Yet another convert

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  • woof
    New Member
    • Feb 2009
    • 8

    Yet another convert

    *edit*
    This is a helluva lot longer than it seemed like when I was typing it out, I'd stick a TLR on it if I randomly happened upon it. Still, might be interesting.
    *edit*

    Hello all!
    Just thought I'd throw my own bit of experience into the ring for anyone else who accidentally happened upon snus whilst trying to quit cigarettes.

    I'm currently a last-term JD student, smoked on and off between one and up to two packs per week for a few years depending on the stress level and social calling. At first it was just a social thing with college buddies, but it unfortunately turned into a craving at some point a year or year and a half or so into it that's burning a hole in my lungs and my pocket. That's the way they get you... :cry:

    Anyhow, I resolved over New Years that this would be the year I quit for good. I was able to keep going to the gym and get solid exercise so my lungs didnt go to mush up until an old injury flared up that put me out of commission for a few months. The air in NYC stinks to begin with and the increasing lethargy was really taking its toll on me. :x

    Anyhow, I went to my local Shell station to pick up a pack just after New Years when on a whim I decided that I was going to quit ASAP. Decided I would try dipping again after a failed experiment last year, with no improvement whatsoever - I cant stand the spitting and my throat burns within minutes. I gave up and picked up my Camel Lights ($9, would you believe it?!?!), when the attendant slapped the complementary:!: Frost Snus that I'd been rejecting for the last six months on the counter. I figured "what the hell, I'll try everything." Stuck it in my lip as I headed out and started to unwrap my pack.

    I didn't feel or taste much as first, it was dry as hell and smelled like spearmint gum. There wasn't much of a rush, but as I started to drive, I realized I wasn't reaching for the typical rush hour cig anymore. Figured it was a fluke and just kept going. Kept popping them in and out like they were gum whenever the flavor left all day without really thinking about it.

    Got home that night, unpacked my bag and realized I still hadnt touched my lighter. I typically have one in the morning, before classes, between classes, on the way back, and in the evening, and yet, this day, none at all! Jumped online to figure it all out, figured out nothing since I didnt know the terminology, but did manage to figure out that I'd barely scratched the surface of this less-unhealthy phenomenon with subpar snus, and that some types were easier on newbies than others.

    Headed down to Shisha International (primarily a hookah shop... ish... in NYC) where I'd seen this funny little hockey puck display and picked up my first real tin of Swedish Snus - a tin of General White Mini Mint. Man, what a change. I'd gone through about 1/2 the camel over the course of the day by accident, but the General Mint, I probably kept it in for a good hour, hour fifteen without even realizing how much time had passed. The buzz was better, I didnt feel like I was sucking on expired hard candy, and I could actually tell there was tobacco in there!

    Since then (about three weeks or so), I've tried a few variants - the General White Wintergreen Portion, which is apparently more appealing to Americans, but which really just tasted more like toothpaste at first - I got used to it by the end of the tin, but it wasn't pleasant at all at first. General White Portions, which I found more tobacco-ey than I like, but okay, and General Portions, which made me gut juice and spit all over the place. bleh.

    I've since settled to ~1 tin per week (i think), and I have to say, it feels great! :lol: My lungs dont feel like crap, I dont feel the stigma of standing huddled outside the law school under a cloud of smog, and everything tastes so much more vibrant!

    I tried to see whether I could get off the nicotine entirely, but alas, I'm a bit stuck for now. Finished unwrapping the pack from three week ago and had the worst coughing fit in my life - I can thankfully say that snus has made cigarettes vile and disgusting to me once again (last time I thought this was as a freshman in college). I felt the smoke drying the crap out of my lungs and my throat fighting the foreign smoke that was penetrating - I could feel in my body what those jackets that show smoke in the lungs on the outside depicted in all those commercials. Wasnt pleasant at all, and the instant rush gave me more of a headache than anything.
    That said, I started to try to figure out how best to acquire more of these great swedish products without hoofing it to the West Village at $4 round trip for $5.50/tin. That's when I happened upon this site. Happy to say I've placed my first order with getsnus for their freebie tin plus a handful of varieties that look interesting, at a shipping rate that hands down beats the importers (for my paltry usage, anyhow). I'll let you know how those go, as I have weird tastes - I'm the guy who eats the ginger noone else wants that comes with Sushi, grabs nothing but salt-and-vinegar chips, and has yet to meet a "devil's hot sauce" that seemed like nothing more than bbq with a kick.

    Ideally, I'd be off nicotine entirely, but that's yet to come. As for now, I've sadly finished the last tin I had except for the first tin of Camel Snus, which I'm going to have to deal with for the next two days or so until the shipment comes in. These things are a bit more palatable than the unflavored General I tried, but they are SO not comparable to the real deal. I feel like a dork on a Vespa on the highway with motorcycles and cars whizzing by. I want more out of it, but it's got no punch. Oh well, I'll live. At least I'm off cigarettes!
  • sychodelix
    Member
    • Dec 2008
    • 280

    #2
    Welcome to the club. I actually read all that, lol. To be honest, when you get more used to the snus after a few months, you may find that you end up liking the more tobacco flavored ones more than others, because as your palette gets more accustomed to it, you'll realize that there are more flavors in there that you may not pick up yet like bergamot and lemon flavors. You'll find the more subtle flavors later on become the go to snus. Then again, maybe not, but most people's tastes change the longer they use snus.

    And your tastes aren't that weird. I eat the picked ginger with sushi (mmm, unagi, tuna and yellowtail rule) because you need it to clear the palette between different ones. Salt and vinegar chips are alright, but I LOVE hot food (although I've found some that are vicious).

    Comment

    • outsidelinebacker20
      Member
      • Aug 2008
      • 187

      #3
      I have to say that I have mixed feelings about a lawyer living longer; but as long as you are a snuser...........ok.

      Comment

      • sagedil
        Member
        • Nov 2007
        • 7077

        #4
        I'm sure he is gonna be a good lawyers protecting the innocent masses from the evil corporate no gooders. :wink:

        Welcome to the world of snus. Once you have tried more, check out either Buysnus.com or northerner.com for a much larger selection of snus.

        Comment

        • Old Frothingslosh
          Member
          • Jan 2009
          • 175

          #5
          Welcome to the forum, Woof.

          Comment

          • NonEntity
            Member
            • Jan 2009
            • 138

            #6
            I guess I have now been here long enough to start welcoming people, soooo, Welcome!

            NonEntity

            Comment

            • snusjus
              Member
              • Jun 2008
              • 2674

              #7
              I would recommend trying a sample set to experience other brands:

              http://www.swedish-snus.com/snus/Try...us%20Box-2604/

              http://buysnus.com/snusbrand/Swedish_Match_Tasting_Kit_WHITE_Large_(8_cans).aspx

              If you don't feel like purchasing a sample set, here are some brands that are very mild and/or flavored:

              Roda Lacket White Portion
              Ettan Portion (White or Original)
              Goteborg's Rape White Portion
              Skruf Cranberry Portion
              Catch White Eucalyptus Portion
              Catch White Licorice Portion

              White portions don't "juice" as much, so you might prefer those until you are more experienced.

              Comment

              • Condor
                Member
                • Sep 2008
                • 752

                #8
                Originally posted by outsidelinebacker20
                I have to say that I have mixed feelings about a lawyer living longer; but as long as you are a snuser...........ok.
                That made me laugh out loud. Good jest.

                Welcome, lawyer.

                Comment

                • woof
                  New Member
                  • Feb 2009
                  • 8

                  #9
                  Originally posted by snusjus
                  I would recommend trying a sample set to experience other brands:

                  http://www.swedish-snus.com/snus/Try...us%20Box-2604/

                  http://buysnus.com/snusbrand/Swedish_Match_Tasting_Kit_WHITE_Large_(8_cans).aspx

                  If you don't feel like purchasing a sample set, here are some brands that are very mild and/or flavored:

                  Roda Lacket White Portion
                  Ettan Portion (White or Original)
                  Goteborg's Rape White Portion
                  Skruf Cranberry Portion
                  Catch White Eucalyptus Portion
                  Catch White Licorice Portion

                  White portions don't "juice" as much, so you might prefer those until you are more experienced.
                  This is essentially the set that I ordered from getsnus. Got the idea from the sample sets available on the popular swedish sites, but was ultimately shocked by the international shipping cost and time.

                  Thus far, I've definitely found snus quenches my needs without all the messiness of smoking, but I end up having to be really conscious of the amount I use. Starting to enjoy the continuous buzz a bit too much.

                  As for being a lawyer, plans are to do patent law. Can't think of many people who have a problem with patent lawyers.

                  Comment

                  • cocsp2002
                    Member
                    • Jul 2008
                    • 509

                    #10
                    George Westinghouse...I dunno, I guess that was more of a rivalry with Edison than with lawyers, but regardless, welcome. I'm a getsnus addict as well, their shipping can't be beat and I love Swedish match's products. I will say, though that the other sites do have a lot more variety.

                    Comment

                    • bearcat87
                      Member
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 400

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Condor
                      Originally posted by outsidelinebacker20
                      I have to say that I have mixed feelings about a lawyer living longer; but as long as you are a snuser...........ok.
                      That made me laugh out loud. Good jest.

                      Welcome, lawyer.
                      When I was in high school I wanted to be a lawyer but my father said he would abandon me if I did. Didn't understand what he meant at the time but I do now!

                      Comment

                      • Judge Faust
                        Member
                        • Jan 2009
                        • 196

                        #12
                        [quote="woof"]
                        Originally posted by snusjus
                        As for being a lawyer, plans are to do patent law. Can't think of many people who have a problem with patent lawyers.
                        :twisted:

                        Well, I have a problem with patent lawyers. You guys are getting too uppity lately... Case in point: helping pharmaceutical companies to patent human genes. Grrr.

                        Which is why am personally working toward becoming a public interest lawyer. I figure that no one can possibly hate a guy that helps poor people for a living and gets paid a fast-food industry wage for his efforts...


                        Comment

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