Portion Snus

Portion Snus Explained - A Guide to Size and Format

Swedish snus is complex, simply because there are so many options available, there are categories within categories. Moreover, the same type can have more than one name, which is the same for portion snus. Some snusers call them snus pouches among other names. So, all there is to remember is products described as a pouch, or pod, is a portion snus. It’s all the same. For more information, take a look at our snus guide.

Once you get to grips with what each pouch type offers, making your choice will become easier. The two main features are size and format, which will be explained.

The Selection of Sizes

Firstly, we have portion size, which refers to how small or large it is in width, height, and length, and how much it weighs. There are four sizes, which include large, slim, super-slim, and mini - below is an explanation of each:

• Large - The classic size, which weighs up to 1.1 grams. The increased surface area enables effective flavor and nicotine release for a rich taste and satisfying buzz. Typical large products include Ettan Original and Jakobssons Melon.
• Slim - The same size as large but thinner because of its lower weight, typically between 0.7 to 0.9 grams, hence the name 'slim'. The flavor and nicotine release are slightly slower but last longer. A popular slim product is XRANGE Göteborgs Rapé Slim.
• Super-slim - Offers a similar nicotine and flavor experience as slim whilst being more discreet. The contents weigh roughly 0.5 grams, depending on the brand, and hiding your use is always trouble-free. Fewer brands offer super-slim snus, the main one is Skruf snus.
• Mini - The smallest of the bunch that weighs around 0.3 grams. The experience is less immersive than the other sizes, but this gets traded for ultra-discreet use suitable for any setting and situation, without fear of others noticing.

The Varying Formats

The second feature is format, which is slightly more complicated than size. Essentially, format refers to the form of the snus. In general, there are two types - portion and loose. However, in terms of format, there are three types - original, white, and all-white, which all vary in moisture and color and provide different flavor and nicotine experiences, as outlined below:

• Original portions such as Grovsnus Strong have a high moisture content with a damp surface which causes an immediate onset of nicotine and flavor lasting up to 45 minutes. You can expect a rich taste, dark brown color, and high 'drip'.
• White snus like Granit White are unmoistened and, as a result, much drier than the original. The low moisture content means that you will experience less drip and the color of the portion is whiter. The nicotine and flavor onset is also slower, but because of this, it is longer-lasting.
• All-white pouches often get confused with tobacco-free nicotine pouches because of their completely white color. There is still tobacco, but in all-white snus, it is included in lesser amounts than in other formats and is washed, refined, and combined with cellulose, rendering them white, which will not cause stained teeth. The nicotine and flavor get released very quickly as they are moist.

The Modern Snus Pouches - What is White Snus?

As described above white snus can be mistaken for the tobacco-free nicotine pouch at first glance due to its white color. However, it is a tobacco pouch. It is the newer, more modern, type with a completely different experience to an original portion. The typical characteristics of a white snus experience have led to its popularity. These include:

• Unmoistened and drier contents
• Whiter in color

The drier contents promise a longer-lasting, more balanced nicotine and flavor release with less drip, while the lighter tobacco in white snus reduces the likelihood of teeth discoloration or bad breath after use. 

Does Snus Tobacco Change in Each Format?

The type of tobacco will change depending on the brand, tobacco combinations, and herbal additions. Also, how snus tobacco is processed changes depending on the pouch type. For example, tobacco in loose products is packaged in a can, whereas portioned has to be packaged in pouches first. Furthermore, snus tobacco is manipulated in each portion type, as explained below.

• In original pouches, the tobacco is moistened before packaging.
• White portions have drier tobacco, resulting in a longer experience and a whiter sachet color.
• In all-white snus the tobacco is treated and refined, by bleaching, removing the brown color from the tobacco.

What Are the Best Snus Pouches?

You can buy many varieties of portions online. These products come in classic flavors like robust, earthy tobacco, and also those that are more contemporary such as mint and fruit. You can find nicotine strengths that range from regular to extra strong. The vast selection of products can make it difficult to know which are good A great way to find the best is to know the most popular. The top 3 best-selling snus pouches are:

1. General Classic White - A regular strength (8 mg/g) white portion that is one of the world's most popular snus. It has a potent and spicy tobacco flavor with a taste of black pepper and the brand's signature bergamot presence in the background.
2. Oden's Cold Extreme White Dry - An extra strong (22 mg/g) white portion with a lower moisture content than the average white. It is incredibly well-liked for its potent spearmint and tobacco flavor that provides a cooling sensation under the lip.
3. Siberia -80 Degrees Dry - This is the strongest snus in Sweden at 43 mg/g with a biting mint and dark tobacco flavor. They are white and dryer than average for low drip, but the onset of nicotine is immediate, which is a feature that makes this product so popular.

As you can see, white snus is a firm favorite amongst users around the globe, which is most likely because of the low drip and extended release. Which products you will consider the best is an individual matter and will come from experimenting with the different Swedish brands available online. 

When Were Snus Pouches Invented?

Snus has been around for centuries, since the 1600s, to be precise. Portion snus, however, is a more recent invention. When it first emerged, it was only available in loose form, which is very different from a portion, being ground tobacco that the user forms into a small 'prilla' before use. It was not until the 1970s that we saw the innovation of tobacco packaged in a pouch. Swedish Match, a prestigious Swedish manufacturer, pioneered the sachet concept and released the world's first portion snus in 1977 - Tre Ankare. The idea was born out of consumer demand for a more convenient and accessible product and did not take long to become one of the most common ways to use smokeless tobacco.