Talking Snuff

I was on the local radio on Wednesday morning talking about snuff. And getting 2 non smokers to have a go!

snuff radio <- Click to listen!

Some snuff facts i got for the show!

History

it was first discovered (by the Europeans) on Columbus’ second voyage to the Americas. 1497!

• During Christopher Columbus second voyage to America, he stumbled upon native Taino-Indians sniffing tobacco through large Y-shaped tubes.

• 1561 (Dr Jean Nicot- French ambassador in Lisbon) sent tobacco to the French Queen (Catherine de’ Medici) who powdered the leaf and gave to her son who suffered chronic migraines. The snuff was successful and soon became a popular medicine for many things.

The 17^th century sees snuff becoming popular among the western upper classes

• 1620: Europe’s first Snuff factory established in Sevilla, Spain
• 1644: Snuff introduced in China (for medicinal purposes)
• 1660: England: Charles II introduces Snuff in England
• 1675: Snuff arrives in Germany (probably with the Huguenots)
• In Russia, ordered that snuff takers should have their noses cut off, whilst smokers should have their lips slit, be whipped for the first offence and executed for the second

18^th Century sees the trade in Europe and America grow around tobacco

• 1730: First American tobacco factories begun in Virginia – small snuff mills
• Snuff became popularized in the UK largely due to a battle that took place near to Vigo in Spain in 1702. A French squadron and a fleet of Spanish galleons were harboured at Vigo. After the battle a lot of Spanish snuff was seized from a merchant ship. This became available in London, Known as Spanish snuff or SP for short (still one of the most popular brands produced today)
• By 1794 the USA government began taxing snuff about 60% the price.

19th century snuff was still popular in Europe.

• England began to frown upon its use,(like smoking now).
• Where it wasn’t possible to smoke or to be seen to smoke such as Doctors, lawyers, judges, the clergy and of course miners still popular.
• snuff was used so widely in the Chinese population that literally millions of snuff bottles existed. Later banned in 1949!

20th century saw the end of widespread use of snuff.  Inc 21st

• the rise in fame of the common cigarette is largely responsible for the death of the snuff taking habit.
• Snuff did still remain popular in certain communities such as Ireland, Western Scotland, Iceland and Southern Germany.
• Cult following

Snuff Facts

Nasal snuff is basically a finely ground, flavoured tobacco, where traditionally the only 3 ingredients have been:

• High Grade Tobacco
• Natural Fragrances
• Water

English snuff is considered the purest. No added chemicals. (And dry)

Production Method

• Select Quality Tobacco leaf which is medium to thick in texture and having a pungent aroma
• Leave to Mature and Dry
• Grind (coarse, medium or fine)
• Sieve
• Add Natural Oils and Fragrances
• Leave to Mature (moisture added for blend, Dry, Med, Moist)