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Old Scotch snuff with potash and salmiak
From volunge on the Snuffhouse forum, 2020
An old recipe for Scotch snuff made from stems and smalls, found on a Polish snuff forum and tried. It makes a very strong, ammonia-rich snuff with a lively burn.
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You'll need Tick as you go
Equipment
Digital scalesFor weighing tobacco, alkalis and salt accurately, which matters most when you're working in small batches.Mixing bowlFor stirring liquids into ground tobacco and letting it sit while it takes up moisture.Coffee grinderFor turning dried leaf or rolling tobacco into a fine powder.GlovesFor handling alkalis such as sodium carbonate (soda ash), potash and slaked lime.
Method
Rest time
10 to 14 days before grinding. A moister brown version takes about three weeks in all to round off.
Tasting notes
Very strong and full of ammonia, with an invigorating burn.
Notes
These amounts make 100 g and are a rough conversion of the original, which was written in pounds. The old recipe suggests scenting it with bergamot, lemon or tonka. One base gives three snuffs: the coarse scotch as it comes, a fine one dried and milled, and a scotch brown with extra water to about 30% moisture. Wear gloves for the potash and salmiak and keep them out of your eyes.