Review: Ettan Original Portion
Going all the way back to 1822, it could be said that Ettan is the original Swedish Snus. Yes, I know General uses that tagline, but Ettan is the OG. Not only that, but it’s thank to Ettan that we have pasteurization in Swedish Snus. So, one could say it is, quite possibly, the most important Swedish Snus in existence. In the world of Swedish Match, people tend to fall into certain camps. I’m a General guy, but I know quite a lot of Ettan guys myself. It is a popular snus! So, what makes this snus so popular? Well, let’s get into this review and check it out!
This snus comes in a classy gold can. The catch lid pops off the top, revealing your used portion compartment. For the flavor description, it reads like so: “An Ettan Snus with original portion snus that deliver a flavor of dark tobacco complemented by tones of smoke, malt and dark chocolate. A classic and timeless snus with a recipe dating all the way back to 1822!” The can says it weighs in at 24 grams, and I counted 24 portions in the can, for plump 1 gram portions! The nicotine strength is 8.5mg/g, which easily calculates to 8.5mg/portion!
Opening up the can, the first thing I notice is a smell of chocolate. With Ettan, that’s usually the main component I pick up in the aroma and flavor. In the white portion, I don’t notice it so much, but with the original portion, it’s quite bold. There’s an earthy base tobacco behind it, along with some hay-like qualities. The portions are nice and plump, with a quick release of flavor and comfortable mouth feel. In the flavor profile, it’s a chocolatey tobacco taste. I notice a rich, earthy base tobacco with some grassy/hay-like notes. It is accompanied by a dark chocolate flavor in the background. This isn’t a chocolate flavored snus, I don’t want to give that impression, but it is a snus with a present chocolate flavor. In the nicotine strength, this one is right where I like it, right at the regular strength sweet spot! The flavor lasts a good 40-45 minutes, on average.
The Bottom Line
Ettan is one of the forefathers of Swedish Snus, and arguably one of the most important snus products in history. In the snus community, some like General, some like Grov, some like Ettan. I’m a General guy myself, but Ettan isn’t bad. Personally, I think the white portion version is the best version of Ettan, and I’ve enjoyed that one going back to my earliest days of snus usage! If you’ve never had it before, you owe it to yourself to try Ettan because it’s a great way to taste the heritage of Swedish Snus!
