7 Myths about Snus and Nicotine Pouches

Snus and nicotine pouches have been popular in Sweden for decades, but their usage has now left Scandinavia and spread across the globe. As these products have piqued the curiosity of many consumers, a few myths have spread.

Want to see how your perceptions about snus and nicotine pouches are? We’ll clear up some common misconceptions.

1. Snus and snuff are the same

Snuff and snus sound the same, and they’re both smokeless tobacco products. So, it’s unsurprising that many people get them mixed up or assume snus is a kind of “Swedish version” of snuff.

However, the two products differ significantly.

Snus consists of ground tobacco that undergoes a steam pasteurization process. You can buy it either in premade sealed portions or in loose form (allowing you to make your own pouches).

Meanwhile, snuff is a dry tobacco product that’s cured by fire, which users consume by sniffing.

2. Nicotine pouches and snus are the same

Okay, so snus and nicotine pouches are both different from snuff. But what about nicotine pouches and snus?

Arguably, they’re more similar to each other than they are to snuff. But they’re still very different products!

The major difference is that tobacco is an essential ingredient for snus. Meanwhile, nicotine pouches largely became popular because they’re free from tobacco. Instead, they contain nicotine sourced from nicotine salts (along with plant fibers and flavorings).

Also, while snus pouches can come as loose portions or in portion bags, nicotine pouches are always found in pouches — as their name suggests.

However, some brands produce both. For instance, you can buy both Siberia snus and Siberia nicotine pouches.

3. You have to spit when consuming them

Dipping tobacco (or “dip”) is a smokeless tobacco product that users consume by placing it in the mouth — just like snus and nicotine pouches.

However, dip causes a lot of salivation in the mouth, which users must spit out. Many people wrongly assume the same rule applies to snus and nicotine pouches.

Dip must be spat out because the tobacco undergoes a fermentation process, which makes the juices unsafe. While nicotine pouches and snus can also cause salivation (depending partly on whether the contents are moist), there’s no need to spit them out.

It’s generally safe to swallow snus drip since the tobacco undergoes a pasteurization process, which reduces carcinogens and other risk factors. Meanwhile, nicotine pouches are tobacco-free and contain only nicotine and other safe ingredients, so the drip they produce is also fine to consume.

4. Only nicotine pouches have flavors

Nicotine pouches are known for their bold flavor profiles, with leading brands like ZYN boasting colorful can designs and exciting flavors like mints, fruits, and spices.

Meanwhile, traditional snus is known for its earthy tobacco flavors, and designs tend to have dark colors. This leads many people to think that only nicotine pouches have varied, interesting flavors.

While it’s true that there’s more diversity in the nicotine pouch market, there’s still plenty of choice for snus. There are many mint options (like Skruf Fresh no. 2 Mint Medium) and fruity products (e.g. Jakobsson's Melon Slim).

5. They’re always big and bulky

If you’re a nicotine user and considering making the switch to nicotine pouches or snus, you may not be keen on the idea of having to place the portions in your mouth. It’s a different sensation to using a cigarette or e-cigarette, and many are worried that the portions will be too big and bulky.

But while nicotine pouches and snus portions are traditionally quite large, innovation has ensured that modern consumers have more choice.

Both snus and nicotine pouches are now available in “slim,” “super-slim,” and “mini” formats, which are smaller than their traditional counterparts. This ensures a more comfortable mouthfeel.

6. They contain the same amount of nicotine

Those who are new to nicotine pouches or snus sometimes think all products are a monolith and contain the same amount of nicotine — but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

You can find nicotine pouches and snus portions with vastly different nicotine strengths, ranging from 1 mg to over 20 mg per portion.

7. They’re too messy to consume in public

As mentioned earlier, nicotine pouches and snus produce salivation in the mouth. This results in “dripping,” which describes juices leaking due to excess salivation. Some users like this dripping due to the intensity it provides, but others worry it will cause messiness and stop them being able to use the products in public.

However, it’s possible to avoid dripping. Just make sure you place the pouch correctly and away from the upper lip, which is far enough away from the salivary glands to minimize this problem.

Also, smaller sizes and products with dry contents produce less dripping. For instance, ZYN Mini Dry Bellini comes in a mini format and has dry contents. As for snus, choosing white portions over brown portions minimizes dripping.