Snorting powdered tobacco, or more commonly, snuffing and sniffing, can be quite pleasurable and satisfying when performed correctly.  The degree of satisfaction will differ greatly between individuals as the quality of an individuals technique will vary greatly.   Many new snuffers have the misconception that snuff is less efficient than some other smoking alternatives like Snus and chewing tobacco.  However, some snuffers tested clinically achieved higher blood serum levels of nicotine than both snussers and cigarette smokers alike.  Snuff makes for an excellent NRT in those who are able to master the skill and a frustrating one for those who haven’t.

Before snuffing can become a total replacement the cigarette smoker needs some patience and practice in order to receive an adequate supply of nicotine.  The casual toffeenose who isn’t addicted to cigarettes or chew generally has a relatively low addiction and doesn’t need the copious amounts of nicotine smokers require.  Many snuff makers concentrate on flavor and ease of use to satisfy this longtime clientele.   The burgeoning popularity of smoke-free tobacco alternatives has smokers looking for an instant replacement and are often frustrated with some of these more popular products.

While finding a strong Snuff is an important step for those interested in giving this old habit a try, mastery of the “art of snuffing” is first and foremost.  Snuff is not simply snorted as any powdered tobacco getting into the nasal cavity itself will be met with searing pain that unfortunately has newbies quickly opting for another NRT.  Snuff is sniffed, lightly at first until the newbie feels confident and progresses to gradually increase the dose.  Beginner Snuff products, while being fairly low in nicotine, will teach the new snuffer the correct form without much risk of a painful and premature end to their new hobby.  These moist and highly flavored snuffs are also a pleasure to use and many an experienced snuffer will still keep them in daily rotation.

Once mastered, the new snuffer will have hundreds of choices of flavors, grinds and moisture levels to choose from.  Snuff has the largest array of products of any tobacco product and experimentation is part of the fun.  The cost of snuffing is another plus and is a fraction of any other tobacco product.   The heaviest of snuffers would have a hard time sniffing more than a couple dollars worth a day and most spend even less than that.    It goes without saying tobacco Nazi’s will jump all over this too, spreading  misinformation and confusing oral tobacco studies with snuff.  It’s highly doubtful the low tax rate currently enjoyed by snuffers will go unpunished once it becomes popular and profitable.  Ironically, the 80 some year old tradition of keeping a filled Snuffbox in our Senate exists to this day.

Some great snuff resources:

Snuffhouse forum

Snufftalk info and forum

Snuffbox info site

Impressive and sometimes accidental advances in agriculture and curing enabled the development of tobaccos particularly suited to cigarette smoking.   The most influential being the legendary development of Bright Leaf or “yaller” tobacco by a snoozing slave who discovered the fortunate reaction that led to this most delicious advance in curing to date.   One chilly young man’s desire to stay warm and a near disastrous super heating of the curing shed made for the near perfect smoke sweet enough even for the ladies that  sparked worldwide demand.  Cigarette popularity was increasing exponentially by the year only decades after birth.

The civil war saw the advent of the peculiar taxation schemes on tobacco products that thrives to this day.  By this time, the cigarette industry was already a multi million dollar industry and the legislators took full advantage quickly.  Tobacco in general and cigarettes in particular boasted ever growing sales despite economic trends that inspired a plethora of creative tax schemes.  Not quite the bloated schedules commanded routinely nowadays but the onset of creative tobacco taxes took root early on making the bastardization of fair taxes on tobacco usual and customary.