“like small pillows of happiness for your mouth”
I’m going to be up front with you. I love mint. My toothpaste and mouthwash are mint. I have a box of peppermint tea which soothes my throat when I have a cold. I don’t really like gum, but when I do – yep, mint’s my first choice. York peppermint patties were a favorute growing up. I like the cooling sensation mint has, plus I like the fact it covers up what can be some wicked breath. I work overnights in a convenience store and I tend to run on coffee and anger, neither of which is good for one’s breath.
That being said when I started snusing, my first choice was to grab the mint. Being an American, it’s not like I can walk into any store and grab a can – it was a search and recovery operation facilitated by the Internet. And even then, our choices are limited. Most places carry the American version of “snus”, which is like sucking on a candy you picked off the floor of a chemical plant. A few places sell real snus, and those few places sell General snus. Suffice it so say, General was my first real snus, and continues to be a go-to for me to this day.
Now, let’s talk about General Mint. Cracking open a can, you’ll notice the neat circular pattern General places its portions. A quick whiff reveals its minty secrets – not a specific mint, it’s neither pure peppermint, nor pure spearmint, but a pleasant mix of the two with the added aroma of its fine tobacco. The cans I buy are white portions, so they are dry to the touch and fairly soft, like small pillows of happiness for your mouth.
Upon inserting a portion, you quickly get that minty tingle. It’s not bludgeoning you to death the way American snuses do, rather a subtle “Hello there, friend!” as it provides a cooling snesation, followed fairly quickly by the pleasurable buzz from the nicotine. The portions quickly settle in place and flatten out, making the experience even more discreet to others, as I’ve managed to skirt the rules at work and partake all night, without the need for smoke breaks the others demand.
Its flavor is just as the aroma, a sweetish mint that doesn’t overwhelm you and that really lasts a long time.General’s flavor is probably the best mint of any snus I’ve had in terms of balance and strength. I’ve kept portions in for hours without losing the flavor. I’ve even fallen asleep with a portion in a few times, only to awaken with it still there, not dripping even after 8 hours (although I wouldn’t make a habit of it)
Overall, I’d give the General a solid
Being a more experienced snus fan, I’ve come to love the stronger snuses out there, but for an everyday choice, it would be hard to fare better than General. You’re sure to get a consistently quality product which isn’t too extreme in strength, and its long-lasting portions will stretch your money out to last a long time.
/ Frank, Snus Squad
