The London Lounge

Are there any snuff-takers out there - Wilson's , Smith's, Sharwood or Fribourg & Treyer? and which type within those brands?
NJS[/i]

What!! what!! No snuff-takers in these days of increasing prohibition of fumigation?
NJS

Something of Snuff
Snuff-chandlers Fribourg & Treyer were founded in 1720 at 34 Haymarket, ‘At the sign of the Rasp & Crown’ (a rasp is a metal file). One of the most enduring businesses in London, they were bought by Imperial Tobacco around 1982 but they did not renew the lease. After a brief move to Regent Street, the retail business was closed (34 Haymarket is now a tourist shop – but the façade is intact, one window pane bears the name Fribourg & Treyer and the old shelves are still visible, worn and grooved, from over 250 years of snuff jars being moved around - to supply everyone from the actor David Garrick (1717-1779), Queen Charlotte (1761-1818), Princess Charlotte Augusta (1796-1817) to Beau Brummell and, in our own time, such people as cricket commentator John Arlott (1914 -1991)). The snuff recipes were given to Wilson’s of Sharrow – another snuff maker and chandler, founded in 1737, and they still make Fribourg & Treyer snuffs, as well as their own. Fribourg & Treyer’s tobaccos are also still available from specialist tobacconists.

There is evidence, from the earliest European explorations of America, that the American Indians took snuff (which is dried, ground tobacco, in a range of fineness and dryness, from coarse, moist, strong rappee to fine, light, ‘dry toast’ types - most usually flavoured with floral or fruit essences).

Snuff became especially popular in England, following a sea battle off the Spanish port of Vigo in 1702, between the victorious combined English and Dutch fleets against the combined French and Spanish fleets, when a large quantity of snuff was among the prize. The same kind of Spanish snuff, labelled ‘SP’, is still available today. Moreover, during the battle, an English ship was seriously threatened by a French fire ship but it failed perilously to ignite owing to its cargo of snuff and the English ship survived!

Although smoking has been banned in the Chamber of the House of Commons since 1693, snuff is provided, at public expense, to Members and officials and is obtainable from the doorkeeper’s box (but probably not for much longer).

A ban against smoking in White’s club was the reason for the founding of the Marlborough club where (amongst others), the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) could indulge his well-known taste for cigars in appropriate company. Snuff is taken at White's and it may regain favour, in view of the public smoking ban.
NJS

NJS -

Having now read your most recent book "History of Men's Accessories: A Short Guide for Men About Town" and the fascinating section about snuff, I'm game to give it a try. I regularly smoke cigars, stokkebye cigarettes, and latakia pipe tobacco.

Tells us your favourite snuffs? The variety available is mind boggling - I need a few suggestions to get started!

St Tully - as you say, the choices are incredible - from high dry toast types to snuffs such as Fribourg & Treyer's Old Paris. I suggest that you go to Smith's Cigar Shop in Charing Cross Road and consult. I am not sure whether they have samples but the tins are quite small and inexpensive. Smith's also do a little set of miniatures for novices to try out. My own British favourites are F&T Macouba and Old Paris but Smith's and Wilson's own brands are excellent too such as Smith's Cafe Royal (coffee flavoured). They also stock nice pewter and rosewood boxes that don't cost much. My current favourite is Imburana-flavoured snuff (mentioned in the book), which is a Brazilian speciality - the essence comes from here and this is also where snuffing all began - but I don't think that British suppliers carry it.
best,
NJS

Just to mention that Wilsons of Sharrow (who hold the old Fribourg & Treyer receipts) have put the Regency favourite snuff Bureau back into production.
NJS

NJS -

Per your suggestion I have secured a jar of Bureau and it is excellent!

Cheers, st.tully

st.tully wrote:NJS -

Per your suggestion I have secured a jar of Bureau and it is excellent!

Cheers, st.tully

Excellent!
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:St Tully - as you say, the choices are incredible - from high dry toast types to snuffs such as Fribourg & Treyer's Old Paris. I suggest that you go to Smith's Cigar Shop in Charing Cross Road and consult. I am not sure whether they have samples but the tins are quite small and inexpensive. Smith's also do a little set of miniatures for novices to try out. My own British favourites are F&T Macouba and Old Paris but Smith's and Wilson's own brands are excellent too such as Smith's Cafe Royal (coffee flavoured). They also stock nice pewter and rosewood boxes that don't cost much. My current favourite is Imburana-flavoured snuff (mentioned in the book), which is a Brazilian speciality - the essence comes from here and this is also where snuffing all began - but I don't think that British suppliers carry it.
best,
NJS

I am sorry to report that Smith's appears to have closed down. There was a hand written notice in the window yesterday referring customers to a tobacconists in Greek Street and the interior of the shop appeared to be emptied of stock. I hope the facade is preserved by any new occupier.

Not knowing the first thing about snuff, I googled "Where to buy snuff" & can across this company in the U.K.

http://www.snuffstore.co.uk/

Percy.Trimmer wrote:

storeynicholas wrote:St Tully - as you say, the choices are incredible - from high dry toast types to snuffs such as Fribourg & Treyer's Old Paris. I suggest that you go to Smith's Cigar Shop in Charing Cross Road and consult. I am not sure whether they have samples but the tins are quite small and inexpensive. Smith's also do a little set of miniatures for novices to try out. My own British favourites are F&T Macouba and Old Paris but Smith's and Wilson's own brands are excellent too such as Smith's Cafe Royal (coffee flavoured). They also stock nice pewter and rosewood boxes that don't cost much. My current favourite is Imburana-flavoured snuff (mentioned in the book), which is a Brazilian speciality - the essence comes from here and this is also where snuffing all began - but I don't think that British suppliers carry it.
best,
NJS

I am sorry to report that Smith's appears to have closed down. There was a hand written notice in the window yesterday referring customers to a tobacconists in Greek Street and the interior of the shop appeared to be emptied of stock. I hope the facade is preserved by any new occupier.

Another great institution bites the dust! Very sad indeed.

The shop front itself would probably have been banned anyway as it is a gigantic advert for tobacco products. Weingott and now Smith´s - what a sad, small-minded, little people those who govern the British have become.
NJS

Does anyone here take McChrystals original at all? A nice mentholated but not too much so, snuff. Still made in England.

I have just been sampling Wilson's of Sharrow 'Rose of Sharrow', which is light and fresh and ideal after breakfast.

I took my first ever pinch about two hours ago: Wilson's of Sharrow "Best Dark". I did so in a spirit of hedonistic inquisitiveness and found it far, far more pleasant (and far less productive of nasal irritation) than I expected. It looks and smells rather beautiful, too. You are the catalyst for this, as I decided to investigate after reading your books, so thank you.