Nicotine pouches

What a nicotine pouch is

There is no tobacco leaf in the pouch. The carrier material consists of plant fibers, usually cellulose-based — it gives the pouch its volume and shape. Added to this are nicotine, humectants to keep it from drying out, and flavorings for taste.

The whole thing is wrapped in a fleece. It holds the contents together and is permeable at the same time.

In shops and in search, other names turn up for the same product, such as nicopods or nicotine pouches. Each time, the same thing is meant.

Strength

Two details describe it, and both are shown on each variety.

The nicotine content in mg/g — milligrams of nicotine per gram. A concentration figure that can be compared across brands: two varieties with the same number are equally concentrated, regardless of brand, format and pouch count.

The strength level — for the Czech Republic one of two: level Mild and level Regular; there we carry varieties up to 12 mg of nicotine per gram. It gives a rough classification, regardless of what the brand calls its variety.

The two complement each other. The level tells you the area, mg/g the exact point. Within a level, the varieties differ in their number, sometimes considerably.

Why the label on the can is not enough

“Strong”, “Extra Strong”, “Ultra”, “Medium” — these are product names, not measurements, and every manufacturer assigns them by its own standard. Varieties with “Strong” in their name are found in both levels here.

The same goes for numbers in the variety name. A digit after the product line is part of the manufacturer’s naming and cannot be carried over between brands. What is comparable is mg/g.

Level Regular is not format Regular

Two different things share the same name: level Regular is a strength, format Regular a pouch size. That is why strength is always preceded by the word “level”.

What the levels cover

Both levels are stocked, level Mild considerably more than level Regular. How many varieties are currently in which level is shown on the level pages.

Formats

The format describes the size and cut of the pouch. Three occur in this group:

• Slim — narrow and elongated. The standard case; if a brand carries only one format, it is almost always this one.
• Mini — shorter and flatter than Slim.
• Regular — wider and shorter.

Product names do not always stick to this. Some manufacturers put the format in the name, others not at all, still others use their own words such as “Regular” or “Long” — these do not match these three. If you are looking for a specific pouch size, use the format filter rather than the name.

The format says nothing about strength. In Slim you will find varieties from both levels.

Flavors

The selection here is wide. Each variety carries a flavor, regardless of what it is called on the can.

Fruit and Mint are the two flavors with the largest selection. Fruit ranges from watermelon and mango through peach and apple to cherry and grape. Mint covers spearmint, peppermint and menthol, as well as the many blends with berry, citrus or melon.

Berry stands alongside as a flavor of its own — blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant. Citrus brings lime, lemon and limoncello, some with a kick behind them. Cola comes pure or blended.

Less well stocked are Coffee with espresso, mocha and cappuccino, Liquorice from mild to salty, Sweet with chewing gum and vanilla notes, and Spice with cactus and pepper. On top of that there are individual varieties with eucalyptus, floral, tea or hemp notes.

Finally, Original stands for varieties without added flavor — usually “Blank” or “Classic” on the can.

What the words on the cans reveal

“Fresh”, “Frost” and “Cool” almost always stand for mint. “Ice”, on the other hand, does not — you find it just as often on fruit and berry varieties. The same goes for “Freeze” and “Arctic”: these words describe the cool impression, not the flavor.

With blends, both components are often in the name. Which flavor such a variety is assigned to is shown on the variety itself — it cannot be inferred from the order in the name.

Where the flavors thin out

The less well stocked flavors are not spread evenly. Liquorice, coffee and spice are found mainly in level Mild.

In practice this means: if the flavor matters more to you than the exact level, choose it first and the level afterward. The other way around, you are more likely to end up with an empty selection.

The same applies to the formats. Mini occurs almost only in level Mild.

Brands

Many brands of nicotine pouches are carried side by side here — well-known names as well as ones you see less often.

How broad a brand’s range is varies a great deal. Some cover several strength ranges with one continuous line and distinguish their varieties only by a number in the name. Others carry separate lines with their own names for different ranges. Still others stay in one range and vary only the flavor.

Which ones a brand carries is shown on its brand page.

Lines within a brand

Many manufacturers carry several lines under the same name, often with additions such as “White”, “All White” or a digit. The lines rarely sit in the same strength range — one stays in level Mild, a second reaches into level Regular.

So two varieties sharing the same line does not mean they are equally strong. When switching within a brand, the same check is worthwhile as when switching between brands: first mg/g, then the name.

What is in a can

How many pouches are inside is shown on each variety, next to the weight of the contents in grams. Only the two figures together give a picture: two cans with the same number of pouches can contain different amounts, and two cans with the same weight a different number of pouches.

Neither says anything about strength. That is what mg/g is for — the number stays the same, no matter how big the can is.

What to go by when comparing

If you have a usual variety and want to try something else, you need three details: the mg/g value, the format and the flavor. With these, the same settings can be applied again on any brand page.

Whatever is left then comes closest to the original variety — regardless of how differently the two cans are labeled. That the new variety has a different name is normal and no indication of a difference.

If nothing is left, loosen the format first. It says the least about what a variety is like.

Filtering

Four details narrow down this page and can be combined freely: product type, flavor, format and strength. You reach a specific brand via its brand page.

An example: level Regular, format Mini, flavor Mint. What remains is a handful of varieties that fits on one page — and each shows the exact mg/g value for a detailed comparison.

Not every combination has results. If the selection is empty, remove a filter again — usually the format, because it says the least about the character of a variety. Next comes the level: a neighboring level often brings back a selection without you having to compromise on flavor.

Three misconceptions

“More pouches in the can means stronger.” No. The pouch count says nothing about the concentration. Two cans with the same number of pouches can be far apart.

“Slim is the mild version.” Not that either. In Slim there are varieties from both levels.

“The same brand means the same strength.” Especially with brands that have several lines, the varieties are far apart. The level is shown on the individual variety, not on the brand.

Frequently asked questions

What is a nicotine pouch?

A tobacco-free pouch with nicotine — plant fibers, nicotine, humectants and flavorings, wrapped in a fleece.

Are nicopods and nicotine pouches the same?

Yes. Nicopods and nicotine pouches refer to the same product.

What does mg/g mean?

Milligrams of nicotine per gram. This figure makes varieties comparable across brands.

What do the levels tell you?

They give a rough classification: level Mild and level Regular, for the Czech Republic up to 12 mg of nicotine per gram. You will find the exact value as mg/g on each variety.

Is “Strong” the same as level Strong?

Not necessarily. Varieties with “Strong” in their name are found in both levels here.

Which formats are there?

Slim, Mini and Regular.

Does the format say anything about strength?

No. In Slim there are varieties from every level.

Why does the can show a different format than here?

Because manufacturers name things freely. Rely on the format filter.

How many pouches are in a can?

That varies between brands and lines — the number is shown on each variety.

How do I find something comparable from another brand?

Via mg/g, not via the name on the can.

Further reading

• Snus strength: mg/g and the levels
• Snus, nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco — the terms
• Level Mild · Level Regular
• Slim · Mini · Regular

This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. Sold only to persons aged 18 and over.