General Onyx Portion snus. A review of a new snus lover’s staple snus!

Welcome fellow snus lovers!

Today we’ll be reviewing a pretty special snus, General Onyx portion snus by Swedish Match. I know what you’re saying, “Hey Snus Guy! With all the new snus types coming out, why review General Onyx portion? It’s not new!” Well, to us seasoned snus lovers, Onyx may not be new but it may surprise you to know that the majority of those new to snus will put a can of General Onyx in their first or second orders!

Why, you ask? The answer is simple really. When I think back to those early days before SnusCENTRAL was created, forums and blogs almost always recommended General Onyx to those new to snus. At that time, it was one of the strongest snus available and, you have to admit, the can was and still is pretty cool!

Even now, experienced snus lovers recommend a can of General Onyx to new snus lovers! I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but I feel if Onyx is being recommended to new snus lovers, I need to review it so they have a basic idea of what they will be getting! Now, if everybody’s ready, on to the review of General Onyx portion snus.

General Onyx portion is a strong, large, white portion snus made by Swedish Match. The nicotine in this snus is 11 mg/g  which makes it stronger than the standard white portion.  But the Nicotine content in this snus is not the only thing that makes Onyx special! Take a look at the image to the right. As you can see, the can is unique to General Onyx in the fact that the label is entirely matte black with gloss black embellishments.

The other unique piece of the can is the lid of the used portion compartment. It looks like its Aluminum but, it’s actually a plastic lid with an embossed foil label. The body of the can is plastic as well. When I’m out and about, people will always ask questions about snus once I take the can out for a portion of General Onyx. After talking to them about snus, their first order will almost always include Onyx, simply for the can! I know you’re saying “We know the can is cool but we want to know about the snus inside the can Snus Guy!” Well, without further delay and, less cantor (I know…..cheesy!), on to the portion review!

If you thought the can was cool and unique, the portion will blow your mind! Upon opening the can, you’ll find the portions are black. Take it easy, they haven’t gone bad; it’s just the color of the portion material. General wanted to keep the Onyx theme going by putting the tobacco in an “Onyx” colored pouch. The other thing you’ll notice is the portions are arranged in a circular pattern. Swedish Match calls this a “Star” pattern and, this also makes General Onyx special.

Swedish Match is the only snus manufacturer that uses this arrangement and they only use it for “special” snus. There are a few other brands that Swedish Match has that use the Star pattern and as we do more reviews, you’ll see them and realize what makes them special!

Now, since most new snus lovers may find the whole “white portion that’s black” thing confusing, let’s clarify it a bit. General Onyx is, in fact, classified as a white portion snus. White meaning that it has not gone through the extra step of adding more moisture to the portion material. The “black” descriptor is just explaining the color of the material. There are other “white” portion snus that have black colored material out there and this is why I wanted to clarify it. Ok, now that we have that covered, on to the taste!

General Onyx flavor is basically, full flavored tobacco with Lemon, salt and peppery notes. The tobacco flavor is the predominant player here with the Lemon a close second. The salt along with the peppery notes and lemon along with the earthy tobacco taste, give General Onyx the flavor reminiscent of a roasted lemon with salt and pepper lightly sprinkled on it.

I know there are new snus lovers reading this and wondering if General Onyx will turn their teeth black! I know because I thought it would in the beginning! Trust me, the color of the portion has no effect on the flavor and, will not turn your teeth black.

General Onyx is a snus that could be used anytime of the day. The higher Nicotine in it makes it a great snus for first thing in the morning but it’s not so high that it can’t be used as an end of the day snus as well. Although I do recommend to the new snus lover that you use your own judgment on when to use General Onyx. Especially if this is your first time using a strong snus!

So now, on to the drink recommendations! As you all know by now, I drink Diet Coke and Monster Energy Drinks with everything. I can honestly say that with Diet Coke, General Onyx will give you a taste that’s really similar to a Diet Coke with Lemon! The Monster on the other hand, will overpower the flavor of it. The best thing I’ve had with General Onyx is Iced Tea, Specifically, Iced Earl Grey tea! The Earl Grey has a strong tea flavor but not too strong as to drown out the flavor of the snus. It actually enhances the tobacco flavor and adds another taste dimension!

My overall recommendation is that General Onyx is a unique snus on many levels, from the can to the portions to the taste. The beginning snus lover will find the Nicotine level high but, not head spin high! The experienced snus lover will find General Onyx’s complex flavor one-of-a-kind!

I really recommend that all snus lovers get a can or two and experience (or relive) it’s uniqueness! You can get it at the  SnusCENTRAL Snus Store and if this is your first order with us, you can get 10% off by using the code on the banner below!

Well fellow snus lovers, I hope you found our journey through General Onyx informative. You can also visit our Member Reviews Section and Snus Reviews by Larry Waters and Friends for more reviews. SnusCENTRAL.org Members are encouraged to write their own snus reviews!

Until our next review,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy