Beginners Guide To Nicotine Pouches
Confused about nicotine pouches and how they work? Our useful one-stop guide tells you everything you need to know so you can decide whether they’re right for you!
If you’ve popped into your local corner shop or supermarket lately, then you’ve probably seen small tubs behind the counter near the tobacco and vape products. These contain nicotine pouches, which are a smokeless and 100% tobacco-free alternative that come in handy in places where you can’t vape — whether that’s at the office, in pubs and restaurants, or on public transport.
Nicotine pouches have actually been around for quite a while now, but they’ve really started to take off over the last year or so, especially since the announcement of the disposable vape ban coming into effect in the UK in April 2025.
So, we thought it’d be useful to put this guide together that tells you everything you need to know about what’s in them, how they work and their benefits. Whether you’re unsure about what nicotine strength to start with, the flavours available, or how long to keep one in — don’t worry, we’re going to cover it all!
Key Takeaways
Nicotine Pouches are 100% tobacco-free, making them a much safer alternative to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, such as snus.
Since they don’t produce any smoke or vapour, they’re a handy option for situations and settings where you can’t vape.
- Nicotine Pouches are available in a range of strength and flavour options to suit your preferences.
What Are Nicotine Pouches And How Do They Work?
As mentioned, pouches are a discreet way to consume nicotine without drawing attention to yourself, since they’re completely smoke-free and don’t produce any vapour. Just pop one between your upper lip and gum, and then wait for the nicotine delivery to kick in.
After about five minutes, you’ll start to feel a slight tingling sensation, which lets you know your nicotine pouch is working. Finding the tingle a bit too strong? You might need to go for a lower nicotine strength, but we’ll cover that later on.
What’s In A Nicotine Pouch?
Nicotine pouches are made up of flavourings, food-grade preservatives, plant-based fibres and of course, nicotine. Unlike cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snus — which they’re sometimes mistakenly referred to as — nic pouches contain no tobacco whatsoever, making them a much safer alternative.
How To Use Nicotine Pouches
Pop your pouch in
Feel the tingle within 5 minutes
Leave your pouch in for about 30 minutes
Dispose of your pouch
To get started, take one nicotine pouch out of the tub and then roll it between your fingers to soften it. Then, place it between your upper lip and gum, and you’ll then feel a tingling sensation. This lets you know that the nicotine is being released and lasts for around five minutes.
The tingle might feel a bit intense when you first start using pouches, but you’ll get used to it after a while and like we mentioned, you can always try a lower strength if it’s uncomfortable.
After they’re finished, you can dispose of your used pouches in your nearest bin, or use the handy compartment in the lid of your tub.
How Long Should I Leave A Nicotine Pouch In?
Most pouches, like the ones made by Lost Mary Airplane Mode, Velo and Cuba will work for up to 30 minutes. That said, some can work for up to an hour, such as pouches offered by Zeus.
It’s worth checking out the manufacturer’s website or guidelines, as the lifespan of your nicotine pouch will affect the delivery of the nicotine. For example, if your nicotine pouch lasts for an hour, you’ll experience a slower release.
What Nicotine Strength Should I Start With?
When it comes to choosing a nic strength to start with, we highly recommend going for a lower-strength pouch. If you’re new to nicotine pouches, we suggest starting with something like 3mg or 6mg per pouch.
Most users start out with a 3mg or 6mg pouch, and then go for something higher when they build up a tolerance.
Once you’re a bit more used to nicotine pouches, you can try something a bit stronger, such as a 9mg pouch, and then increase the nicotine strength from there. We don’t recommend starting with nicotine strengths higher than 6mg, as the nicotine hit will feel too intense.
An important thing to keep in mind, is that the nicotine from pouches isn’t absorbed in the same way as it is from e-liquid, so the strengths don’t quite match up.
For instance, if you usually vape a 20mg liquid, you definitely won’t want to start out with a 20mg nicotine pouch, as it’ll be far too strong!
One thing to note, is that pouches are available in much wider range of nicotine strengths for you to try once you have a bit more experience with them.
While e-liquids and disposable vapes are capped at a 20mg strength (due to TPD regulations), nicotine pouches can go up to 30mg or even higher strengths like 43mg and 50mg (per gram).
Nicotine Per Pouch Vs. Per Gram
When you’re buying nicotine pouches, it’s important that you know the difference between nicotine per pouch and nicotine per gram. Most manufacturers will just show a simple strength rating on their packaging, but to give you a brief summary:
Nicotine Per Pouch: This tells you the total amount of nicotine in a single pouch. It’s a straightforward way to understand how much nicotine you’re consuming each time you use one. For example, a pouch might contain 6 mg of nicotine, which is the amount you get in that pouch.
Nicotine Per Gram: This measures how concentrated the nicotine is based on the pouch’s weight. It helps you compare the strength of different pouches, especially if they come in different sizes. For example, a pouch that weighs 0.5 grams with 6mg of nicotine would have about 12mg of nicotine per gram.
If you’re looking to control your nicotine intake, knowing the nicotine per pouch is key. But if you want to compare how strong different pouches are, especially if they vary in size, you’ll want to look at the nicotine per gram.
Nicotine Pouch Sizes
Nicotine pouches typically come in in three sizes; Mini, Slim or Large. Mini pouches are the lightest and will often weigh around 0.5 grams. You’ll find that they’re short and narrow in size.
Slim pouches are slightly larger and heavier. They’ll usually weigh between 0.6 and 0.8 grams, and will be longer than Mini pouches while retaining their narrow shape.
Large nicotine pouches are a bit less common and are the heaviest option. They tend to weigh about a gram and are usually around the same length as Slim pouches, albeit wider and plumper.
How Many Nicotine Pouches Are Included In A Pack?
Most nicotine pouches come in packs of 20 or 21, and this can differ depending on the manufacturer and size of your pouch. For example, a pack of Slim pouches might come with 21 pouches, while a pack of Mini pouches might include 20. With that said, some brands, like Garant, include up to 27 pouches!
What Flavours Are Nicotine Pouches Available In?
The most common types of flavour available are mint nicotine pouches and fruit nic pouches. This can be different varieties of either, such as peppermint or spearmint, or citrus nic pouches and berry nicopods.
Mint flavours are commonly paired with menthol for extra coolness, and these pouches will often (but not always) have ‘ice’ in the title.
You’ll also find a lot of pouches that combine mint and fruit flavours. Beyond that, tobacco-flavoured pouches are also pretty common.
However, as nicotine pouches become more popular, there’s been an increased demand for different flavours. Due to this, many brands now offer a more unique flavours. You’ll now find candy nic pouches, such as bubblegum, or drink nicopods, like cola.
Fancy something even more unique? We also have spicy nicotine pouches, boasting fiery flavours like cinnamon, ginger and chilli.
Are Nicotine Pouches Safe?
Nicotine pouches are made up of similar ingredients as found in other NRTs (Nicotine Replacement Therapies) like gum and patches. They don’t contain any tobacco, heavy metals or any other harmful substances.
Pouches are simply a safer alternative to cigarettes and a more discreet option compared to vaping. If you’re still not convinced, you can always get in touch with a healthcare professional for some extra peace of mind.
What If I Swallow a Nic Pouch?
While we strongly advise against swallowing nicotine pouches, accidents happen and there are no serious health risks to worry about if you do. Nicotine isn’t absorbed by the lining of your stomach, so don’t fret about that.
That said, if you swallow a pouch, you may experience some nausea or indigestion. However, this is due to the size of the pouch itself and not what’s inside it.
Potential Side Effects Of Nicotine Pouches
If you start out with too high a nicotine strength, or if you use your pouch incorrectly (like sucking it, chewing it or swallowing saliva), then you may experience some unwanted side effects. These could be an upset stomach, mouth irritation or hiccups.
To avoid any unpleasant side effects, make sure you’ve chosen a strength that matches your usual nicotine intake and that you’re only using your pouch as intended (putting it between your top lip and gum). You’ll also want to try and avoid swallowing any saliva, as it’ll contain excess nicotine — although this is easier said than done!
Nicotine Pouches Vs. Vaping
While the purpose of nicotine pouches and vapes are the same (delivering a nicotine hit), and they’re both completely tobacco-free, the method of delivery is obviously very different.
For starters, the release of nicotine from pouches is a lot slower compared to vaping. As we’re sure you already know, vaping is essentially the same process as smoking. You’re inhaling nicotine into your lungs for it to enter your bloodstream, just with vapour instead of smoke.
With nicotine pouches, the process is a lot more gradual. Instead of an instant hit, the nicotine is absorbed by the mucous membranes in your gums, slowly releasing over the 30-60 minute duration of the pouch. Simply put, vaping offers quicker satisfaction, while nicotine pouches provide longer-lasting satisfaction.
One thing that vaping may have over nicotine pouches, is that there’s been a lot more research into its health benefits. Health bodies like the NHS and PHE (Public Health England) have conducted studies that point at vaping being 95% safer than smoking.
Nicotine pouches have only recently gained popularity and as a result, lack the same amount of evidence-based research as a replacement to cigarettes and traditional smokeless tobacco products.
Can I Vape With Nicotine Pouches?
Using nicotine pouches in conjunction with vapes can greatly increase the odds of quitting smoking, compared to using just one or the other by itself.
However, we don’t recommend vaping while you have a pouch in your mouth. This is because the excess nicotine can be a choking hazard, or it can lead to the unpleasant side effects we talked about earlier.
Nicotine Pouch FAQs
Conclusion
As nicotine pouches continue to gain traction, you should now have a clearer understanding of them, helping you decide if they’re the right fit for you. While vaping is widely recognized by both the NHS and PHE as a safer alternative to smoking and an effective nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), nicotine pouches haven’t yet undergone the same level of study to offer definitive guidance.
Nicotine pouches can be a convenient option in situations where vaping isn’t allowed, like in most indoor public spaces. Similarly to vaping, your experience with nicotine pouches varies depending on factors like nicotine strengths, flavour, usage, and personal commitment to quitting or staying smoke-free. If you’re considering trying nicotine pouches, explore our nicotine pouch collection for a diverse and expanding range of options.
