The 'Lion Pinch' comes in a Pöschl typical handy plastic box in golden brown colours with a lion at its front. It can be refilled as the box offers an opening mechanism for that purpose. The term 'lion' may refer to its dominant smell, which took over the regiment of one of my storage boxes. If you can't remember where you left it last time, just ask your nose and it will tell you where to find it.

The snuff is medium fine and has a light brown colour. It is medium dry. After being released from the cage, the lion's 'aromatic fresh scent' (to say it in the words of Pöschl) jumps in your face. Easy to snuff, it gives you a mentholated rush in your nostrils. Besides menthol, it contains a strong liquorice scent. As this was one of my early snuffs, it reminds me of a typical beginner's product. It might be only my impression, but the scent seems to be dominant and does not allow having other snuffs in between. My nose can't really recognise other scents for quite a while after having a couple of pinches of 'Löwen-Prise'.

Maybe I mixed up anise with liquorice. Yes, that might very well be.

Yes, they are the same.

Licorice is a root and anise is a seed. The flavors may be similar but to an herbalist the effects are very different. Generally speaking licorice is cooling while anise is warming. But alas I'm not a real herbalist. My point would be that someone who likes anise may not like licorice or vice versa. I haven't really noticed any licorice snuff. There is some of both types for snus though.

To add to Juxtaposer's comment, anise isn't exactly a seed. There are two different plant materials that people call "Anise". There is Star Anise, the seed of Illicium Verum, which is largely used in chinese food and is one of the most notorious components of the traditional 5-spice blend.



Interestingly enough, Star Anise is traditionally given to babies in Latin America. A seed is dropped in the baby's milk bottle to help reinforce his immune system. However, some people take it too far as with all herbal medicine and can end up overdosing on something toxic instead. If a full star is dropped in the milk, the baby gets very sick.

Anise, on the other hand, comes from a very different plant, Pimpinella Anisum.



This is a small herb, it grows much smaller in Costa Rica's mountains but I've seen it numerous times. The tiny leaves can be chewed on for a refreshing taste. This plant is used in beverages and liquors in Europe and the Mediterranean, like the traditional french Pastis. Delicious stuff.

Aniseed, which is the scent used in snuffs, is exactly that: the seed of Anise (not Star Anise or Licorice, which as Juxtaposer mentioned, comes from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra).

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I also definitely felt the honey in Löwen Prise. I find it to be a bit too sweet though, so It's not my favorite, but I like it way better than Wilson's Anisette and Anisette Extra. Those are just TOO MUCH. Way too dense. However, Dean Swift's Bezoar takes the price on aniseed snuffs in my book.

Mmm Löwen-Prise one of my early snuffs and still one of my favs been a while since I had a pinch of it tho .. hmm best have one now.