Monday, May 1, 2017

Of Snuff and Snuff Boxes

From Geri Walton:
Snuff is a pulverized form of tobacco and was created from either the tobacco leaves alone, the leaves and stalk, or just from the stalk. It also required more care to produce than tobacco. For instance, Scott and Irish snuff was achieved using a “liquoring,” process that added water. Although the types of snuff were endless, snuff could be broken into three grades: granulated, impalpable powder, and coarse or bran that was achieved by sifting the impalpable powder. There were also several kinds: High dried (dried to acquire a slight flavor of scorching) and rappee (chiefly from the leaves and in two kinds, brown or black, with the black produced by wetting). Snuff could also be scented, which was claimed to help impart the flavor.

Different people, preferred different types of snuff. For example, Scotch snuff was preferred by females. One writer noted, “with a certain class of old maids, Scotch snuff divides their time and affections with their cats and their parrots.” Those who didn’t like snuff but indulged in it “for the mere sake of ostentation,” were claimed to love scented snuff, and men were noted to prefer rappee snuff. The names for snuff were acquired in different ways. Sometimes the name came from places where it was manufactured. Other times the name was linked to the shop owners who sold it, or to “men of rank and fortune, persons known as great consumers of snuff, [such as] poets, painters, and warriors.” (Read more.)
Here is an article on snuff from the Louvre. Share

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