How long does it take you to understand a flavor?

[CzechCzar]

My tried and true snuses are Ettan WP and General WP. I figured that out after trying virtually all of the various OP and WP brands.

I have noticed with a couple of types that I hated them... until I loved them. Oden's OP I almost threw out, but I stuck with it and it has now replaced General WP as one of my top 2. The same has happened with Blagul. I hated the first 5/6 of the can, but now that I am down to my last couple portions, I am thinking it is not so bad.

What gives? I am keeping track of all the snuses I love and hate on a google spreadsheet, and am now worried that I will have to go back and retry snuses I had previously relegated to the dustbin. Why are my tastebuds behaving this way?

[UsualSnuspects]

Nothing feels worse than a moot snus spreadsheet. Ok maybe a few things.

I had the same experience with Blagul, but I find the the glycerol-based snuses too drippy and sweet for me.

[squeezyjohn]

Well - it generally takes time because with most snuses there are a million different flavours going on - and it can change depending on how you feel, what you've been eating/snusing before, the situation you take it in and how it's been stored.

I see that as a brilliant thing. I love to be gourmet about things I love ... and with snus there is so much to discover, analyse and enjoy.

Your tastes will change - mine still are after over 5 years as a snuser. But the thing I've learnt is that the quality will always shine through ... I've rarely stuck with a cheaper brand for more than a month of use as the artificial flavours wear me out after a while. I end up going back to Swedish Match, Skruf, Pioneer and would still go back to Gotlands if they still made any snus I would consider traditional. The only exception to this rule is from GN - the Stark 59 portions (Gajane label) are magnificent and as good quality as anything from the previously mentioned brands.

That's just my opinion - I wouldn't go so far as to make a spreadsheet, that's for sure!

Cheers

Squeezy

[lxskllr]

Tastes change over time. I'll never like something like wintergreen, but the more subtle styles reveal more about themselves with use. I can't say I ever began liking a snus I previously disliked, but the reverse has been true with strongly flavored snus, Probe comes immediately to mind. I loved that at first, but it was just too much for regular use. I like it a little bit, but I tire of it fast. A 10g or 20g tin would be perfect for Probe. For other snus, I've found I appreciate them more over time. I discover flavors I previously didn't taste, and it adds to the experience.

[Ainkor]

I remember when I started about 5 years ago that at first, it was harder to pull specific flavors out of snus. Being a smoker, my taste buds were shot. I tended to only like sweeter snuses and strong singularly flavored ones.

Over time, much like a wine or whiskey connoisseur, you start to train your taste buds on how to look past the salt and start to explore the subtle flavors.

I typically stick with Rape Lingon as my go to snus followed up closely my General Mint (although, the new mint, which isn't sweet, has some excellent flavors too).

What I've noticed is that most snuses evolve over time and if I haven't had one in a while, I am more perceptive of the flavors.

I really dig the lingon flavor after about 15 minutes and then again when the flavors mellow out again at about 45 minutes.

My third favorite snus was Lucky strike (can't get it anymore "Sad Face", I'm down to my last two once a month special time snuses of them)

I approach snus in a very exploratory way and just enjoy the flavors. There are some that I haven't had in years that I like to pop a frozen can open and have once in a while.

Honestly, the only snus I couldn't use was the old 1847 brand. Way too flowery for me.