What Is Snus?

So, what is Swedish snus? Pronounced "snoose," it is a form of smokeless tobacco, that originated in Sweden in the late 1800s. Unlike other tobacco products, like cigarettes, you use it by placing it under your upper lip, and, as a result, do not need to spit. It comes in two forms - loose snus (ground tobacco) or portion snus (ground tobacco packaged in sealed pouches), the latter being the most modern option. The world of snus is exciting, interesting, but most of all, vast with many different flavors, nicotine strengths, pouch sizes, and moisture levels to choose from, which we will come back to in more detail later on. In turn, after reading this article, you should have a better knowledge of the market variety and maybe even a few products to add to your rotation.

The History of Snus

Snus has been around for a long time, centuries, in fact. It first emerged in Sweden in the 1800s as a dry, powdered tobacco product (snuff) designed for insufflation through the nose. However, it was not until the 1900s that it transformed into a moist product for oral use. One of the first brands on the scene was Ettan in 1822 (translation - "number one"), still manufactured and sold by Swedish Match today. Over time, more brands hit the market, such as General in 1866, known for its delicious blend of 22 tobaccos with a touch of bergamot oil, and Göteborgs Rapé in 1919, famous for its delicate tobacco character with notes of citrus, herbs, and juniper.

Snus use dropped during and for some time after World War II, as the American trend of cigarettes took the spotlight. Fast forward to 1970, however, and snus began to attract users again due to fears of smoking-induced health risks and, as a result, new forms emerged. In the mid-'70s, portion snus became available, Tre Ankre being the first brand. Five years later, Catch, the first flavored snus, came out. As you can see, the '70s and '80s were a very transformative period for this product and shaped it into what we know, love, and use today. Since then, snus has become increasingly popular, and we have seen the release of many new brands and variations. You can read more about the history of snus over at our blog.

How to Use Snus

It is super simple to learn how to use snus, especially if you opt for portions. Loose can be slightly more tricky, but we will cover that in just a moment. To use portion snus, lift your upper lip, take a portion from the container and place it between your lip and gums. You can then leave the snus pouch there for as long as you like or until the flavor and nicotine have run out. There are a few more steps required to use loose snus, as shown below:

1. Open the can and pinch a small amount of tobacco using your thumb and index finger.
2. Roll the tobacco between your thumb and index finger and form a wedge.
3. Take the wedge out of the container and place it under your upper lip.

You can shape your loose portions how you want. Of course, the greater the portion weight, the greater the nicotine content, and vice versa. If hand baking is too difficult or time-consuming, you could use a portion tool, like the Prismaster, which can help make the perfect-sized portions.

Can You Swallow Snus?

When using snus, excess saliva will be produced and some people decide to spit this out and others swallow it, both are fine to do. However, if you were to swallow the product itself, that is different. It is not advised to do so as it has been shown to cause nausea or an upset stomach. If you have swallowed it, you are better to be safe than sorry and talk to a health professional immediately. Just don't make a habit of it because this is when serious problems may occur.

Snus Formats

Format refers to the characteristics of a snus. The four main ones are loose, original portion, white portion, and all-white portion, all of which are different in color and moisture level, which determines the experience. Below, you can read about each of the formats, their properties, and what to expect from using them:

	Loose	Original Portion	White Portion	All White Portion
Nicotine and flavor release	Fast	Fast	Moderate	Moderate to Fast
Nicotine and flavor longevity	Medium (up to 45-50 mins)	Medium (up to 45-50 mins)	Long (up to 60+ mins)	Long (up to 60+ mins)
Flavor intensity	High	High	Moderate	Moderate to high
Moisture	High	High	Low to medium	Low to medium
Drip	High	High	Low to medium	Low to medium
Color	Dark	Dark	Light	White
	Loose snus comes as ground tobacco with a dark color in a coarse, medium, or fine grind. Since the tobacco does not come wrapped in portion material, it requires the user to form a portion or 'prilla' themselves. This type of snus is moist, so the nicotine and flavor release is fast. Also, as there is no material barrier between the tobacco and gums, the flavor is rich and full-bodied.	Original portion snus is similar to loose as it is moist, dark in color, and has a fast release of nicotine and flavor with a full, rich taste, but it comes wrapped in portion material. As a result, it is easier to prepare and use.	White portions have a much lower moisture content than original, and their surfaces are dry. So, you get less drip and a longer-lasting nicotine and flavor release. They are also lighter in color and less likely to cause stained teeth.	All-white products are often confused with nicotine pouches because they are completely white. But, the fact is, they are snus products because they still contain tobacco. The difference between this format and original or white portions is that the tobacco is bleached and included in lesser amounts, so the snus pouches stay white, and there is no risk of teeth staining.

Snus Portion Sizes

Like format, snus can also vary in size. The size of a snus affects the experience more than you may think, such as how discreet the user can be, how comfortable it feels under the lip, the mouthfeel sensation, and even the nicotine and flavor release. The four main sizes are large, slim, super-slim, and mini, as outlined below:

	Large	Slim	Super-slim	Mini
Weight of contents	0.65 to 1.1 grams	0.7 to 0.9 grams	0.5 grams	0.3 to 0.5 grams
Visibility under the lip	High	Medium	Low	Very Low
Comfort under the lip	Medium	Medium to High	High	High
Mouthfeel	Immersive	Noticeable	Subtle	Very Subtle
Efficacy of nicotine and flavor release	High	Medium	Medium	Low
	Large portions offer the most tobacco and the greatest surface area for the contents to contact the gums, which is beneficial if the user seeks an immersive experience and an effective transfer of nicotine and flavor. Due to the weight of the contents, the pouches are plump, making them visible under the lip and potentially less comfortable for inexperienced users.	Slim portions are similar to large ones but slimmer, flatter, and less plump, making them less visible under the lip and potentially more comfortable. They still have a noticeable mouthfeel but not as much as their larger counterparts. As a result of the smaller surface area and lower weight, they are slightly less effective in transferring nicotine and flavor.	Super-slim portions offer a significantly more discreet fit than original and slim, thanks to their half-weight contents and overall smaller size. As a result, they are nearly invisible under the lip, are very comfortable, and feel almost unnoticeable during use. However, since there is far less tobacco and a reduced surface area, the nicotine and flavor release is less impactful.	Mini portions are the most discreet and modern form of snus available. The minimal amount of tobacco used renders them near-invisible to others under the lip and almost unnoticeable to the user in terms of mouthfeel. They are, however, much less effective in nicotine and flavor transfer.

Snus Nicotine Strengths and Nicotine Contents

Snus is available in a variety of nicotine strengths. The strength refers to the effects, from regular to extremely strong, based on the nicotine content, which is how much nicotine is in the product, usually measured in milligrams per gram (mg/g) or milligrams per portion (mg/portion). When learning how to interpret nicotine strengths, you may notice that descriptors of strength in relation to the nicotine content vary between brands.

Let us take a look at the five strength levels, regular, strong, extra strong, ultra-strong, and extremely strong, and how much nicotine and what intensity of effects you can expect from each below:

Which are The Strongest Snus Pouches?

Snus strength ranges, but some brands and products are known to be incredibly strong, and here you will find which they are. The average nicotine content is 6-10 mg/g, with the more robust products reaching a whopping 43 mg/g, which is not for first-time users. Those wanting an intense experience are veterans looking to test their limits with a product that provides a powerful kick. Some of the best strong snus is detailed below:

• Siberia -80 Degrees 16g. The strongest on the market. It has a chilling profile thanks to its menthol notes, with a staggering 43 mg/g of nicotine. This is not a product for newbies.
• Oden’s Cold Extreme 16g. Another frosty-tasting experience with a sweet spearmint finish, complimenting the earthy tobacco notes. With 22 mg/g of nicotine, again, this is a product not to take lightly.
• General Classic Extra Strong. The tamest of the selection but arguably the product with the best tobacco character. It contains 12 mg/g worth of nicotine, still strong enough to supply that intense effect!

If you are brave enough to take on the raw strength, see which of the above sound best. If they do not, there are plenty more potent snus available.

Snus Flavors

Besides nicotine, the flavor is one of the main attractions of snus, and there are countless different ones to try. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something more savory, you are guaranteed to find something that suits your needs. There are simply too many individual snus flavors to list, but there are four categories, including tobacco-centric, mint, fruit, and beverage-inspired, which we will explore now.

	Tobacco-centric	Mint	Fruit	Beverage-inspired
Flavor characteristics	Bold, rich, deep, full-bodied	Fresh, icy, cooling	Fresh, lively, zingy, sweet, sour, natural	Sweet, complex, natural, intense, bright
Common tasting notes	Earthy, spicy, smoky, floral, herby, woody, piney	Spearmint, peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus	Citrus, berries, exotic fruits, apples	Hops, malt, whiskey, cola
Ranges from	Delicate to full-bodied	Sweet to sharp and/or cooling to freezing	Sweet to sharp/tart	Delicate to full-bodied
	Products in this flavor category have a dominant tobacco character. They can be slightly sweet or more savory, depending on the blend, and often feature a range of smoky, floral, herby, or woody notes. Tobacco-centric snus is popular among traditional snusers that want to taste the tobacco rather than added flavorings.	Mint snus is commonly used by those that like a fresh, cooling taste or want to know how to avoid snus breath. The flavor depends on which variation of mint is used, as spearmint is generally sweeter and smoother, and peppermint is sharper and slightly more bitter. Menthol often gets added to mint products to increase the intensity of the flavor and provide a cooling, numbing sensation under the lip, which also happens to enhance the nicotine effect.	Fruit flavors cater to users that enjoy a sweeter, more easy-going taste from their snus. Fruit snus products are available in flavors from melon to lingonberry, so there are many different flavor profiles to enjoy.	Beverage-inspired is an exciting flavor category that features products with a distinct taste of some of the most popular alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, such as scotch whisky, Swedish malt whisky, and cola.

If you require more information on popular snus flavors, follow the link and discover more insight into each tasting experience which can help you decide the flavor profile for you.

Popular Snus Brands

There are hundreds of excellent brands and esteemed snus producers, but three have risen to the top and consistently held their position in the snus wall of fame, which are:

1. General snus: General is a brand that has stood the test of time. As mentioned in the history of snus subsection, it came out over a century ago and is manufactured by the great Swedish Match. The range features many traditional tobacco-centric products and more modern options, like mint and whisky, available in various formats and sizes.
2. Skruf snus: Skruf snus is a Swedish brand manufactured by Skruf Snus AB. It was a somewhat more recent addition to the market, first emerging in 2003. Despite being more modern, it still offers a traditional Swedish snus experience. The brand is well-known for its signature addition of rose oil, which creates a delightful floral taste.
3. Oden's snus: Oden's is a brand by GN Tobacco, a Swedish manufacturer best known for its extremely-strong products, like Siberia snus. Although Oden's offers some strong snus pouches, the brand has an excellent regular strength range with traditional qualities and flavors.

What Is The Best Snus Pouch?

There are many popular products due to the wide range of consumers that use them and with more users comes different preferences meaning there isn’t just one stand-out snus. However, there are a few that are shopped much more often than others. General Mint White is one of them, is this because it has a mint flavor, a white portion, a regular strength, or a mix of all? Most probably the latter. This shows that all of these facets are the most popular and highlights a middle ground to fall back to.

Why Buy Snus Online?

When buying your first snus, you want to be buying from someone who has your best interest at heart, meaning they have a better selection, correct storage ensuring freshness, competitive pricing, and a convenient buying experience. All of these points are true if you buy it online, making your purchase and experience easy and enjoyable. However, if you were to buy from a local convenience store, they do not have warehouses to store every product, nor big fridges to ensure freshness, reducing your snus’s quality. Not only does it promise pouch integrity but it also enables your use to be kept private if that is what you wish because you can buy it from behind a computer screen instead of over the counter. It’s a no-brainer. There is more information on whether buying snus online is more favorable so you can make the decision yourself.