Snus & nicotine pouches: strength, flavours & formats

Snus and nicotine pouches are among the best-selling nicotine products in Switzerland. On the shelf they look similar, but they differ in content, strength and format. In this guide you will learn what the terms mean, how to read strength information correctly, which flavours are available and what the law says.

Snus or nicotine pouches: what is the difference?

In everyday language, anything placed under the upper lip as a pouch is often called "snus". Strictly speaking, there are two product groups:

Snus is a tobacco product from Sweden. It consists of ground tobacco, water, salt and flavourings and is usually brownish.
Nicotine pouches (also called "all white") contain no tobacco. They consist of plant fibres, nicotine, flavourings, fillers and water and are white.

Neither product is smoked. The nicotine enters the bloodstream through the oral mucosa. Nicotine is addictive, and smoke-free products are not risk-free either. What is known about snus and health is covered in the article Can snus give you cancer?.

Characteristics of all-white pouches

Tobacco-free

Because nicotine pouches contain no tobacco, they are white instead of brownish. That changes nothing about the nicotine: the effect and the addictive potential depend on the amount of nicotine.

Discreet format

Slim and mini pouches are flat and sit inconspicuously under the upper lip. There is no smoke and no vapour. How the formats differ is explained in our article Snus formats: mini, slim and large.

Duration

Nicotine release begins shortly after placing the pouch. How long a pouch releases flavour and effect depends on brand, moisture and format; it is usually between 20 and 45 minutes.

Reading strength levels correctly

Depending on the manufacturer, strength is stated either in mg per gram or in mg per pouch. A figure of 20 mg/g therefore means roughly 14 mg of nicotine per pouch for a 0.7 g pouch. Always compare products using the same unit.

Strength level	Guide value nicotine content	Suitable for
Normal / Medium	approx. 4–8 mg/g	low nicotine tolerance, occasional use
Strong	approx. 9–16 mg/g	regular adult users
Extra strong / Extreme	from approx. 20 mg/g	only for experienced users with high tolerance

These values are guide values and vary by brand. Strengths that are too high for you can cause dizziness, nausea or palpitations. In that case, remove the pouch immediately. Our guide Snus dosage: which strength suits you? explains this in detail. You can find an overview of the strongest products under The strongest nicotine pouches in Switzerland.

Variety of flavours: from ice-cold to fruity

Mint and menthol: the classic with a cool, tingling feeling under the lip, for example from VELO or ZYN.
Fruity flavours: mango, watermelon, kiwi or berry mixes for variety.
Special flavours: from cola and liquorice to herbal and spicy notes.
Tobacco snus: classic, spicy tobacco notes, for example from Odens or Siberia.

If you want the flavour without nicotine, the Nicotine-free collection offers pouches without nicotine. If you do not smoke or use nicotine, do not start.

What applies in Switzerland?

Snus has been legal in Switzerland since 2019. Since 1 October 2024, the Tobacco Products Act applies: snus and nicotine pouches may only be sold to adults aged 18 and over, including online with age verification. Snus and nicotine pouches are subject to a tobacco tax of 10% of the retail price. How this affects the price is shown in the article How much does snus cost?.

Different rules apply when travelling: in Germany, nicotine pouches may not be sold, and in France they have been banned since 1 April 2026. Details can be found under Snus when travelling: flights and customs.

Snus and pouches at Snustrend

Large choice of brands: for example Pablo, Kurwa, Killa, edel, VELO, ZYN and many more.
Original products: branded goods from regular trade.
Freshness: storage that preserves the moisture of the pouches.
Shipping: within Switzerland CHF 8.90, or CHF 4.90 (Economy) for orders from CHF 60.

You can find the full range in the Snus and nicotine pouches collection.

Frequently asked questions about snus and nicotine pouches

Is snus the same as nicotine pouches?

No. Snus contains tobacco; nicotine pouches contain no tobacco but nicotine bound to plant fibres. Both are placed under the upper lip, and both contain nicotine, which is addictive.

What does mg/g on the can mean?

mg/g states how much nicotine is contained per gram of pouch content. To calculate the amount per pouch, multiply the value by the pouch weight, for example 20 mg/g times 0.7 g gives roughly 14 mg per pouch.