What are Nicotine Pouches and Snus?

What are Nicotine Pouches and Snus?

SNUS (pronounced snoose) is a smokeless tobacco, originally from Scandinavia. Unlike other tobacco products there is no ‘burning’ or inhaling involved as the pouch is placed under your top lip and you do not need to spit. Snus is a very popular alternative to smoking. Thousands of Swedes have given up smoking by switching to snus. Throughout the world many people are starting to use snus as an alternative to cigarettes or vaping not only because of ease of use but also for the health benefits.

Snus comes in 2 forms – Portion (small bags) and Loose. Portion is the most popular and the most modern form. There are different sized portion snus and an unending array of flavors, strengths and moisture levels.  Snus, whether pouched or loose, is characterized by a strong tobacco flavor. Even with brands that are labeled as some type of mint or another flavor, the tobacco is very prevalent in the original product, unlike nicotine pouches.

NICOTINE POUCHES are similar to snus and come in small bags that contain nicotine and differ from snus in that they do NOT contain any tobacco. The tobacco is usually replaced by a plant based material which is also infused with flavoring. Because they don’t contain tobacco they do not stain teeth and now have clean and refreshing flavors that do not cause bad breath, just the opposite. They are also very discreet. Nicotine pouches usually have a longer shelf-life than traditional snus. The pouches are a very modern product and the choice of flavors and strengths are enormous and always growing. The important factors to take into account when choosing which one to buy is, flavor, nicotine strength and manufacturer.

FLAVOR – Nicotine pouches come and almost every flavor imaginable. Different kinds of mint - peppermint, spearmint, etc. Fruit – Melon, Cherry, Kiwi, Apple, Orange, Blueberry, the list can go on and on. Then there’s other flavors – bubble gum, cola, green tea, energy drink……..

NICOTINE STRENGTH – If you’re trying nicotine pouches or snus for the first time they can be quite intense as the nicotine is absorbed through the gums. It’s advisable to start with a low to mid-level strength of about 10mg/g and users can judge if they would prefer something stronger. We have strengths all the way up to 43 and 50mg/g but these are for the very experienced and not for the faint hearted.

When browsing for snus and nicotine pouches, you will often see mg/g or mg/pouch values, which refer to the milligrams per gram or portion of nicotine content. Whilst the interpretation of nicotine strength is relatively simple once you are familiar with it, multiple factors can influence the actual strength and perceived strength of a portion! The only way is to try some and see which ones you prefer.

MANUFACTURERS – Sweden was the first country to develop snus and nicotine pouches in a major way but other countries within Europe make excellent quality products. Some producers in Sweden have been making snus for over 200 years (such as Swedish Match) but over the past decade or two, many companies have been established making very high quality products. One of the biggest selling snus and nicotine manufacturers is GN Tobacco, based in Sweden who make one of the worlds most popular brands – Siberia, which comes in varying strengths and flavors. GNT is one of the world leaders but was only started in 2009 – The Reason? Quality, quality, quality.

Nicotine  Pouches and snus can be used anywhere, unlike cigarettes or vapes, as there is no smoke or smell. You can use them on flights, in restaurants and bars, the office, public transport…anywhere.