Do Flavors Affect Nicotine Uptake? A Deep Dive into the Latest Research

Researchers conducted two randomized, cross-over clinical trials with Swedish adults who used snus and/or nicotine pouches every day. They tested both “moist” (9 mg nicotine) and “dry” (6 mg nicotine) pouch types, each available in one unflavored and eight flavored varieties (including minty, fruity, and traditional flavors).

The main questions were:

• Does flavor affect how much nicotine is extracted from the pouch and absorbed into the body?
  
  
• How do flavors influence subjective experiences like satisfaction, craving reduction, and product liking?

The headline result is simple: Flavors do not affect nicotine extraction or uptake. The researchers looked at both how much nicotine was in the blood and how much remained in the used pouch (these values were used to calculate how much came out).

Whether participants used a minty, fruity, or unflavored pouch with the same nicotine content and the same product characteristics, the amount the body absorbed was essentially the same. This was the case for both moist and dry products.

• Nicotine levels in the blood were equivalent across most flavored and unflavored varieties.
  
  
• The amount of nicotine extracted from the pouch was also similar, regardless of flavor.
  
  
• Although the moist pouches contained more nicotine (9 mg), only 41.3% was extracted (3.7 mg), resulting in total nicotine delivery similar to the dry pouch, where 60.2% of 6 mg (3.6 mg) was extracted.
  
  

This suggests that choosing a flavor is about personal preference—not about getting more or less nicotine.

While flavors don’t change nicotine delivery, they have a big impact on how much people like the product.

• Flavored pouches were generally rated higher for satisfaction, product liking, and intent to use again—especially in the moist pouch study.
  
  
• No single flavor appealed to everyone, but every flavor appealed to someone. Some users preferred unflavored options, while others were drawn to specific flavors.
  
  

This diversity in preference underscores why offering a range of options is key to helping people switch from higher-risk products like cigarettes. Satisfaction and choice are essential for successful switching and harm reduction.

• Product characteristics (e.g., moisture, pH) can influence how nicotine is delivered.
  
  

It’s important to point out that all the products tested in this study were manufactured by the same company. This means they had similar moisture levels and pH levels—both of which can impact nicotine absorption. The moist pouches had ~40% moisture (by weight) and a pH of 8.5, while the dry pouches had ~3% moisture and a pH of 8.3.

Although the product dimensions were similar (13.5 x 34 mm vs. 14 x 28 mm for moist and dry, respectively), the moist pouches were double the weight of dry (0.8 g vs. 0.4 g).

• Pouches were used for 60 minutes.
  
  

Moist pouches appear to have delivered a bit faster, but total nicotine exposure for dry and moist pouches were similar over the 60-minute time frame.

• The study participants were all users of oral tobacco and nicotine products available in Sweden. 
  
  

Their ratings of how satisfactory a product is may differ from someone who is used to inhalable products. A 2024 study among Americans who smoke found that satisfaction at 5 minutes was significantly lower for pouches compared to cigarettes. This is not surprising since pouches deliver nicotine more slowly than cigarette smoking. Additional research is needed to see which product characteristics are important for helping people who smoke switch to pouches.

For consumers, this means you can confidently choose the flavor you enjoy most, knowing it won’t affect how much nicotine you absorb—at least when comparing products with similar characteristics. For public health and harm reduction, the findings reinforce the importance of variety: a broad selection of flavors likely helps more people find a viable alternative to smoking, supporting efforts to reduce tobacco-related harm.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of nicotine pouches as a safer alternative to cigarettes or other tobacco products. The author does not make any representation or warranty regarding the relative safety, risk, or health impacts of nicotine pouches compared to cigarettes or other tobacco products. Furthermore, no claim is made as to the efficacy of nicotine pouches as a smoking cessation aid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nicotine pouches for use as a cessation tool, and scientific research on the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine pouch use is ongoing. Readers should consult with qualified health professionals regarding tobacco and nicotine use and cessation methods.