Snus and nicotine pouches have come a long way. They have moved from traditional snus to what we now know as snus nicotine pouches. Despite being known colloquially as snus, the pouches are nicotine pouches in their legally accepted name. With so many types of snus, the market has become saturated with scores of brands, products, strengths, and flavours. In this article, we will address the evolution of the snus and offer some clarity on how to use it in 2024.
What are Snus and Nicotine Pouches
The most straightforward explanation is that snus are nicotine-based pouches that slip under the lip to provide a consumption of nicotine. They shot to notoriety through the use of footballers in the late 2000s. These pouches offered a way for athletes to consume the relaxing benefits of nicotine without the tar from traditional smoking. As an ex-player myself, I became reliant on the relaxing properties of snus as an alternative to smoking. Eventually, I was able to quit smoking, which I had done for nearly a decade. At a time when vaping was becoming more and more popular in the UK, I was fortunate enough to have found snus as a viable smoking alternative. The complications around vaping that have arisen in recent years, especially in the US, have further confirmed my relief in not vaping.
How do Snus and Nicotine Pouches Work
The use of snus is subjective to the user. Different people will feel different effects depending on physiological factors and the environment. I have experienced increased focus, relaxation, heart rate, and everything in between. Environmental factors should be considered as the pouches interact with the body differently depending on the situation. At football, pouches have worked to offer mental clarity before kick-off. During team talks, I always had a snus in my gum. In doing so, I could tune into the conversation with the manager, circumventing the heightened adrenaline levels associated with the game.
Relaxation is an important property that I benefit from personally. As someone extremely busy with work now, post-football career, I have short-lived moments during the day for relaxation. At points during the day, I lean back from my desk to pop snus in, play music, and relax. The nicotine kick is no different from smoking a cigarette, except I can breathe freely and don’t smell like I just walked out of a fire.
My friends laugh, but even when going for a jog, I start with a snus. After around ten minutes into a jog, I throw the snus away. I think that some of my pre-workout antics are likely to be superstitious. However, I feel that I can regulate the pace of my run a little better and exercise self-control more. The different types of snus play a significant role in this. Too strong, and the heart rate elevation is too quick, which makes the jog difficult from the outset. Experience is an invaluable commodity when using snus while training.
Traditional Snus Types: Swedish Pouches Obsolete?
The rumor mill about the origins of snus dates back to Sweden in the late 1900s—yes, that long ago! Can you remember the old cowboy movies with the main character often spitting a black tar-like substance from his mouth? Apparently, this was also a version of snus. It is difficult to confirm the truth from myth regarding the background of snus. Many websites have tried to quantify the reach of snus, but one thing is for sure: There has been a version of nicotine in the mouth for a considerable number of years.
Types of Snus: Loose Snus
Loose snus is considered one of the oldest versions of snus. This variant consists of raw tobacco that is pinched between the thumb and forefinger. Once pinched, the loose snus is placed between the gum and upper lip. Ironically, the can is highly familiar, identical to the cans we buy now online from websites like Snusboys. I have made mistakes when purchasing loose snus abroad before, thinking they were traditional pouches. Honestly, I did not bring myself to put the loose snus in my mouth, even after running multiple how-to searches online. The feeling is supposed to be similar, however, to using traditional snus or nicotine pouches. I can imagine it is a whole lot messier, too! If you want to keep your teeth as white as possible, then loose snus is probably not for you. There are scores of reviews online commenting on the staining of teeth against raw brown tobacco.
Another Type: Snus Portions
When I started using snus in 2009, the portion snus was the most common form. These revolutionary products were first introduced to me while playing football in Brighton. I was able to quit smoking using the traditional portion snus. Thunder was the most popular brand then and the most readily available online. My friends and I would combine orders from Israel to the UK and wait up to three weeks for delivery.
The original portion snus typically has raw tobacco in the pouch. So, the same loose snus you can buy would be packed into a small pouch-sized portion between the gum and the upper lip. These were tobacco snus, and so, although promoted to have various flavours, they were all remarkably similar. There was also a huge negative in using portion snus, which was the drip. The drip would come from the tobacco as it moistened. This meant that you would get untimely and bad-tasting tobacco drips at the back of the throat. Regardless, portion snus is extremely popular with snus aficionados and purists!
The Newest Type of Original Snus: Snus White Portion
The white portion snus was a game changer for the UK market. These pouches still contain raw tobacco and a similar flavour, but the drier portion allows less drip. Some of the best brands introduced to the UK market in the early 2010s were Odens and Siberia. Siberia had a huge 43mg of nicotine and was, for a long time, seen as the strongest snus. The minimal drip, smoother flavour, and longer load time started the evolution of snus.
Types of Snus: Snus Nicotine Pouches
This is snus, as we know it today, the nicotine pouches of today. These pouches have signalled a new era for snus and a global upsurge in user bases. Scores of brands and products have hit the UK online and in-store shelves.
The most significant difference between modern-day snus and traditional versions is the omittance of tobacco. These tobacco-free variants are pouches with nicotine, water, plant-based fillers, and flavourings. Due to the more manufactured approach, manufacturers can create more snus flavours and variable strengths. The initial market penetration caused a huge uptick in online sales, especially of exceptional-strength products. The strengths varied from 3mg to 150mg. Considering that Siberia was previously hailed as the strongest snus, these snus types trumped Siberia by over three times the nicotine level.
The flavours have allowed for various mint infusions that purists despise and new users love. In nicotine pouch variations of snus, there has been something for everyone. As such, the growing number of sales is attributed heavily to new users. These products are not marketed as smoking cessation products. However, many users have attributed their successful no-smoking journey to the introduction of nicotine pouches.
How to Choose the right Snus for you
Choosing the right products for you can be difficult, especially for first-time users. Ordering offshore and obtaining traditional snus pouches is risky as they are illegal. After all, why risk your hard-earned funds on a product that stains your teeth and tastes like tobacco? The modern-day snus nicotine pouches are some of the best types of snus you will encounter. They excel in both strengths and a variety of flavours. There are, however, some points to consider.
Flavour Preference:
Ordering snus online can be exciting, especially when you find nostalgic flavors such as Apple Juice or Cherry Cola. But, try to avoid the mistakes everyone makes when they first start ordering snacks, or at least I made them. Think about what may be sustainable throughout the day. Most mint flavours seem to resonate well with new users. Our customers tend to buy a monthly supply of mint for frequent use, mixed in with a selection of treats that can elevate their senses at key points in the day. Sometimes, at night, I will lean over for something fruity or obscure, such as Red Chilli Melon. But I have also ordered only crazy flavors before and have to reorder due to flavor overkill.
Strength Tolerance:
While it can be exciting to grab a 150mg snus and see what it does, these pouches are only for experienced users. 150mg of nicotine can be as much as 15x times the amount of nicotine in a normal cigarette. Imagine cramming 15 cigarettes into one single toke, then consider the effects on the system. Hence, we have had to write an article on whether snus can make you sick. The answer is an emphatic no! If snus has made you feel in any way ill, or light-headed, then you have used a product outside of your tolerance zone. It would be best to carefully order snus and stick to strengths that your body can sustain under frequent use. For new users, that sweet spot usually is between 10mg – 20mg. If you need a little more information, check out our guide to the best snus for new users.
Type Preference:
We have discussed many different types of snus that can be bought online. You will find, however, that the devil is in the detail. There was a time when modern-day snus first came around, and I would order cans of snus to find the new version. At that time, I used the original white portion snus. Ordering online was pot luck as I frequently received new snus nicotine pouches, rather than my preference. Although many websites have got better at offering the information necessary to make a purchasing decision, it is still not ideal. We do our best to provide information packs on each brand so you are informed enough to make educated decisions.
In Conclusion: The Journey Continues
The snus journey has really taken off for many users of late. While information is building both proprietarily on online stores and by users on social media, the market is in its infancy. As such, it is important for new users of snus to consider the factors related to enjoying snus. Yes, using strong snus or wild flavors of snus can be exciting. But, to ensure sustainability, it is critical to know your limits and build an understanding of which suits you best. Snus has come a long way recently and is on a meteoric growth trajectory. Be sure to tune into our blog for the best up-to-date information on brands, market trends, and the snus journey as it continues.
