Kardus Superior Blend 2010

[Update: 2010 Kardus review can be found here]

Every year since 2005, Swedish Match has released a limited edition snus known as Kardus. Created from the finest tobaccos, Kardus is billed as being “A highly exclusive snus for the true connoisseur.”

Kardus 2010

Only the finest tobacco is used to make each year’s batch of limited edition Kardus (only 500 boxes are manufactured each year!), and the tobacco used to make the 2010 vintage is no exception. This year’s Kardus contains Ranjangan Pakpie Karang Jati tobacco grown on the island of Java, a place where tobacco has been grown since the early 17th century. After being hand picked, the best tobacco leaves are cut into long strands and then left to dry on bamboo mats in the hot sun. Kardus is a loose snus, but is hand cut and much coarser than regular loose which generally has a fine grind (with the exception of Offroad Long Cut). The superior quality of the hand cuts and tobacco used to make Kardus makes it much easier to form a portion than regular loose snus.

Hand Cutting The Tobacco for Kardus

2010 Kardus is flavored with East Indian Batavia Arrack, the same arrack used in Roslagspunsch from Norrtelje Brenneri.  Swedish Match describes the 2010 Kardus snus flavor as having

…exotic fruit and spices with a refreshing sweet and sour nuance. A complex tobacco with balanced bitter and salt that recalls ripe tamarind, with distinct Unami notes and elements of dark chocolate. The arrack accentuates the rich, sweet aroma for a more rounded favour.

Kardus on a Piece of Qing Dynasty Porcelain

Not only is the Kardus itself special, but so is the box that it comes in. 2010 Kardus comes in one of 500 limited edition oak boxes which were hand crafted. Each box also comes with a piece of Qing Dynasty porcelain recovered from an expedition to the sunken East Indiaman Götheborg in 1905, after being at the bottom of the sea for 160 years. As a history buff, the ability to own a piece of history while enjoying one of the finest snuses available would be an amazing experience!

Hand Crafted Oak Box with a Little Piece of History Inside

I would imagine that Kardus is similar to the difference in smoking a hand rolled cigar by a master cigar roller versus a  regular brand of cigar. I am very curious to try some Kardus out when it becomes available in order to see if the 2010 Kardus really is as good as I imagine it to be!

This year’s Kardus will be made available for purchase in the 1st week of November, at a retail price of approximately 86 USD. I will post any new developments on where you can buy Kardus it once it becomes avalible.