What Are Nicotine Pouches?

You have probably heard the term nicotine pouch thrown around, but what are nicotine pouches? Read on to find out what nicotine pouches are, what is in nicotine pouches, what nicotine pouches look like and what nicotine pouches do!

What are Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches, also known as tobacco-free snus, are small white pouches containing nicotine without tobacco leaf, dust, or stem. The nicotine in these pouches is either derived from tobacco leaves or manufactured synthetically.

Nicotine pouches are a relatively new nicotine product that started in the U.S. when Americans demanded a new way of using nicotine that was free from tobacco.
In a very short period of time, the segment has grown and today there are growing numbers looking to buy nicotine pouches. No longer only in the United States, but in the whole world.

Do Different Nicotine Pouch Brands Have Different Ingredients?

How does this change between brands? We looked at the ingredients of the brands with the best selling nicotine pouches on Nicokick.

ZYN Ingredients

Swedish Match was the brand that started the nicotine pouch- wanting to create a product that was completely free of tobacco and would also provide a good nicotine delivery. The result was Swedish Match's first nicotine pouches - ZYN, completely white and tobacco-free nicotine pouches. All ZYN pouches ingredients include tobacco-derived nicotine salt and other food-grade ingredients, such as pH adjusters, sweeteners, flavorings, fillers and stabilizers. However, you can learn more about ZYN in our guide to “What is ZYN?”

VELO Ingredients

The ingredients of VELO pouches contain nicotine derived from the tobacco plant, water, sucralose, citric acid, microcrystalline cellulose, salt and artificial flavor. 

Rogue Pouches Ingredients

Rogue nicotine pouches ingredients include nicotine as well as ingredients for flavor and texture including a sweetener used in other soft drinks and food products.

On! Ingredients

The ingredients in On! nicotine pouches consist of nicotine salt, sweetener, fillers and pH adjusters. On! pouches come in either 2mg, 4mg and 8mg nicotine strengths and several variations from unflavoured to mint to berry.

How are Nicotine Pouches Made?

While most nicotine pouches are made in a relatively similar way, the type of nicotine used is made in different ways.

• Synthetic Nicotine. Synthetic nicotine is created in a lab, and is made by recreating the nicotine alkaloid you find in tobacco leaves. Molecular technology allows scientists to rearrange the molecules of other plants in order to create a nicotine that is identical to the one you find in tobacco leaves.
• Tobacco Derived Nicotine. Tobacco derived nicotine is nicotine that has been extracted from the tobacco leaf, but does not contain any of the tobacco leaf, dust etc. Usually, the nicotine is isolated from tobacco leaves by using a solvent extraction method, which extracts the nicotine from the tobacco.

What Do Nicotine Pouches Do?

Nicotine is traditionally used as a stimulant. When nicotine pouches are used, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream via the oral mucosa and is transferred to the brain’s reward system. Most people experience a general feeling of wellbeing, which has both a sedative and a stimulating effect.