Camel Snus compared to "real" snus

[spoon]

I've been reading about snus and have been wanting to try it for a long time but never wanted to pay the shipping to get it to Hawaii just to try it. So, when I found Camel Snus in a store I was pretty excited. I bought 2 cans and after the first pouch I was hooked. The best part is, I haven't even looked at the pack of cigarettes I bought the day before that and its been 2 weeks.
Anyway, I am wondering how Camel Snus compares to other brands that have been out for a long time. a.k.a. "real" snus?
The Camel brand snus is good. To me anyway. But I haven't tried anything else. Am I missing out?

[rustic]

General consensus here is that Camel snus is horrible. I personally kinda like it. There's a sticky thread on American snus that has some discussion of it. You can search the archives for more information as well.

But first of all, welcome. If I could only give you a few bits of advice that I didn't have when I first discovered Swedish snus and this forum:
1. Camel/Marlboro snus are actually (fairly low quality) white mini portions of snus. If you order regular/large portions from Sweden, you'll be surprised at (a) how big they are in your lip, and (b) how much nicotine they have in them. That being said, they're still tasty. Best as I can tell from this forum, the Swedish consider mini snus to be a product primarily for little Swedish girls (regular portions or even better, loose snus being manly). I don't care.. I like it.
2. If I had to make a recommendation based on "I like Camel snus, what should I try?", I'd recommend trying Lucky Strike white mini portions, General white minis, and Knox mini portions. Northerner.com has them, as does buysnus.com. Both are pretty decent places to order online.
3. Just so you know, the difference between "white" and regular portions (in either the mini size or the full size portion) is that the white portions are drier and tend to keep better. They also claim to have more flavor.

Personally, I moved from Camel snus to General white mini snus, Tre Ankare mini snus, then on to Knox mini snus. You'll figure out what you like if you'll just grab a sample of quite a few. They're fairly cheap in the grand scheme of things.

Hope this helps, and make sure you search the archives.. there's a whole wealth of information here.

- Jeff

[rocketbear79]

...Lucky Strike white mini portions, General white minis, and Knox mini portions...

Rustic (or anyone else that has tried the Camel), I'm kind of new to Snus (I've yet to find MY preferences) but I bought a tin of the Camel Frost for my wife to try, she ended up liking them which will be nice when we take an upcoming trip across the pond. Which of those three or another would you say is the closest in taste to the Frost? The Camel is $6 here which is a complete ripoff in my mind. Thanks in advance.

[rustic]

I've never tried the Camel Frost, but I assume it's a wintergreen flavor. There are a number of options to give you a menthol flavor, but not many actually give you a mint flavor in terms of mini portion snus. I'm really not that familiar with large portion snus, 'cause I don't use it.

Two worth trying out would be Mocca Mint flavored and CatchDry Eucalyptus (which sounded disgusting to me, but ended up tasting like a mild wintergreen flavor, not unlike Doublemint gum).

The Mocca mini products that I've tried (Mint and Pomegranate) are both extremely high quality, keep their flavor for a long time, and I've been really impressed. FYI, they're a little stronger than most mini's (5mg of nicotine as opposed to 4mg for most minis). The CatchDry stuff tastes really good, but seems to lose flavor quickly for me.

- Jeff

[lxskllr]

Nothing will taste like the Camel Frost because they use a ton of Aspertame in it. I think the closest would be Metropol peppermint, Catch eucalyptus, and Mocca mint. I haven't tried the mint, but the Anise is fairly strong flavored, so that may work.

[rocketbear79]

Much appreciated, I'll buy a can of each of those and see what she likes. Thanks again!

[sagedil]

Best way for me to describe is that they are "different". Camel is in no way similar to any Swedish snus.

Since I tried Swedish long before I got my hands on some camel, the camel will always just feel different to me. But I like it as an occasional treat. Almost like a desert snus it is so sweet. I depend on camel when I am between shipments, and when I have Swedish Snus around, I will still by a tin of Camel about once a month, about the same frequency I eat deserts.

[Anti]

I've had the Original and Frost in the Camel Snus and, unfortunately, Marlboro is test marketing their snus in my area. If you think the Camel is bad, don't touch the Marlboro if it comes to your area.

"Old butterscotch" is the only way I can describe their Rich/Mild varieties. The most disappointing thing about it is, they put a "flavor strip" inside the pouch that goes around the tobacco. I didn't get any form of a buzz from it. That, and only 12 pouches come in a plastic slide pack. I think there going to do a nationwide launch at the beginning of 2008, and I can't see it going well.

Just incase you didn't know, because I didn't, the Camel/Marlboro portions are actually equivalent to "mini" portions of Swedish. My first order of real snus, I went with Lucky Strike Mini Portions, and Granit White Portions to see the size difference. I liked the Lucky Strike a lot and eventually ordered the Original/Original White. The Granit I didn't like at first, but it grew on me.

My favorite so far is the Probe Portion (whiskey flavored). I love that stuff.

[Lauritzen]

I know Camel and Marlboro snus aren't made with the same quality tobacco but is the process of making it the same? I'm kind of scared I'd get mouth cancer from anything put forward by Phillip Morris.

[Anti]

I know Camel and Marlboro snus aren't made with the same quality tobacco but is the process of making it the same? I'm kind of scared I'd get mouth cancer from anything put forward by Phillip Morris.

Same here.

I don't trust Marlboro or Camel, honestly. I'm afraid I'm going to wake up with a 3rd arm or an eye on the back of my head when I try their offerings.

I'm just glad that I was referred to buysnus.com, and what's even more shocking than how much better the snus is, is the price. It is way cheaper to have it shipped to me from another country, then to go to the corner store and buy an American version.

A no brainier.

[Kindrd]

Actually Camel and Marlboro are made with the same quality tobacco. America grows some of the best. Swedish Companies do buy American tobacco. You hit the nail on the head with process. Other then snus, tobacco is usually fermented. The Swedish Snus is pasteurized and ground preventing fermentation. The Camel snus is being made in Sweden. The taboka, I don't think anyone knows where its produced. No one is sure how they are processing the product. I have never had the camel snus but the taboka tobacco is nothing like swedish snus. It looks like cigarette tobacco if you open a portion.

[Anti]

Actually Camel and Marlboro are made with the same quality tobacco. America grows some of the best. Swedish Companies do buy American tobacco. You hit the nail on the head with process. Other then snus, tobacco is usually fermented. The Swedish Snus is pasteurized and ground preventing fermentation. The Camel snus is being made in Sweden. The taboka, I don't think anyone knows where its produced. No one is sure how they are processing the product. I have never had the camel snus but the taboka tobacco is nothing like swedish snus. It looks like cigarette tobacco if you open a portion.

I opened a Marlboro portion because the pouch didn't fit as comfortably on my lip like the Camel did.

What I found is that they wrap a "flavor strip" around the tobacco and it looks like a piece of construction/manila paper. God only knows what chemicals are on that strip!

The Camel Snus Original does look like cigarette tobacco, and it even has that raisin smell to it like cigarettes have (to me anyway).

[Smarvy]

@spoon: Where did you find the Camel snus in Hawaii? I'd like to try it, but haven't been able to find any in Kona. Also, it's great to have a fellow islander here! Aloha!

I'm going to be in Dallas next week, is the Camel snus available everywhere, or just in selected shops? Even if I have low expectations, it's still made in Sweden, so I will pick up at least a tin.

[Anti]

@spoon: Where did you find the Camel snus in Hawaii? I'd like to try it, but haven't been able to find any in Kona. Also, it's great to have a fellow islander here! Aloha!

I'm going to be in Dallas next week, is the Camel snus available everywhere, or just in selected shops? Even if I have low expectations, it's still made in Sweden, so I will pick up at least a tin.

I have seen it in just about every gas station I've been to. If you go to their website, they have a location finder if you know the zip/area you'll be in.

[RealmofOpeth]

I think the only way I'd try the american snus versions is if someone offered me a portion or a tin for free.
Otherwise it seems just a risk for a sunk cost and feelings of stupidity because of falling for that 'gotta have it' novelty, when I've heard plenty of the negativities.
They sound so horribly made....cigarette tobacco...rofl...I heard they use some type of glue or some other substance to stick that crap together and it's all clumpy inside. barely any nicotine...etc.
to hell with that and the aspartame business. ****ing shithead Rumsfeld.

'scuse my language...i'm just sick of seeing aspartame everywhere there isn't sugar in something.