2010 Kardus Review

Just the other day (and much to my surprise!) a package arrived at my door. It turned out to be an early Christmas gift, the new 2010 Kardus Superior Blend from the folks over at BuySnus! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kardus, it is a premium snus manufactured each year in limited quantities by Swedish Match. Created using only the finest and innermost tobacco leaves, Kardus can be classified as a long cut loose snus. 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.

The 2010 Kardus box

This year’s Kardus comes in an oak box with a piece of porcelain recovered from the cargo of the East Indiaman Götheborg in 1901 (having been underwater since 1745). The tobacco used in making the 2010 Kardus is Ranjangan Pakpie Karang Jati tobacco, grown on the island of Java. It is flavored with East Indian Batavia Arrack, which the same arrack used in Roslagspunsch from Norrtelje Brenneri.

The long cut of Kardus is clearly visible here

Kardus is a long cut snus, and is cut longer than Offroad Long Cut. It is also hand cut, and quite moist. As a result, making portions with Kardus is very easy, and the portions stay comfortable in my mouth for long periods of time. After trying Kardus a few times now, I have to say that Kardus is the best tasting snus that I have ever tried. It has a delicious slightly bitter tobacco taste, which is complimented by the sweetness of the Arrack in order to create a more rounded flavor. I haven’t had another snus come remotely close to how complicated yet balanced the flavor of Kardus truly is. Along with the tobacco and arrack, I can notice a subtle spicy flavor that later gives way to a sweeter taste. Another thing that I really enjoy is how this year’s Kardus has the perfect salt content. The salt is not overpowering, instead it seems to blance the bitter flavor of the tobacco and the sweetness of the arrack.

Hand Cutting The Tobacco for Kardus

In conclusion, the 2010 Kardus is hands down the best snus I’ve ever tried. The complicated flavor of Kardus 2010 is delicious and not too strong tasting. Kardus’ long cut makes it easy to form a portion, and it creates very little drip while staying comfortably in place. It is a snus for the true connoisseur, and the difference between Kardus and regular snus is like comparing a regular scotch to a premium one.

Authentic Qing Dynasty porcelain!

You can pre-order 2010 Kardus (available week 48) from BuySnus here. I would imagine that Kardus also makes an excellent Christmas gift for the ultimate snus connoisseur that you may know (I know I loved it!).