Propylene Glycol. Answer To Dry Loose?

[SnusoMatic]

I got a whole roll of General ES Loose from Notherner a few days ago. It has a good best by date but it is very dry. Its so dry that I used a can of it and it made my gum and lip sore from the rubbing. Keep in mind that I have used General ES Loose daily for several years. In the past I have gotten some dry gen es from Northerner but usually i had ordered only 2-3 cans and was not such a big deal.

I started mixing some probe loose with this dry gen to be able to use it. Yet, I have about eight more cans of the stuff and only one more can of probe.

Last night I ordered a quart of food grade propylene glycol. I am going to try mixing some in with a can of the dry gen and let it age a few days in the refrigerator.

Anyone ever tried "un-drying" loose with propylene glycol? If so, does it work? If it did work, do you have any tips?

tia

[Faylool]

I think it might be A good idea because PG deters bacteria. I just used water and wet the inside of top lid for some Makla I aired out too long and it dried up. I bet if you just put it in the lid side and repeat as needed the product I'll eventually re plump.

[Snotgifff]

Works on cigars...why not snus?

[thatguyjeff]

PG could impart a flavor. I dunno for sure though. I've always just used a little water - just plain old tap water.

[squeezyjohn]

Be very careful with it ... it's used commercially as a humectant ... but also as anti-freeze! As a humectant it's used in tiny tiny amounts only.

If you add too much - not only does it become a health concern - but it also tastes like the worst artificial sweetener imaginable ...

Glycerine /Glycerol (same stuff) - is far safer and not so sweet.

[squeezyjohn]

In fact the General Extra Stark will already contain glycerine - but if it has dried out (what does Northerner do to their snus???) - it's only lost the water content and you should be able to get that back.

All you need to do is get some water from the tap, wet your fingers, and flick only a few drops in to each can. Shake it up really well and leave it in the fridge for an hour or so. See how it's doing - if it's still a bit dry repeat until it looks normal - then you know roughly how much to do it for each can.

It's a bit of a bummer to have to go through - but it will mean you will at least give your gums a rest!

[whalen]

Rehydrate with water, then write "N" and bitch.

[squeezyjohn]

Hey Whalen ... that's what I said ... but shorter!

[whalen]

Sorry! The thought of adding more PG just amazes me when a shot of water will do. I have a dollar store atomizer that just truly spritzes so fine, I keep it full of distilled water and use it on snus, wife's rolling tobacco, and snuff. Used it a couple hundred times.

I have had such badly dried out snus from Northerner, I wonder how they manage to do it so often? I really like a moist portion, and I will spritz a can after a couple of days, and long term freezer snus need a little TLC. You read so much misunderstood stuff on here sometimes, the glycol, as you point out, is a humectant, but when its dry, its dry. I evaluate and react to whatever needs my various tobacco products need, usually it is just a spritz.

[SnusoMatic]

i am talking about propylene glycol not ethylene glycol. The LD50 is roughly 20mL/kg. A 150 lb human would have to consume 1.3 liters of propylene glycol. That same 150 human would have to instantly consume 0.9 liters of 90 proof whiskey to reach its LD50. That is if they had zero tolerance to alcohol. Since in snus we are talking about around 1-2% propylene glycol a pound of snus might have between 4 and 8 ml of propylene glycol I don't think its very dangerous. That is unless you plan to EAT 193 pounds of snus in one sitting. Since the LD50 for pure nicotine is something like 66 mg you would die soon into your first pound and never come close to dying from the propylene glycol.

it does have a slightly sweet taste though. I put too much in my first test can and it gave it an off taste. I used about 1.5%. Next time I plan to drop that to 1% and see how it goes. That's going to be .5 ml or roughly .5 grams in a can.

My experience with watering dry snus is soggy snus that releases very little nicotine. To each their own.

I think that Northerner opens rolls of snus as soon as they get them to put those labels on the cans. Since Swedish Match loose (all versions as far as I know) use cardboard cans while the rolls stay wrapped in plastic it helps keep the snus from dying. Since northerner unwraps the rolls they sit around a month drying out before we get them. That's my working theory anyway. It's the only reason I can think of for a can of snus with a good best by date being died out. That theory assumes they keep them in refrigeration which actually causes the snus to dry out quicker. If they are not sealed then the drying happens even sooner.

Only general es loose with good best by dates that I got from northerner has ever been dry when I got it.

[squeezyjohn]

Seriously - give it one more go but with the tiniest drips of water. If you've been getting no nic or flavour off rehydrated snus then that's because the snus is past it's best.

I know PG isn't EG - but both are used as antifreeze compounds. I also know that PG is safe in small amounts and is used in almost every foodstuff under the sun! But snus contains (as you say) about 1% PG already - Los will also contain glycerin. It's not PG that has been lost from the snus, it's water. If you use enough PG to bring back the consistency then you will also taste it!

That was all I was trying to say.

PS - I've had portions from Northerner US in a completely dead state (off flavour, dry, low nic) which showed within the best before date - I like your theory about the rolls being opened, but I also think they do not refrigerate them properly ... If at all!

[SnusoMatic]

PS - I've had portions from Northerner US in a completely dead state (off flavour, dry, low nic) which showed within the best before date - I like your theory about the rolls being opened, but I also think they do not refrigerate them properly ... If at all!

I don't buy as much portion as I do loose but think I have got some bad portions too. I have wondered if they refrigerate but since it would be in their best interest I always blew that question off. You could be right though but if you are they ain't using their brain cells are they. This order I had reasons to get snus from them. Next time I won't have those reasons and won't be getting any large orders from them. Maybe I will buy a few cans if I find myself in a bind. It is crazy to pay what general cost these days to get dried out snus.

It's the worse snus I have ever received except a few times I ordered in mid summer. Local temps get and stay in upper 90-100+ F / 32-38+ C during some months. Those temps cook snus and dry it out. Right now temps are good for snus so I know this did not dry out during the 1.5 day trip here. Just whining I guess. I hate bad snus haha.

[tattooer601]

my first loose to try was General loose.
The can was within its best date, the snus was dry drier than moist nassl snuff like Gawith apricot.

[squeezyjohn]

You're dead right to whine SnusoMatic! That's an unacceptable condition to receive perishable goods - you should probably whine to them direct but it did me no good at all. Letting us all know here that Northerner are still awful in this respect is also good so we can all make our own decisions whether or not to buy from them.

[MrMalmsten]

Be careful with just adding water. A to moist snus is hard to make good again. Instead, place a cucumber slice in there and let it do it´s magic. Preferably a few days. Works wonders.