Newbie... finding my feet........

[mccoma66]

I've only just started using snus and i'm still trying to suss it all out. Got a delivery of the 24pack intro box from northerner and lovin' it so far! I'm a bit confused about storage, can anyone help?

Do you have to store it in the fridge / freezer? I'm hoping the intro box will last me 2 months. Will it go "off" if its unopened and left at room temperature?

Once you open a tin how long will it last? I've got 3 different tins open at the moment (catchdry cassis/menthol, ettan white portion, knox).

I've switched over from smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes a day, how many pouches should I be using to get the same hit? (i'm using between 8 and 10 day at the moment).

How long do you leave it in to get the same kick as a cigarette? (I'm trying to leave it in for about 40 minutes, which seems ok, but I find with Ettan White Portion, it starts to drip after 15 mins and really is horrible. Best one I've tried so far is Skruf Portion.

Sorry for bombarding you with questions, any help much appreciated.

Cheers

[sagedil]

Welcome to the forums mccoma66, ask away, we were ALL new once.

I will try and answer some of your questions.

snus should be kept cold. You don't need to freeze it if you are going to use it within 2 months, but it should be kept at least cold in the refrigerator. There has been some debate about what happens when you don't, most folks assumed the bad cancer causing stuff went up, but I have seen some stuff recently that brings that into question. Some users go out of their way to always keep the snus cold, as I use it during the day, I don't worry about it, but my snus either lives in the refrigerator or freezer. Snus kept in the freezer can be used long past it's best buy date, at least a year, or maybe even longer.

Once open, a tin will last for a long time. It might go a bit dry on you, but it will still be good. I have found open tins 6 months later and it was still OK.

How many portions should you use?? As many as you want. It is an individual kind of thing. When I first was making the transitions from cigarettes, I was using between 10 - 12 a day.

As far as how long to leave it in, most of the nicotine should be taken up by you within about 30 minutes, Even after you have taken a portion out, the body is still absorbing nicotine through your mucus membranes for another 15 minutes or so. But there is NO right answer on how long you "should" leave it in. Some people leave it in for only 10 minutes, other will go 2 hours or me. I tend to keep portions in for a long while, but some days, I am being quick. And different snus WILL lead to different times in. Some snus tends to get runny or slimy quickly, and some snus tends to stay yummy and good for a LONG time. There really is no right answer for this one. Just do what you want at the moment

[Steel Blue 91]

First off, welcome to the forum. Lots of good infomation here.


Do you have to store it in the fridge / freezer? I'm hoping the intro box will last me 2 months. Will it go "off" if its unopened and left at room temperature? Once you open a tin how long will it last? I've got 3 different tins open at the moment (catchdry cassis/menthol, ettan white portion, knox).


Do you have to? No. Do I? Yes. I keep my open tins (currently ~12) in the fridge, take out the ones I will use that day and replace them when I come home. I also have 7 rolls in the freezer at the moment because I know I won't use them by the "Best before" date.

I've switched over from smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes a day, how many pouches should I be using to get the same hit? (i'm using between 8 and 10 day at the moment).
How long do you leave it in to get the same kick as a cigarette? (I'm trying to leave it in for about 40 minutes, which seems ok, but I find with Ettan White Portion, it starts to drip after 15 mins and really is horrible. Best one I've tried so far is Skruf Portion.


I came over from 2 packs (40) cigarettes a day (Smoke free for 7 weeks tomorrow). I currently snus ~10 to 12 pouches of various brands a day. You'll find the correct amount for you over time. The uptake of nicotine is different with snus. Instead of the shotgun blast of a smoke, it sort of ramps up over a few min. holds for a while then slowly ramps down.

I was the same way when I started but after a short while I enjoyed and looked froward the "juice" effect. Thats where the flavor is. Now I find that a portion can last me anywhere between 45 min. to two hours for some. Currently have a portion of Grov underlip that is about to give out but have been in for almost 1 hour, 45 min.

Hope this helps.

[chainsnuser]

Re: Newbie... finding my feet........

I'm hoping the intro box will last me 2 months. Will it go "off" if its unopened and left at room temperature?

Sure, it should last you even for 2 and a half months as long as you're not someone who spits the portions/prillas out after 15 minutes, like some snusers really prefer to do, especially in Sweden, where the anti-snus-bogus-propaganda (tooth-harm etc.) certainly contributes to that fact. I'm only happy to live in a country where snus is nearly unknown.

I recommend to keep the snus in the fridge. It's possible to keep it in the cellar for months or at room temperature for weeks without any real problems, but the fridge is the best place to preserve the taste, no doubt.

Cheers!

[mccoma66]

Thanks for the welcome and your help folks.

One other question chainsnuser, do you get your supplies mailed from Sweden? I sent an email to swedish-match.com to ask about mailing to Ireland and they refused, saying it was against EU law and if i wanted to buy it in Sweden to take home I would have to consult Irish Customs first!! Bit of a joke really. Northerner.com mailed it to me no problem (but charged me American tax and European tax). Is it illegal for them to mail it to another EU country and is it just luck that it got through customs? I don't think anyone in Ireland has ever heard of snus so I'm hoping customs are oblivious!!

@ Steel Blue, well done for being smoke free for so long. Do you still get the urge for cigarettes? i stopped smoking for health reasons but have a medical condition thats cured by nicotine (strange but true!) so I'm hoping snus will sort me out from all sides. I went onto snus for 5 days then back onto cigarettes for 5 and now back on snus 4 days. Got strong urges all day today for smoke - will this pass?

@ sagedil,

"Once open, a tin will last for a long time. It might go a bit dry on you, but it will still be good. I have found open tins 6 months later and it was still OK"
Is there not some issue with nitrosomes (or whatever they're called) if the snus is exposed to air for too long?

Cheers

[chainsnuser]

One other question chainsnuser, do you get your supplies mailed from Sweden? I sent an email to swedish-match.com to ask about mailing to Ireland and they refused, saying it was against EU law and if i wanted to buy it in Sweden to take home I would have to consult Irish Customs first!! Bit of a joke really. Northerner.com mailed it to me no problem (but charged me American tax and European tax). Is it illegal for them to mail it to another EU country and is it just luck that it got through customs? I don't think anyone in Ireland has ever heard of snus so I'm hoping customs are oblivious!!

Yeah, I get my snus from Sweden. Swedish Match, respectively their webshop (http://www.swedishsnus.com/) is just overly politically correct, regarding the EU-snus-ban. Snus is free of duty throughout the EU, but we have to pay the same prices that the Swedes have to pay, including Swedish VAT and tobacco tax (not American, it's the Swedish tobacco tax!). I don't know, what kind of problem Swedish Match has, but the purchases from the other webshops are perfectly legal and hassle-free (at least until now).

I hope you voted against the EU-"constitution" (or however it should be called). Not that I hate the idea of the European Union, but the (not democratically legitimated) assholes who currently have the power in Brussels are not what a united Europe once was meant to be.

Cheers!

[mccoma66]

That's good to know, at least my supply route is still open!! I wasn't sure about the tax situation - I bought the 24 tin starter box for US$55 but with tax and postage it cost US$110 - does that sound right?? Even at that price its a bargain compared to the price of cigarettes in Ireland - €8.00 for a pack of 20 (that's about $12.50 to you American folks!)

By the way, I didn't vote in the referendum as I wasn't registered in time. I really wasn't sure what side I should support as I'm very pro-EU (as a group of 27 individual countries, not as 1 superstate) but the French prime minister instructing us to vote Yes or our country would be punished was enough for me to support the No campaign. I mean, WTF, a foreign politician threatening another country???? If thats what integration is all about, you can stick it!!

I'm sure the rest of Europe hates us now, but so long as I can still get my snus from Sweden I'm happy.

[sagedil]

Thanks for the welcome and your help folks.

One other question chainsnuser, do you get your supplies mailed from Sweden? I sent an email to swedish-match.com to ask about mailing to Ireland and they refused, saying it was against EU law and if i wanted to buy it in Sweden to take home I would have to consult Irish Customs first!! Bit of a joke really. Northerner.com mailed it to me no problem (but charged me American tax and European tax). Is it illegal for them to mail it to another EU country and is it just luck that it got through customs? I don't think anyone in Ireland has ever heard of snus so I'm hoping customs are oblivious!!

@ Steel Blue, well done for being smoke free for so long. Do you still get the urge for cigarettes? i stopped smoking for health reasons but have a medical condition thats cured by nicotine (strange but true!) so I'm hoping snus will sort me out from all sides. I went onto snus for 5 days then back onto cigarettes for 5 and now back on snus 4 days. Got strong urges all day today for smoke - will this pass?

@ sagedil,

"Once open, a tin will last for a long time. It might go a bit dry on you, but it will still be good. I have found open tins 6 months later and it was still OK"
Is there not some issue with nitrosomes (or whatever they're called) if the snus is exposed to air for too long?

Cheers

Many of had thought that heat would increase the nitosomes, but I have read some stuff lately that discounts it. But it will dry out and not taste as good. That is really the big issue.

I too use nicotine for medical reasons. Once the big tobacco settlement was done here in the states, scientists started to look again at nicotine. One of the first studies to come out was a study that showed nicotine to be as effective as Ritalin in treating ADHD. This has now been confirmed in a number of other studies. I feel the difference BIG time. I am almost completely ineffective without nicotine, but with it, I am able to focus. I desperately don't want to hop myself up on amphetamines, so I have sought out the most health friendly way I can find to self medicate myself with nicotine

[KarlvB]

mccoma66, I would suggest reading this thread to answer your question about nitrosamines and changes in temperature (especially page 23 and 24 of the BAT report).

http://snuson.com/viewtopic.php?t=1934

However, the best advice I got from forum members was to freeze that which I don't use immediately and leave the rest (and open cans) in the fridge.

Personally, I take out a couple of portion from my open tins in the refridgerator, put it in an empty tin and take it to work where it goes back into the fridge. I just don't like the taste of warm snus.

But leaving it out all day and popping it back into the fridge when you get home should be fine.

[mccoma66]

Thanks for that. Been storing them in the fridge the past few days and the original portions are great when cool.

Still trying hard to switch over from cigarettes and having a bit of difficulty, especially in the evenings. Is it normal to go "dual-fuel" for a while?

Just started on a tin of Knox and have to say this is my favourite so far. I think this is the one that might swing me. So far I've tried Catch Dry Cassis (ok but no kick), Catch Dry Eucalyptus (good but no kick), Ettan White Portion (didn't like at all, too dry to start then gets soggy very quickly and too much bitter juice), Skruf Original Portion (good), Roda Lacket (peculiar but not unpleasant) & Knox (great, and cheap!). Can't wait to tuck into the other 18 flavours..

Cheers

[sagedil]

dual-fuel is totally normal at first. Why I keep emphasizing to not worry about it. As you use snus more and more, your desire for cigarettes will lessen. One suggestion though, get a hold of some Nick & Johnny or Skruff Stark (I suppose the offroad would work but won't recommend that). A higher nicotine snus will help curb those strong urges you ocassionally get. When I first started using snus, I used nothing but the strong for a month or so. but even now, I need a strong every once in a while to help curb a sudden nicotine craving. i always have a can of strong open in my fridge for those moments.

I had someone staying with me for a few weeks and she smoked. Just being around her, I started to smoke far more than I had these past 16 months. Once she left, I didn't have another cigarette again, but every other snus I used for 3 days was a Nick and Johnny. Now, I am not feeling as much need.

[Dead Rabbit]

That's good to know, at least my supply route is still open!! I wasn't sure about the tax situation - I bought the 24 tin starter box for US$55 but with tax and postage it cost US$110 - does that sound right?? Even at that price its a bargain compared to the price of cigarettes in Ireland - €8.00 for a pack of 20 (that's about $12.50 to you American folks!)

By the way, I didn't vote in the referendum as I wasn't registered in time. I really wasn't sure what side I should support as I'm very pro-EU (as a group of 27 individual countries, not as 1 superstate) but the French prime minister instructing us to vote Yes or our country would be punished was enough for me to support the No campaign. I mean, WTF, a foreign politician threatening another country???? If thats what integration is all about, you can stick it!!



I'm sure the rest of Europe hates us now, but so long as I can still get my snus from Sweden I'm happy.

I can't say I blame the Irish for voting NO. You Micks have been through too much achieving independence to just vote it away. Now just don't go too nationalistic on us and join Sinn Fein, those Jerry Adams types scare me, as I'm not from Boston, Ma.

And far as Europe hating you, don't worry, you will get used to it.

By the way, I was in Ireland not too long ago and like a stupid American, I thought it was ok to sport my Celtic jersey around town. Very bad move on the train towards Belfast. God, I'm a moron.

[KarlvB]

Still trying hard to switch over from cigarettes and having a bit of difficulty, especially in the evenings. Is it normal to go "dual-fuel" for a while?

Personally I didn't do that but I really really wanted to quit and once I found an alternate means of nicotine delivery I was happy to leave the cigs behind forever. But I am probably an exception to the rule and like sagedil said, the desire to smoke will decrease in time.

Just started on a tin of Knox and have to say this is my favourite so far. I think this is the one that might swing me. So far I've tried Catch Dry Cassis (ok but no kick), Catch Dry Eucalyptus (good but no kick), Ettan White Portion (didn't like at all, too dry to start then gets soggy very quickly and too much bitter juice), Skruf Original Portion (good), Roda Lacket (peculiar but not unpleasant) & Knox (great, and cheap!). Can't wait to tuck into the other 18 flavours

Agreed, Knox is awesome stuff as is the Skruf Original. The CatchDry are mini portions and rarely satisfy the cravings that smokers have. What other flavours did you get? I'd suggest trying the Grov next if you have it. Super tasty.

[squeezyjohn]

Still trying hard to switch over from cigarettes and having a bit of difficulty, especially in the evenings. Is it normal to go "dual-fuel" for a while?

Firstly can I add to the welcomes you've received from everyone else and well done on trying to give up smoking. Absolutely don't worry about doing both - if you end up giving yoursel a small nicotine overdose you'll definitely know about it and the last thing you'll want to do then is snus or smoke.

When I discovered snus it was after visiting Norway and trying some for a laugh - did it wrong and didn't like it much (bottom lip) - but I brought it back with me and when I came down with a stinking cold that meant I couldn't even breathe the smoke in I tried it to get some nicotine in my system. I liked it and also cottoned on to the fact I could do it in the pub after the recent smoking ban!

I never even thought about giving up smoking - I was one of those people that just thought I was too addicted. I ordered some more online from buysnus.com and that was it. I continued to do both but it kind of cut down my smoking to one or two a day as I got more intrigued with trying the new brands I'd bought online. This was in the space of 2 weeks and I was having my first cigarette at 6pm rather than 15 minutes after waking up.

From there it was relatively easy to decide to cut those out and just use strong snus when I really wanted one. I have smoked in the past 6 months that - maybe 10 times - but it's OK because as I'm still addicted to a different nicotine source it doesn't start me back on the smoking. And increasingly it makes my throat tighten up like a new smoker and it tastes horrible which I'd actually never noticed before! But if I really miss it I don't worry about just going out and having one.

So that's me. I hope that you can do the same thing. Don't worry if you don't make the clean break with fags straight away - using snus is damage limitation, not necessarily a panacea. But you should try and get some snus for every occasion.

Use functional ones like Nick & Johnny or Skruf Stark for the times you really need the nicotine. Get some of the Mocca + mini portions or Wise Strong mini portions for times you want to feel the nicotine but want to hide it from the world. And then treat yourself to any of the exciting flavours on offer from the rest of buysnus or northerner's websites and explore a new thing. Get messy with loose snus - learn how to hand bake knowing full well that you're the only person for miles around with this silly habit.

It's fun! Enjoy

[jamesstew]

Listen to Bald Guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF6GIZWGNZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOuoh...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISrIT...eature=related