rappee

snuff

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Snuff is a powdered tobacco preparation that can be inhaled or rubbed on the teeth and gums. It is made by grinding tobacco and fermenting it, often with added scents like rose or cloves.1

Rappee is a specific type of snuff characterized by its coarse texture and pungent flavor, made from dark tobacco leaves. The practice of using snuff originated with indigenous peoples in Brazil and the Caribbean, and was later popularized in Europe during the 16th century, spreading globally by the 18th century. While once thought to have fewer health risks than smoking, snuff contains nicotine and carcinogens, leading to addiction and an increased risk of oral cancers.21

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snuff
Rappee (French râpé, “grated”) is the name later given to a coarse, pungent snuff made from dark tobacco. Snuff takers carried graters with them. Early 18th-century graters made of ivory and other materials still exist, as do elaborate snuffboxes.
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Rappee (French râpé, “grated”) is the name later given to a coarse, pungent snuff made from dark tobacco. Snuff takers carried graters with them. Early 18th-century graters made of ivory and other materials still exist, as do elaborate snuffboxes.
Read More