Review: General Extra Strong (Original Portion)
I’ve been writing about snus for a long, long time. This year marks 14 years I’ve been reviewing snus. I mention that because it’s relevant to this review. Today, we’re talking about Swedish Match’s General Extra Strong Original Portion. I know, when you read the nicotine strength 15.4mg/portion on this one you’ll say “Wait, Chad, that’s just barely above the strong level!” And you’d be right. But, back in the day this was (believe it or not) the strongest snus on the market. This was before the crazy nicotine rush we’ve seen the past few years. That being said, this is still an incredible snus, and a personal favorite of mine. So, let’s dive into this review and talk about it!
You’ll see here that the catch lid pops off the top like so, and gives you a compartment to dispose of your used portions if you aren’t near a trash bin. The flavor description for this one says, “An original portion snus from General perfect for you who want that classic General Snus experience, but with a bit more power! It delivers extra strong kicks together with General’s iconic flavor of spicy tobacco and bergamot!” Each can weighs in at 22 grams and has 20 portions. That means each portion weighs in at 1.1 grams each! I know, most portions these days weigh less than a gram, so this is something unique to this one. The nicotine strength in total is 14mg/g, but due to there being 1.1g portions that means the nicotine goes up to 15.4mg per portion!
Opening up the can, I notice a rich smell of bergamot right off the bat. There’s some peppery tones, a nice base tobacco, and a subtle smokiness. I want to note that the bottom of the can mentions lakrits (licorice), and some notice it in the aroma and the flavor. Personally? I’ve never really noticed it. The portions on this one are fantastic. They’re nice and plump, moist, and have a quick release of flavor. The mix of citrus, pepper, and tobacco is truly top notch. The bergamot flavor is quite clear, and the spicy tobacco base mixes really well with it. It has a gentle smokiness to it, but it’s not too over the top. Again, I don’t notice any lakrits. The nicotine strength isn’t too over the top. I know it’s called an “extra strong”, but to me it feels to be right at the strong level. The flavor lasts a solid 45-50 minutes, on average.
The Bottom Line
As far as traditional snus products go, this is one of the best. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular snus products on the market - it’s that good! From top to bottom this snus just showcases class and product quality. If you like General Snus, this is one of the absolute best representations of the General Snus family in the portion format. Even if you aren’t one who uses extra strong, don’t be intimidated, this one isn’t too much. As far as snus products go, this one is a must try!
