Snuff guide
Snuff – in Switzerland usually just called Schnupf – is finely ground tobacco that is taken in through the nose. It is neither burned nor vaporised, leaves no smell of smoke and can be used where smoking is not possible. That explains why the tradition has survived in Switzerland while it has almost disappeared elsewhere.
This guide explains the differences between varieties, the most important houses and how to use snuff. You can find the full range under Snuff.
Dry or moist – the main difference
Dry snuff is finely ground and dusty. It releases its aroma immediately and feels stronger. The English houses mostly work this way. It is demanding for beginners, because getting the dose right takes practice.
Moist snuff, common in Switzerland and southern Germany, is coarser and clumps slightly. It produces hardly any dust, stays in the nose better and is therefore the usual starting point. So-called Swiss snuff belongs to this group.
Mentholated or flavoured
Mentholated varieties cool and open the nose – they are by far the most popular type. Flavoured varieties range from fruit (apricot, raspberry) to aniseed and pine needle to honey. Natural varieties without additives taste noticeably more of tobacco and are aimed at experienced users.
The houses
- Gawith – from Kendal in northern England, one of the oldest snuff mills in the world. The Original Apricot variety is our best-selling snuff of all.
- McChrystal's – English house with the widest range in our shop: from the small 3.5 g tin to the 21 g large pack, plus Swiss special editions such as Eidgenossen and Fasnacht.
- Ozona – German classics, dry and spicy. President, Anis, Raspberry and Snuffy White cover the most common flavours.
- Wilsons of Sharrow – made in Sheffield since 1737. Dynamite is one of the strongest varieties on the market, Honey Menthol one of the mildest.
- JBR – sorted by colour: Yellow, Red, Blue, Black and Wintergreen, from mild to strong.
- Pöschl – the Gletscherprise, a mentholated classic from Bavaria.
There are also Swiss specialities such as Mythos Haudegen and the SC Bern tin, as well as Red Bull Ultra Strong for anyone who likes it strong.
How to use
Place a small pinch on the back of your hand or in the hollow between thumb and index finger – about as much as fits on a fingertip. Then take it in calmly and gently through one nostril. The key point: do not sniff hard. Inhaling forcefully carries the tobacco into your throat, which burns and makes you sneeze. The snuff should stay at the front of the nose.
If you are new to it, start with a moist, mentholated variety and a very small amount. After a few uses you will find the right dose on your own.
Storage
Snuff dries out if the tin is left open. Stored cool and closed, it stays unchanged for months. If a moist variety has become too dry, a humidifier stone helps – you will find suitable tins and humidifiers under Storage.
Ordering from Dampfwelt
We stock around 38 varieties in our warehouse in Switzerland. Shipping is free, and if you order in the morning you will usually receive your goods on the next working day.
Legal information
Snuff is a tobacco product and contains nicotine, which is addictive. It is sold exclusively to persons aged 18 and over. The products are subject to Swiss tobacco tax.