A Brief Introduction to Loose snus - What is it and How Does it Work?
To portion snus users, the concept of snus without a pouch can be bewildering. However, the truth is that loose is simple, perhaps even more so than portion, as there is only one format to get to grips with, which means you do not have to learn things like the difference between original and white dry.
Loose snus is ground tobacco that comes in standard containers and is available in three types of 'grind', including coarse, medium and fine. It also varies in moisture content, flavor and nicotine. Visually, the contents are dark-colored and fluffy, almost like soil. Since it is unportioned, users must form their own by taking a 'pinch' (small amount) and 'bake' it (mold) into the desired shape and size. Alternatively, a loose portion tool, such as the Primaster by Swedish Match, can be used to make things quicker and easier. A commonly used weight for a loose 'prilla' (portion) is 1 gram. Once formed, the user places it under their lip in the same way as a portion or nicotine pouch to absorb the flavor and nicotine for 40-60 minutes.
Loose Snus - Why Choose This Format?
With other oral tobacco products like all-white snus that seemingly provide a more convenient and modern way to get your daily dose of vitamin N, you may be wondering why so many users choose loose over portion snus. The simple answer is because with snus, convenience is not everything, and newer does not always mean better. Bringing it back to basics and enjoying tobacco in its purest, most unaltered form is a unique experience with many great benefits. There are three main reasons why consumers opt for loose, which are:
- A rich and full-bodied flavor - Unlike all other snus formats, loose features no material pouch, which means that there is nothing to separate the tobacco from your mouth. As a result, loose snus flavors are delightfully rich and full-bodied.
- An instant onset of nicotine - A further benefit to the lack of a pouch is that the moist contents contact your gums as soon as you place them there, meaning that salivation occurs quickly, and the nicotine gets transferred immediately with full effect. Loose snus nicotine strengths rarely range as high as portion snus, partly because of the more efficient release.
- Personalized use - The requirement to form your portions means you can create a snus that works best for you. Of course, the flavor will remain the same, but you can decide how you want it to feel under your lip and how strong you want it to be. The larger you make your prillas, the more nicotine you will consume.
Picking the Right Product
There are many loose snus brands to choose from, which all offer different experiences. To achieve maximum satisfaction from these products, you must know which are best suited to your needs, which can be done by understanding how loose can vary and what these variations mean in terms of the experience.
As mentioned earlier, loose can vary in multiple ways. So to recap, these are moisture, grind, flavor and nicotine, which all determine the overall experience from the product in the following ways:
- Moisture Content - Moisture content can affect nicotine and flavor release. It depends on the brand and product but is usually between 50% and 60%. Moist loose, like Mustang loose, provides quicker release times than drier loose such as Roda Lacket. It also affects the consistency to an extent, but not as much as the grind.
- Grind Type - The coarseness or fineness of the grind determines how easy the loose is to form, how well it holds its shape and the mouthfeel. Finer loose feels light and fluffy in the mouth but is usually more tricky to bake and may require a tool. Coarser loose clumps together with ease and retains its shape better but has a thicker, clunkier mouthfeel.
- Flavor - Loose snus flavors are generally traditional and tobacco-centric, as the product is simply grounded tobacco. The taste can vary from light, gentle and sweet like in Göteborgs Prima Fint to dark, rich and smokey in Knox loose. There are also flavored options, which are commonly whiskey-based, such as Islay Whisky loose.
- Nicotine - The nicotine content depends on the product and brand. For loose, this figure usually lands between 7.5 mg/g in regular strength products such as Ettan Loose and 22 mg/g in extra strong loose snus like Oden's Cold Extreme Loose.
Now that you know how these products can vary, you can save time finding the right one for you by assessing the above information for the loose you are interested to see if it suits your needs.
Why Snusers Prefer to Buy Loose snus Online
Loose snus can be purchased in tobacconists or on the internet. However, many consumers around the globe prefer to buy their loose snus online for various reasons. Firstly, the assortment of products and brands is much greater online compared to in-store. E-stores have large warehouses full of stock, as opposed to a small behind the counter shelf, which means that users can find the loose that suits them and other exciting new ones to try.
Secondly, loose snus bought online is usually far fresher and has a longer shelf life as e-stores receive regular, new deliveries daily, stored at the optimal temperature for freshness and longevity. Fresh snus stored correctly retains its flavor and nicotine better, providing a superior experience. The final reason why users shop online is that it is much cheaper. There are fantastic special offers on snus and reward schemes offered, making that first pinch of loose all the more satisfying!
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