Types of smokeless tobacco

Smokeless tobacco has been used for centuries, as far back as the 1400s, by the Native Americans. It is a set of products, including snus, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, and snuff, that has developed over time and is used across the globe. Now, cigarette use is declining due to the extensive research and debate on the product's health implications, and smokeless tobacco pouches like snus are growing in popularity. So, if you have any questions that need answering about these products, see below.

What is smokeless tobacco?

Smokeless tobacco is a tobacco product that is not smoked. Unlike combustible tobacco products, like cigarettes, this set of products provides an experience that is less intrusive on those around us as they do not produce smoke. Instead, these products are insufflated, chewed, or left under the lip, extracting the nicotine through contact with our oral mucosa instead of inhaling the smoke. These smokeless tobacco products include snus, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, and snuff.

The smokeless tobacco products

The types of smokeless tobacco differ in how they are used, how each is made, and their properties. Below, each is named with a brief description, giving you an understanding of them.

• Snus - is a pulverized, moist tobacco product that is placed under the upper lip. It comes loose or portioned in different sizes, in many different flavors and nicotine contents, allowing the user to craft their preferences.
• Chewing Tobacco - is a semi-dried, cured, and often flavored tobacco product that millions of people enjoy. It comes twisted, plugged, or loose, providing different mouth feels. Along with flavor and nicotine content, there is plenty of variation within chewing tobacco.
• Dipping Tobacco - also known as moist snuff, is similar to snus in that they are both cut tobacco, which can be loose or pouched and placed in the mouth. However, dipping tobacco produces spit that must be removed and not swallowed.
• Snuff - is a finely cut or powdered dry tobacco product, typically used by sniffing through the nostrils.

Being one of the more popular smokeless tobacco products, snus is further explored and compared with dipping tobacco, solidifying your knowledge of this tobacco product.

What is in smokeless tobacco?

Each smokeless tobacco product has its differences, including what each contains and how the tobacco is processed. Below is a table with the tobacco used in each product, highlighting the key differences in the processing of the plant.

What is snus?

Sometimes called smokeless tobacco pouches, Snus pronounced “snoose”, originated in Sweden in the late 1800s. What began as a tobacco-flavored product soon became elevated with herbs and spices like juniper and bergamot oil. Over the years, the diversity in products and brands has grown, with brands like General Snus experiencing this entire market's evolution since 1866. Other than variation, snus has grown in popularity due to its ease and freedom of use as well as its discreet feel.

The different types of snus

One of the reasons for this product's popularity is the variation within it, which has continued to grow since snus was first released. Below are the different facets of the snus experience and how they may differ, providing a brief overview of the snus variation.

• Flavor - This can range from tobacco-centric to beverage-inspired tasting experiences.
• Nicotine content - ranging from 8 mg/g to upwards of 40 mg/g, suiting all nicotine tolerances.
• Format - the tobacco can come loose or portioned and white.
• Portion sizes - the most common portioned snus are large, slim, and mini.

Snus vs dip

It may be easy to confuse these two products, but the similarities and differences are explored below. The information is in the table, allowing for an easier comparison between the two products.

Snus and dip are also known as Swedish Snus and American Snus, adding to the confusion in the smokeless tobacco product industry. But the table above highlights the key differences and similarities between the two products, giving you an idea of which suits you best.