Snus

The In's and Out's you need to know!

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Your Snus Journey Starts Here....

1: What is Snus

2: Snus vs Nicotine Pouches

3: Is Snus Legal

4: The Importance of Snus Today

5: Rise of Snus Brands

Over the years snus has become as almost socially abrasive as the word, cigarette. Modern day media have leaned on the legality of one of the fastest growing products in the world to demonise its existence. There are some important things to understand about snus before buying into the over-hyped, media driven frowns. In fact, by reading this you will learn the truth about snus, and feel empowered to make you own informed decisions about using, buying, or sharing.

All Important Question: What is Snus?

As someone that has used snus for near on two decades, even I can positively tell you there is a ton of confusion. Moreover, the question about snus, is perhaps more amply asked What is snus now? Since the early 2010s the emergence of nicotine pouches has slowly gone about the convergence of both. How? Lets break this down so I can better explain.

A Short History of Snus

The origins of snus trace back to the 19th century in Sweden. By all accounts snus was loose tobacco used as alternative tobacco products to cigars and cigarettes. Users would pinch the loose tobacco between thumb and forefinger, then place in the upper lip, between the gum. The effects of the tobacco were similar to that of smoking, just without the potential health complications of combustion. By the 1970’s the Swedes had found a more efficient, and cleaner, way to utilise the tobacco - by using pre-packed pouches. The paper pouches housed the tobacco, so users could throw a pouch away after use.

One of the downsides of using loose tobacco in the gum was the unpleasant feel of grainy tobacco. Not only was it uncomfortable, but it stained the teeth pretty badly over time. Hence the old cowboy movies, with the infamous cowboy spit. Loose tobacco was hardly a new thing, but the pre-packed pouches were. Snus began its uprise with the Swedish innovation.

Why Use Snus

When I began using snus, in the latter part of 2000’s, it seemed like the world’s best kept secret. At the time, playing professional football, snus was a game changer for those of us that smoked traditional cigarettes. For those that have an opinion about athletes using snus, you please give us a break! Many of us smoked cigarettes as a vice to unwind after training, or game days. It was counterproductive for our sport, but a vice nonetheless, we are only human.

Using snus became almost exclusive to football in the 2000’s. For some of us, it helped us achieve the feeling we needed from smoking, without the negative effects on the cardiovascular system. Nicotine was the substance we sought, and was, for most of us, an addiction. Nicotine had negative connotations to cancer, and scared many of us. But, a short amount of research consolidated the consensus among footballers that it was the method of delivery that was cancerous. The substance of nicotine itself, has no affiliation to cancer. So, for us, using snus became part of our every day lives. Were we right? With traditional snus use, the answer is no. But you will learn more of this later. In nicotine pouches, there is still not enough research concluded to give a definitive answer.

Nicotine Pouches & Snus

It was the mid 2010’s by the time we started to see new snus become available in the market. European websites were beginning to stock a new style of snus, called All White. As consumers in a growing market, we were steadily beginning to understand the differences in snus by brand. My time in football was coming to an end, and Siberia snus was one of the fastest growing snus pouches in our world. The strength superseded most of the pouches we were able to get hands on before. Then, all of a sudden, white portion began to challenge Siberia. Strengths went from the average 12mg, to regularly stating 50mg. This caused both excitement, and confusion.

Nicotine pouches, or All White snus, had entered the market with one key difference to the snus we knew: They contained synthetic nicotine as opposed to tobacco-based nicotine. For many of us the taste was too artificial. Against the organic and natural taste of tobacco leaf, nicotine pouches were unpleasant. I didn’t know then, that these snus alternatives were to become hot property.

The Media & Snus

There was convergence of nicotine pouches (All White Snus) and traditional snus, which was unforeseen. Little known to most of us traditional tobacco-based snus had been illegal in the UK since 1991. While it was illegal to sell in the UK, it was not illegal to buy online. So, it was extremely easy for the media to jump into the party and suggest that professional footballers were using banned substances. For the most part, we (latterly they, as I retired), were. But, the transition in the market from tobacco-based snus, to synthetic nicotine snus, had all but wiped the former out. Huge brands we had grown with, like Thunder, were becoming scarcely available, much to the benefit of nicotine pouches.

The media were able to cast a shadow over a product that helped so many of us to quit smoking. And with limited side effects. Snus is an illegal product in most countries outside of Sweden. Sadly, the convergence of nicotine pouches is not in the similarity of product, but the name, snus. Even more importantly, nicotine pouches are completely legal.

This is the timeline of events to convergence of the snus & nicotine pouches colloquially

Snus vs Nicotine Pouches

Now you understand the difference between the two to be the emittance of tobacco in nicotine pouches, I want you to understand the real feel differences. So many snus purists seek snus from aboard in order to maintain that feeling of tobacco. There are arguments that the natural tobacco is better for you than synthetic nicotine. But, most claims have been in anecdotal rather than through study. I have dug deep to find information on nicotine pouches, but there have been limited studies on such a new product. Snus, on the other hand, has shown correlations to higher mortality among users, than those not using snus. As someone that has used both nicotine pouches and snus for such a long time I can tell you that there are differences to be considered.

Taste Comparisons

Against the traditional snus, nicotine pouches have a more artificial taste, which I guess is inevitable. Traditional snus pouches have a much more organic taste that resonates more with people that have previously smoked, or current smokers. The scarcity of traditional snus outside of Sweden has meant that many smokers have utilised the readily available option of quitting smoking using nicotine pouches.

Many nicotine pouch brands have included a tobacco-flavoured product. Ironically, they are among the lowest sold products on most online stores. The fruit flavours, and mint, are some of the highest selling nicotine pouches. To some extent, nicotine pouches have followed in the footsteps of vapes. The excitement in familiar sweets, fruits, drinks, and mints, seem to drive more sales among the nicotine pouch communities.

Nicotine Strengths

Tobacco-based pouches are reliant on the natural nicotine from the tobacco. Nicotine pouches use synthetic nicotine that can be doctored to accurate strengths. It could be argued that tobacco loses, or gains, potency over time. Many snus users have, at some time or another, reached out to complain to retailers about inaccurate strength levels in traditional snus. We learnt a lot from the Swedes about how to best store snus to maintain product freshness, and potency. Some footballers even bought snus only fridges to keep their pouches as fresh as possible.

Nicotine pouches follow a similar pattern in that, seemingly, it is better to keep them in cooler environments to maintain potency.

While snus strengths seemed to hit the natural threshold of 43mg its highest, nicotine pouches have gone as high as 150mg. For context, a typical cigarette contains anywhere between 8mg - 18mg of nicotine. So, while nicotine pouches far outweigh snus in terms of strength, users should be aware of the effects associated with the strongest snus pouches.

Difference in Nicotine Uptake Time

The use of traditional snus, or modern day snus (nicotine pouches), is subjective in the uptake time of nicotine. However, traditional snus, has a more natural curve of nicotine hit. It could be argued that the natural curve to give you the nicotine hit is because the nicotine is organic through tobacco. While many snus purists prefer the feeling, it is, without a doubt, more balanced in approach.

Nicotine pouches, conversely, can have a very aggressive approach to hit, especially in the higher strengths. At 150mg, products like the infamous CUBA Ninja 150mg, can feel like being hit by a truck. For new users, the overuse of pouches this strong can cause sickness, and nausea.

The Legality of Snus: A Grey Area to Address

As I have explained, snus in its traditional form, containing tobacco, is illegal in most countries outside of Sweden. Had there been no crossover between snus and nicotine pouches in name, it could be argued that nicotine pouches would be seen as its own entity. But, inevitably the colloquial convergence has caused media interjection, and subsequent consumer confusion. Provided your snus does not contain tobacco, you are likely to be able to use them in your country.

Snus in The United Kingdom

As one of the largest economic countries in the world, despite its size, the UK is a primary market for snus. You can buy snus legally provided the pouches do not contain tobacco. The snus market has grown considerably since the early days of ordering from Europe. Retailers stock many brands in store, both at domestic supermarket level, and localised convenience store level. Still, the biggest libraries exist online at stores like The Snus King. Pricing also is a positive of ordering online, as the access to bulk buying is a common importance to regular users.

Snus in Australia

Australia is a growing market for snus, and much of the population has viewed the products as viable alternatives to cigarettes. The price of cigarettes is a common factor for those wishing to quit smoking. Snus (nicotine pouches) offer a competitive alternative, reducing the overall cost of nicotine consumption for regular smokers. The epidemic of vaping in Australia is another driving factor to those wishing to find something else. Australia consumers can buy nicotine pouches by importing them into the country from websites. There are caveats to the availability of nicotine pouches in Australia. One of which is obtaining a valid nicotine pouch prescription from an authorised professional in Australia to be allowed your pouches. This is regulated under the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association) that ruled importation of pouches in 2021.

Snus in The United States

The US is one of the first countries to give approval to nicotine pouches for smoking cessation. Zyn was the first brand to be afforded FDA approval by the US as a brand of nicotine pouches. The growth of snus in the US has been aggressive in recent years. Vaping has been catalyst in the growth of pouches, as many seek an alternative to vaping. Likewise, the monopoly of nicotine pouches in the form of Zyn has driven huge search for Zyn alternatives.

Why Snus Matters Today

Whether we like it or not, snus has taken on an entirely different form from the original pouches that exist as illegal. Colloquial or not, snus has become a staple among consumers of nicotine products. Not even governments can change the social dictionary terminology used by the masses. Over time, I have no doubt that the term snus will fragment into its true and original state once again. But, for now, snus pertains to the nicotine pouches that do not contain tobacco, and are therefore legal.

Human beings have vices. These vices can be something simple like drinking coffee, or dangerous like drinking too much alcohol. Ultimately, eating fast food could kill you. Anything we put into our bodies, even water, can be contaminate and cause health complications. As someone that has used traditional snus, and modern-day snus (nicotine pouches), I can attest to overuse being negative. Paradoxically, the relaxation from life at key times by using a pouch can sometimes be the circuit break I need.

Vaping was thrust into the limelight as a viable smoking alternative some years ago. Doctors prescribed vape pens to users as a product to save many from lung cancer. Now, there are question marks as to whether or not it was the right thing to do. EVALI is the first consideration of true illness related to vaping, and perhaps not the last. The rise of nicotine pouches, and snus, could theoretically shake illness out from the world of medicinal practice. For now, however, there have been no correlated illness associated to the use of snus without tobacco.

The Rise of Snus Brands

The entry of nicotine pouches to the snus market came with excitement at the ability to harness more nicotine strengths. From the strongest VELO to the strongest Zyn, brands pushed the envelope of strength in vertical snus markets. The rise to the top, at one point, seemed incumbent on who could develop the most strength and balance of delivery. Those times, fortunately, have dissipated, leaving the area of focus on marketing, and quality. As someone that has seen the rise, and fall, of so many, I feel qualified to talk about some of the best snus.