Snus improperly stored at stores

[ForbiddenWorld]

I’ve been using snus for forever and mostly been ordering online because when I started, it wasn’t very widely available in my area. I’ve started occasionally picking up a can of General locally if I see it but I’ve noticed literally every store not only keeps the overstock outside of the chiller but even the cans in the chiller usually are barely cold. How much does the temperature really matter?

[Snusdog]

I wouldn't want to buy a tin that had been sitting out for more than a few weeks like that. That said, shipping it across the sea isn't any better. That is why I always make my bulk orders in the winter.

[ForbiddenWorld]

It seems like shipping it across the sea is much better because it’s only unrefrigerated for a couple of days.

[tattooer601]

Snusdog, I agree if you have to, order a smaller amount to get you by until the temperature drops, this way it's not in the heat for so long.

The new Thunder Xtreme sold in the US stores is a good Snus, however it's sold to be stored unrefrigerated & every can I've bought is dry and no close to as good as fresh Snus that's been been kept cold.

[ladysnus]

What did they do with snus before refrigeration? Snus has been around longer than refrigerators.

[tattooer601]

Very interesting question.
Tobacco history wise I understood that dry snuff was moistened and used as Los.
So it's very possible it was moistened prior to use only then.
With the addition of flavors and refrigeration, I imagine the heat and cold effects the flavor more than anything from a U.S. perspective.

[squeezyjohn]

Before the Swedish law came in that snus had to be able to pass Swedish food regulations for safety, snus wasn't really any less risky than any other kind of oral tobacco. This culminated in Swedish Match (who at the time had a monopoly on snus manufacture in Sweden) introducing the GothiaTek standard in 2001 which saw a lot of changes in their recipes. Before that the snus was generally fermented rather than pasteurised, the strains of tobacco weren't tested as much and it was a bit more hit and miss. Refrigeration is essential to stop the build up of TSNAs in modern snus through the natural ageing process. Realistically snus can be stored at room temperature for several months before it dries out and its flavour degrades ... and in days gone by, most people would consume the snus in that time and then buy more. Sadly, there are flavour profiles and nuances which are enhanced by fermentation and ageing which correspond almost directly with the formation of carcinogens ... many older Swedes say that modern snus in nothing like as tasty as the old type of snus. My experiments in making snus lead me to a similar conclusion.