Copenhagen tobacco

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This article is about the dipping tobacco.

Copenhagen tobacco is the oldest dipping tobacco (a tobacco snuff product), dating to 1822. It is a fine ground tobacco which comes primarily in 3 textures: Fine Cut, Mid-Cut, and Long Cut. Copenhagen is generally available in 1.2 oz tins. Another variety is available, in the form of pouches.

Dipping tobacco such as Copenhagen is often confused with chewing tobacco, but they are not the same. Chewing tobacco is chewed between the cheek and gums, where as dipping tobacco is placed between the cheek and gum or lip and gum and is not chewed.

Contents 1 History 2 Styles and Flavors 3 Cut Size 4 Pouches

[edit] History

Daniel Peterson, inventor of Copenhagen snuff, opened his tobacco shop in Pittsburgh, PA sometime during 1822. In April 1845, Daniel's tobacco shop was one of the few businesses to survive the Pittsburgh Fire. Tobacco manufacturing at Daniel's shop reached $30,000 annually by 1850. Nearly two decades later, Daniel Peterson relinquished control of the shop to his sons William and Benjamin Peterson. Following their father's death in 1870, William and Benjamin officially adopted the name Peterson & Bro.

Copenhagen is now manufactured by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco.

[edit] Styles and Flavors

As with other types of snuff, there are different varieties of Copenhagen products. The current available products are:

• Copenhagen Snuff: The original brand of moist smokeless tobacco.
• Copenhagen Long Cut: Introduced in 1997, this is the Long Cut version of the original.
• Copenhagen Black: Debuting in 2001, Copenhagen Black is a Mid-Cut, bourbon flavored version of the original.
• Copenhagen Pouches: Introduced in 2002, this is the pouch version of Copenhagen snuff.
• Copenhagen Long Cut Straight: Introduced in 2006, Copenhagen Long Cut Straight is a sweetened version of the Long Cut Variety.

[edit] Cut Size

The difference between Fine Cut and Long Cut varieties is shown in the length of the individual strands of tobacco. Where Fine Cut is ground to tiny chunks, Long Cut is left in longer strands making a distinct difference between the types of this tobacco.

Types of cuts:

• Long Cut - Long cut comes in thin strands of tobacco around .7 cm long
• Mid Cut - Mid Cut is comparable to small granules about .1 cm cubed
• Fine Cut - Fine Cut is about the size of slightly large grains of sand.

• Surface area - Many smokeless tobacco users have preferences in texture and nicotine absorption rates. The amount of surface area per volume of Fine Cut is much greater than that of Long Cut, resulting in a finer looser texture in tobacco than that of long cut. Also with the added surface area in the tobacco the rate of absorption is slightly increased, which some users may or may not prefer. Also the amount of moisture, as certain batches of tobacco may be dryer than others, the amount of moisture is easier to maintain with fine cut tobacco.

• Ease of use - While the differences between fine, long, and mid-cut tobaccos vary, so does the ease of use. The finer cut tobacco is more difficult to manage than long or mid-cut and tends to fall out of your fingers without care or skill. On the other hand, longer cut tobacco tends to cling together better and is easier to pinch between your fingers.

[edit] Pouches

In 2002, Copenhagen introduced tobacco "pouches". Designed for beginners, smokers, and users wishing for ease of use, it makes the tobacco easier to handle and place in the mouth. Pouches also help in protecting gums and may do less damage over time.^{[citation needed]}