Seeking Advice: Replicating the Flavor of "Straight" Moist Snuff Tobacco

[Tobatex]

Hey forum members and tobacco enjoyers

This is my first post so I’ll just try and get right to the point. I recently become interested in making my own Moist Snuff Tobacco, and I'm excited to experiment with different flavors. However, I've hit a roadblock in my quest to replicate the distinctive taste of "straight" dipping tobacco.

I want to emphasize that I am specifically seeking to recreate the spiced sweetened flavor associated with "straight" moist snuff, not the natural flavored that leans on the side of being smokey and salty. To me it almost tastes like rootbeer or sarsaparilla. I understand that the term "straight" can sometimes be used ambiguously, so I want to make sure we're on the same page. Original/Natural or plain flavor usually comes in the gold or silver cans while straight is in red or maroon cans.

If any of you have experience in creating your own "straight" dipping tobacco flavor or have any ideas on how to achieve this unique taste, I would greatly appreciate your guidance. Whether it's a combination of spices, sweeteners, or any other secret ingredient, I'm eager to learn from your expertise.

Thank you all in advance for your time and contributions. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and recommendations.

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. You may want to scan through our index of key forum threads for topics that may be of interest. It's linked in the menu bar.

Your quest will be a challenging one. The specific flavorants added to commercial products are always a closely guarded secret. Listings of ingredients typically look like this one:

Skoal Long Cut Straight

• water
• tobacco
• sodium chloride (salt)
• natural and artificial flavors
• binders
• sodium carbonate
• ammonium carbonate
• sodium saccharin
• ethyl alcohol
• preservatives

Bob

 

[93rdCanadian]

Which brand are you trying to attempt?

I've read that most straights start with methyl salicylate (wintergreen) and then likely add other flavours to change the profile.

I would make a batch of unflavored then start experimenting with a base of wintergreen and throw in different modifier flavors (my gut says vanilla or molasses, something to darken the profile). Alternatively get some root beer flavoring and see how close it comes. Try to keep it sugar free to reduce tooth decay.

Ive tried Stoker's and Grizzly straight and they are very different so your brand of choice will change the profile you are aiming for.

I am just finishing my first batch of snus today, I bought DIY eliquid flavors to experiment with once it ages a bit. The combinations are endless once you dive into the world of artificial flavoring hahaha.

 

[Tobatex]

Which brand are you trying to attempt?

I've read that most straights start with methyl salicylate (wintergreen) and then likely add other flavours to change the profile.

I would make a batch of unflavored then start experimenting with a base of wintergreen and throw in different modifier flavors (my gut says vanilla or molasses, something to darken the profile). Alternatively get some root beer flavoring and see how close it comes. Try to keep it sugar free to reduce tooth decay.

Ive tried Stoker's and Grizzly straight and they are very different so your brand of choice will change the profile you are aiming for.

I am just finishing my first batch of snus today, I bought DIY eliquid flavors to experiment with once it ages a bit. The combinations are endless once you dive into the world of artificial flavoring hahaha.

You are correct the flavoring does differ from brand to brand. Most of them are similar with exception for Stokers and Copenhagen which have more distinct flavors for some reason. It doesn’t help that both of these are my favorite brands, but It is my hopes to recreate the Copenhagen variety.

Your comment about the wintergreen makes a lot of sense. Wintergreen is used in sarsaparilla and root beer which could be why I associate those flavors with straight snuff. I am going to go buy a local food depot a chef friend of mine uses to try and find flavorings I could use to start experimenting. I think the vanilla or molasses is right on target personally.

That is really cool you have made your own snus. I have recently started buying some online and so far have been very impressed. I can’t imagine the possibilities you have considering you make it yourself. What do you usually use to flavor it ?

 

[loui loui]

I don't know anything about american dip but I flavour my snus with grinded juniper berry for a classic snus taste. I grind the juniper berries in a mortar together with a pinch of salt, add snus and arabic gum and grind it all together.

I suggest you grind juniper berries, it is a great classic flavour, very fresh taste.

I use 8 dried juniper berries to one can of snus (40gram).

Black pepper and dried lime (with kernels removed) are also making s great flavour.
The dried lime is similar to the classic snus flavour bergamot.

 

[93rdCanadian]

I used Flavorah flavours for my non traditionally flavoured snus. It turned out pretty good considering its my first attempt.

I'm really enjoying Milk and Honey, and Smoked Butterscotch, some great desert flavours, the Wintergreen and Rose didn't come out as strong a flavour as I expected, might have to up the flavouring.

The grind wasn't as fine as it should have been I think, after kneading it does hold together but not as clay like as the store bought stuff. It came out more like copenhagen snuff but with a touch finer grind so it's really easy to pinch, the unflavoured one actually tastes quite similar to copenhagen even though its just dark air and no fire cured.

 

[loui loui]

I used Flavorah flavours for my non traditionally flavoured snus. It turned out pretty good considering its my first attempt.

I'm really enjoying Milk and Honey, and Smoked Butterscotch, some great desert flavours, the Wintergreen and Rose didn't come out as strong a flavour as I expected, might have to up the flavouring.

The grind wasn't as fine as it should have been I think, after kneading it does hold together but not as clay like as the store bought stuff. It came out more like copenhagen snuff but with a touch finer grind so it's really easy to pinch, the unflavoured one actually tastes quite similar to copenhagen even though its just dark air and no fire cured.

You can add a little gum arabic and knead it a bit to make it more like clay. I do it in a mortar one or two cans at the time.

 

[T.Scheibe]

You are correct the flavoring does differ from brand to brand. Most of them are similar with exception for Stokers and Copenhagen which have more distinct flavors for some reason. It doesn’t help that both of these are my favorite brands, but It is my hopes to recreate the Copenhagen variety.

Your comment about the wintergreen makes a lot of sense. Wintergreen is used in sarsaparilla and root beer which could be why I associate those flavors with straight snuff. I am going to go buy a local food depot a chef friend of mine uses to try and find flavorings I could use to start experimenting. I think the vanilla or molasses is right on target personally.

That is really cool you have made your own snus. I have recently started buying some online and so far have been very impressed. I can’t imagine the possibilities you have considering you make it yourself. What do you usually use to flavor it ?

Stokers & Copenhagen start with a Kentucky Dark Fired leaf, which is rare in the industry (only other I know is Kodiak Growers Select Dark). This is a special strain of Burley that’s then cured over smoke for about 21 days. Popular in many pipe tobacco blends.

 

[Alpine]

Welcome to FTT @T.Scheibe feel free to introduce yourself in the dedicated section of the forum.

pier

 

[WillQuantrill]

There is a wealth of info in this "smokeless" forum, I even bought deluxestogie's dip snuff and chew recipe book because I'm old fashioned and I like to reference physical information. I've only made 7 batches of dip in different varieties and coming in close on my Cope natural blend cuz that's what I chew. I'll lend a few tips in my somewhat young experiments. If I were gonna make a "straight" blend I would use a higher proportion of Dark Air Cured as it has a sweeter taste to it, some reminiscent of that nice raisiny smell and taste. I use Burley red tips for my base tobacco at 30-60% the recipe then blend in different varieties depending on what I'm going for. Food grade Glycerin helps to give a subtle sweetness and add good texture to the final product and while I haven't tried to replicate a straight blend I would use Xylitol and Root Beer or Honey flavorings to enhance flavor. Probably stay away from adding Ammonium carbonate during alkalizing process. I'm not a huge fan of the sweet or flavored dip but I made a Christmas Blend last year with cinnamon oil that was fantastic!