Review - Wise Citrus / Menthol

[Ainkor]

Ahh the heavens shined on me today. My first shipment of Snus arrived today and I am looking at 2 cans of Wise Citrus / Menthol.

I was surprised at how small the portions are. I have only tried Camel Snus so far.

Some thoughts before I start on Camel Snus... It is overpowering, sweet and almost no nic hit at all. I have not smoked in 5 days so while it is effective as a smoking deterrent, it was not all together enjoyable. I tried the original, Frost and the Spice and I like the spice after about an hour when the flavors become a little more subtle and the frost after 30 minutes minimum. The flavors last and last and last and last and last.

A silly question though... Is it sugar or a sugar substitute they put in them? If it's sugar I could see those being promoted by shady dentists as I am sure the sweetness would promote tooth decay.

On to the good stuff....

I was driving home and I used my last Camel at about 4pm. I had about a 30 minute drive home but I wanted a clear pallet in case my snus came in. I pulled up the mountain to our home and checked the mail box...

Bill, coupons, more bills, more coupons, a girlie magazine that my wife subscribes to and then I saw it. There was a small box in the mailbox and I grabbed it. My heart skipped a beat. I turned it over and sighed. It was more checks. I guess we ran out. I looked again in the mailbox and there it was, stuffed in the back, a plain white padded envelope.

I tore it open and was greeted by two little snus containers. I was immediately hit by the strong smell of the citrus and a strange powder on the cans. I assume that's nothing, even if it is, I was still intent on trying them out.

I put the portion on my tongue to moisten it up some and slid it home and nothing. I let it sit there for about 10 minutes and I waited for it to do something, anything!

I definitely feel the nic after about 15 minutes but there is nothing much in the way of flavor yet. I get a subtle waft of citrus every now and again though. I will let it sit for a while and share some more of my first official snussing in a while!

-Ainkor

[squeezyjohn]

Hi Ainkor,

Wise is a funny thing - it's a kind of half-way house between snus and nicotine replacement therapy - but I think calling it snus is a bit of an exaggeration - maybe they needed to call it snus to get away from the regulations that they would need in a pharmaceutical product. You're not going to get organic tobacco juices from this stuff I'm afraid, even the tobacco flavoured one doesn't taste like tobacco - if you look at the pouches closely enough, you'll see small round black/brown bits and white powder.

As far as I can tell, it is just a mixture of chemicals and enough "purified tobacco" to get through the system.

That's not to say it's a bad product! I love wise portions for what they are - an incredibly clean and fast way of getting nicotine in the system. They don't have salt in them which is weird because all other snuses are salty - and yes I think that it's a sweetener rather than sugar in the ingredients - it certainly tastes like that.

They are basically snus without a soul. Try some Ettan original portions - that's a real snus taste!

Cheers

Squeezy

[cocsp2002]

I agree with squeezy. Not being a portion user, I haven't tried Wise, but they make sort of "specialty snus" type products. They have a wine/cook "snus" that has zero flavor so's you can get your nic without ruining the palate. That aside, I've heard it's not bad stuff, if a bit bland. I think Ettan is almost a universal winner; there are only a few people on the forum who don't at least occasionally use it. It's fairly minimally flavored, so it's very tobbaco...y. Anyway, look on Northerner/buysnus and check out one of the try out boxes. The Swedish Match sampler is a pretty decent bet as it has a little something for everyone, plus little cards that recommend other products based on what you've tried.

Anyway, welcome to the wonderful world of snus...you've just popped your cherry. :wink:

[darkwing]

I like the concept of Wise but not the reality. Too overwhelmingly artificially sweet flavoured, no sign of tobacco. Great hit of nicotine. It has its fans.

[Ainkor]

I did order a sampler set on Thursday based on some things I read here. I liked the nic hit from Wise but the lack of flavor was rather disappointing. I love the flavor of tobacco so hopefully the sampler set will give me a better taste of what's to come!

-Ainkor

[Xobeloot]

I had never had a Wise product prior to trying the Northerner Energy. Now I am quite tempted to try the rest.

[RobME]

Yeah I agree with squeezyjohn; the Wise original tobacco doesn't taste like tobacco... it's an odd flavor tobac.

The Citrus Menthol though, is great for what it is. A nice alternative to traditional (flavored or unflavored) snus. Real clean taste and a much better 'desert' snus than anything Camel. I always keep a can around, but don't really miss it when I run out.

Enjoy the varieties of snus... you'll find a few you really like.

[sagedil]

Ainkor, I think you are betetr understanding my first post welcoming you. Wise kinda sits off to the side in the snus world. I'm glad you have bought a sampler of "real" swedish snus. Now you will really see what it's about. But in the mean time, the wise will do a hell of a lot better job delivering the nicotine compared to the Camel.

BTW, I just noticed you are a fellow North Carolinian. Double welcome!! :wink:

[b_parrott]

Wow is this my thread or what. I just recieved my Northern portion box. And I ordered wise menthol/citrus, and the northern energy. And I literaly put in a citrus wise and checked the site.
I was also surprised at the size. Im a Triumph user normally. So far not seeing much effect but Im also not a smoker. I have chewed off and on for years though. I enjoy the Triumph a lot but I have been upping the amount for a nic hit.
Tomorrow will be my test of the Northern energy. Im working off hours and driving the lady to and from work due to a recent car accident. If it can wake me up after 3 hours sleep I will sing its praises to the mountain.
Vote is still out on the Citrus/Menthol. well see.

[GenuineSpirit]

Well, I just received my package from northerner. A box of 10 Wise citrus/menthol 6mg portions and 2 northerner energy snus.

I put a citrus/menthol portion in and my first impressions were refreshing! Then, after about 10 minutes, bam, the nicotine rush, whew, these little guys really pack a punch. I also like the fact that they have no salt, and they don't run. These are going to fit in nice at work. They have a lengthy expiration period (1Mar.09).

I also ordered the Wine & Chef White Mini Portions 10pack, and 1 Vertigo Cuba Gold from northerner. There delivery time was fast also, 4 days to Wisconsin.



Nothing will replace the Skruf stark,Knox, and Ettan!

[Ainkor]

Just a little funny anecdote:

I was jonsing for a smoke last night for a smoke so I threw two portions in and O M G. Now, the reaction could have been the fact that it was late but it totally kicked my ass. I almost literally crawled to bed and passed out. My wife looked at me funny but I will chalk it up to just being worn out from working 70+ hours a week.

I gave them another shot this morning since I was able to finally get my mouth clear of the camel flavor and it's pretty cool! (By the way, egg rolls with tons of soy sauce are great for cutting through the sweetness left in my mouth from camels!)

It's a subtle flavor that mixes the citrus and menthol very well.

Now in regards to normal snus's, I much prefer savory flavors to sweet ones so I will wait patiently for my sampler to get here. Based on my previous shipment I should be getting them Wednesday-ish.

Looks like I will be getting:

Ettan

Catch Licorice

Grov

Gotensborg Rapë

General

Another kind of Catch

Kronan

And some other kind that has the words nL on the label


Should be quite the nice mix of flavors

sagedil,

Thanks for the welcome! We have lived here for a touch over two years and this is the most beautiful area we have ever lived! There is nothing cooler than waking up to a gorgeous sunrise over the Smoky Mountains!

-Ainkor

[RobsanX]

^^^ lol! That's r.L. Which is Roda Lacket, and is very delicious... Your sampler pack will definitely give you a good introduction to the world of snus... Enjoy!

[cocsp2002]

I agree. Roda, General, Ettan, they're all good. Catch isn't really my style, and I haven't tried Kronan yet...I'm terrified of it.

[sagedil]

A couple of months ago, I hated the Kronan when I first tried it. By the next day, I was in love with it.

Ainkor, nice first order of "real" snus. Will give you a good idea about what it is really like. When you get ready to ready again, let me know, and I will make a few suggestions for you,

I came to North Carolina 13 years ago. My ex-wife had transferred to Berkeley from NC State. We lived together in Berkeley for 5 years before we got married, and 6 months before we did, We were here for Christmas and I started trying to talk her in to coming home. Financially, I just new it would be so much easier than California, I really love her folks, and her brother's kidney's were failing, and I suspected that she would be agood match, so it just made more sense to be here for that (and she was, donated a kidney to him 2 years later)

I had a really hard time at first. Raleigh, especially then, was just not a city like I was used to a city being like. And I missed the starkness of California. The Sierra is so much younger than the Smokies. I remember the first time we saw the Smokies, I kept asking Laura where the mountains were....LOL

But then 3 years later, a funny thing happened.. I bought a convertible and took the top down. Suddenly, I noticed just how beautiful North Carolina really is, and I have loved it ever since. When my wife left 2 years ago, my Mom asked if I was gonna come back home to the West coast and I just laughed at her. I said that Raleigh is my home, I will never leave. I ride a motorcycle again now, and I am grateful every day I get to ride here. Have ridden my latest bike 6500 miles all around this amazing state in the 4 months I have owned her!!!

[Ainkor]

We moved here from Minneapolis and I hear ya on the sudden change. My wife's car is almost paid off and the deal I struck is that I get a bike as soon as we are done paying for her car .

I am kind of torn on moving back. I am originally from just outside Sacramento Ca and I am not quite sure what is keeping us here other than the good job I have right now and my kids enjoyment of the the band program they are in with the high school here. After they are done with school in about 5 years I am not sure there would be much holding on to us.

I worry quite a bit about the small town where we live due to the impending economic downturn. On that note though, I can imagine that riding here is pure heaven! Although I haven't ridden in 12 years, I miss it.

This whole snus thing has been pretty cool too! Although the only true snus I have only tried Wise citrus / menthol, the Triumph isn't bad at all. I am eagerly waiting for my shipment to get here mid week. Should make for some interesting snusing!