Make your own snus from rolling tobacco

[ctee]

Just uploaded a new video where I made some snus from rolling tobacco I normally use raw tobacco and grind up, but now I just made it with this because some people can't get raw tobacco and maybe just need a small amount.. I used eucalyptus aroma this time, and the smell is very nice after a day in the fridge, but may need some more time to cure

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xZCaan3XLI

ctee

[squeezyjohn]

Thanks for the video - pretty good & clear instructions there for anyone wanting to do it.

I'm still trying to get through the christmas snus I made which is probably the worst batch I've made so far. Firstly it used pure dark air cured tobacco which I didn't grind finely enough meaning that getting the stuff to stick together is impossible. Secondly I massively over-flavoured it in addition to adding a bit too much salt as well which means that although it's made of a really good quality tobacco - you can't taste a bit of it!

How did that batch made from rolling tobacco turn out flavour wise? It looked as if you also had a lot of salt for the amount of tobacco you were using. I've never tried making snus from tobacco for smoking. Was it OK?

Cheers

Squeezy

[ctee]

Thank you for the comment

I have not tasted it yet actually.. It has been in the fridge for 10 hours only, and I feel that I need to wait at least a day before tasting it.. It smells really good right now, and it looks really fine grinded like regular snus, this is actually a better batch than my christmas snus But that was really good as well, with many flavors combined together..

I used additive free rolling tobacco this time, it seriously smelled like play-doh when I opened the pack haha, no smoke aroma in it or nothing, and average with nicotine..

I know, I used a teaspoon which is aprx 5 grams, and I did not use all of it, but it might have been less.. I will update on the taste when I have tasted it tomorrow

I always try to update my videos and comments, so I will make an update here when I've tried it..

I, I, I, I, I, :P

[tattooer601]

I look forward to the update.....
I have a tub in the fridge, made with raw air cured.
Mine is entirely to wet.

I thought of pricing an amount of the homemade in cheese cloth,and squezzing the moisture out.
Any ideas?
I miss
<sn>justintempler
He was is a homemaker and could help greatly.

[squeezyjohn]

You could do that if it's completely soaking - but a lot of the strength of the tobacco will be in that liquid. You'd be better off trying to evaporate some of that liquid off and then padding off the excess with kitchen roll. At least that way you're mostly only getting rid of water rather than water + nicotine!

Cheers

Squeezy

[voodooman]

if you end up squeezing it out, you could use the juice instead of water in the next batch and possibly end up with some strong snus. thought about trying something like that, but have not as of yet.
also that's why i do small batches. less of a loss if you f up.

[squeezyjohn]

Good point voodoo man!

[ctee]

YOP!

The snus turned out good.. Just used a little to much salt, maybe try half next time.. It was really salt on the tongue, like salty licorice candy, but when you got in under the lip, the salt made the flavor much stronger and better..

So I think the best thing is to use half of the amount of salt that I used in this recipe

I've also grinded up all of my raw tobacco now, so I have aprx 5 kilos of snuff hehe.. Or around 300 cans of snus..

I also make small batches, easier to make mistakes, shorter cooking time, and I can make snus for one week and make another batch with different flavors next week

[Sato]

How does it compare to some typical store-bought snus in terms of flavor and texture?

[tattooer601]

Do you ever use pipe tobacco?

[ctee]

The texture of the rolling tobacco recipe was really good, just like storebought snus.. But I did not use glycerol or propylenglykol this time, so it was not as firm as storebought.. But the last one I made in christmas is just like normal snus, even without glycerol And the taste is very good!! The only thing that is "missing" from the storebought, is that classic tea/catpiss/chemical smell when you open your can, it smells much more like tobacco, something I think is very positive!

The longer you cure it in the fridge, the better the flavor and texture will be, just like wine

Nope, I've never used pipe tobacco.. Is that cleaner than rolling tobacco? Never been intr in smoking pipe, so I do not know somuch about that kind of tobacco..

[Sato]

Pretty interesting! I might have to try this sometime, thanks for the info. Made sure to leave a like on the video.

[squeezyjohn]

Congratulations on your success ctee!

May I just say that I used to think that I knew what the smell of tobacco was until I had my own un-flavoured air-cured tobacco in my hands. The smell of plain tobacco is very similar to tea and has none of that sweet, rich smell of a freshly opened pack of cigarettes or tobacco. The reason is that they use all kinds of flavourings in cigarette tobacco including chocolate, vanilla, honey, molasses, dried fruits and so on. I think the reason you think your home-made tastes more like tobacco is that the rolling tobacco you used was already flavoured like this.

Also - the catpee smell comes from ammonia released by the tobacco when you add the sodium carbonate. If it doesn't smell like this when you add it - there must be something wrong with the sodium carbonate and it won't be real snus, just wet tobacco. Of course the reason you then age it in the fridge is to let the smell of ammonia disperse slowly before it's ready to use.

That's what I know - but of course, you're happy with your snus results and I am unhappy with mine, so feel free to ignore any of that :-)

[tattooer601]

Congratulations on your success ctee!

May I just say that I used to think that I knew what the smell of tobacco was until I had my own un-flavoured air-cured tobacco in my hands. The smell of plain tobacco is very similar to tea and has none of that sweet, rich smell of a freshly opened pack of cigarettes or tobacco. The reason is that they use all kinds of flavourings in cigarette tobacco including chocolate, vanilla, honey, molasses, dried fruits and so on. I think the reason you think your home-made tastes more like tobacco is that the rolling tobacco you used was already flavoured like this.

Also - the catpee smell comes from ammonia released by the tobacco when you add the sodium carbonate. If it doesn't smell like this when you add it - there must be something wrong with the sodium carbonate and it won't be real snus, just wet tobacco. Of course the reason you then age it in the fridge is to let the smell of ammonia disperse slowly before it's ready to use.

That's what I know - but of course, you're happy with your snus results and I am unhappy with mine, so feel free to ignore any of that :-)

Very true...
Most tobacco has been cased
With the above flavors mention......
My snus attempt smells like tea.
I believe the s. Carbonate had basically become big carbonate.

I wonder if I let my lil tub of homemade snus sit out, become room temp slowly.
Then warmed again then add perfect amount per weight Sodium Carbonate....
Do you guys think adding proper sodium carbonate to the homemade may work?
I'm sure I had not baked the bicarbonate long enough..
If I re heated the snus mix add soda do you guys think it would straighten out my recipe..
If not I'm going with Voodoos idea and using the water for super snus next time, and trashing the batch.
Thanks fellows

[squeezyjohn]

I've been using pharma grade sodium carbonate in my attempts and it certainly works. But it is not very readily soluble like salt or sugar is. The best results I've had is to grind it up finely and then dissolve it in a little water first over a low heat - stirring until it is completely gone. That water can then be thoroughly mixed in with the snus and if it is reacting correctly you will smell the ammonia almost immediately.

What never ever works is just adding the sodium carbonate granules directly to the snus mix. It just stays in big gritty lumps and refuses to blend in properly.

I can't see why you couldn't do that with your batch - but having already added either sodium bicarbonate or carbonate before you might find the taste very salty or very alkali after a second dose. But it could be better than nothing!