Shirazi/Trabzon2 Snus

[wruk53]

Started a new batch of snus on Friday using my homegrown Shirazi and Trabzon2. The tobaccos were well aged this time. I more or less followed the Squeezyjohn Ettan recipe. The proportions and methods I used are as follows: 200g Shirazi flour, 200g Trabzon2 flour, 32g Kosher salt, 2 teaspoons of plain baking cocoa powder, 24g of sodium carbonate and 400g of RO water. I poured the tobacco flour and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl and mixed well. Next, I dissolved the salt into 280g of the water, poured into the flour and mixed until the flour was evenly moist. At that point, I packed it into 3-pint sized Mason jars, put the seals in place, and tightened the lids finger tight. I placed the jars into my Instant Pot with water up to the level of the top of the snus in the jars. Set the IP to medium warm, which maintains at 181 to 183 degrees. Cooked it for 24 hours, then unpacked the snus into a mixing bowl and alkalized by mixing well with the sodium carbonate mixed into 120g of warm water and cooked for another 10 hours. The totaI amount of water used was equal to the amount of tobacco flour by weight. I let the jars sit out on the counter over night to cool down. This morning I scraped it out into a bowl, put the lid on and put it in the fridge for aging.

When this batch was alkalized, it gave off very strong nose burning, eye watering fumes, so I'm certain it will be high in nicotine. The final weight of this batch is approximately 2 pounds. I have high hopes for this batch. I'll let it rest for a week or two, then try it and give a review.

 

[deluxestogie]

Thanks for the clearly-written recipe, with documented times, measurements and methods. [The "Trabzon 2", from Northwood Seeds, is a Bright Leaf variety collected near Trabzon, Turkey. It's pedigree is unknown, and may or may not share characteristics with the petioled, Samsun-like Oriental variety known as Trabzon.]

Bob

 

[wruk53]

I sampled my T2/Shirazi Snus today and I'm very pleased with it. It is medium high in nicotine content and has a rich tobacco flavor and scent. There won't be any need to add flavorings. Definitely a keeper recipe. It's been in the fridge for 10 days and normally keeps on improving for a few more weeks, then I'll divide it into 3 or 4 ounces per zip lock baggie and freeze for long term storage.