I asked Northerner if they have the new cans in stock, and they said that no, the cans are still the same. Where did you get yours, lx?

It came from Northerner. They're the only distributors of Pioneer I know of. Btw, if you take the sticker off the top, it has the Pioneer logo molded into the plastic. A much nicer tin. I finally compared it to a V2 tin. and it's similar, but not the same. I think Pioneer's is a touch better.