Nicotine pouches are a popular alternative to smoking, vaping or other forms of nicotine consumption. So they’re worth considering. But you may be wondering what’s actually in them. After all, unlike the chewing tobacco of old, we know they don't contain tobacco leaves.
They’re a cleaner option if you’re looking to reduce your exposure to harmful substances but still have a nicotine craving to satisfy. But without tobacco leaves, what else delivers the nicotine hit to your system?
That's what we'll explore below. In addition to looking at how nicotine gets in the pouch, we'll look at what else you're likely to find to see if there's anything you need to be worried about. Let's dive in.
At a glance:
What is typically in nicotine pouches?
While specific ingredients will vary from brand to brand, every pouch is likely to contain some combination of the following ingredients.
Nicotine: The one thing we can be certain your nicotine pouch contains is, you guessed it, nicotine. Most of today's nicotine pouches contain what's known as nicotine salt or, to get technical, nicotine bitartrate dihydrate. This is a type of nicotine that is derived from tobacco but does not contain any of the tobacco leaf itself. That means, unlike the dip or chew of days gone by, you won’t find any tobacco leaf in today’s nicotine pouches.
In terms of nicotine content, this can vary from pouch to pouch, but it usually ranges from around 2 mg to 8 mg per pouch. Some brands might offer even higher strengths of up to 11 mg per pouch.
Plant-based fibers: A nicotine pouch has to contain some bulk. This bulk is most likely made up of plant-based fibers, most often microcrystalline cellulose. These fibers serve as filler and make up the bulk of the pouch, providing structure. They also allow for the controlled release of the nicotine when the pouch becomes moist from your saliva.
Flavorings and sweeteners: Nicotine pouches would be pretty dull if they didn't contain any flavoring. Because nicotine is naturally very bitter, they probably wouldn't find many fans. Manufacturers add food-grade flavorings to their pouches. One flavor you'll almost always find is mint. Although today, you're often just as likely to see more fruity flavors or options like coffee or cinnamon.
Along with those flavors, you'll commonly find some sort of sweetener. These are almost always going to be artificial sweeteners because they improve the taste of the pouch without the risk of tooth decay. Common sweeteners in nicotine pouches include sucralose and acesulfame potassium, also known as Ace-K.
Stabilizers and pH adjusters: pH adjusters are incredibly important in nicotine pouches because they help to create an alkaline environment in your mouth, which aids in the absorption of nicotine. Common pH adjusters include compounds like sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Along with pH adjusters, you'll most often find stabilizers like hydroxypropyl cellulose, which help maintain the pouch's consistency and prevent all of the ingredients from separating and becoming, quite frankly, a mess.
Less common ingredients include salt or humectants. Salt can enhance a nicotine pouch's flavor and might also help with absorption, though this ingredient is by no means found in every brand. Humectants can help maintain moisture levels. This might include ingredients like glycerin.
Common Nicotine Pouch Ingredients: Categorized by Brand
What are some of the main ingredients in Ziip Stick's Z Pouches?
At Ziip Stick, we’re committed to using simple, clean ingredients across all our products, and that philosophy extends to our nicotine pouches. Z Pouches minimize unnecessary additives, ensuring a quality, long-lasting experience.
Why do our Z pouches last longer than others on the market? Plant-based stabilizers like glycerol maintain moisture levels in the pouch, allowing for even nicotine delivery and flavor distribution while improving comfort under the lip.
Like all nicotine pouches, Z Pouches feature nicotine as the primary active ingredient. Specifically, they contain tobacco-free nicotine.
Z Pouches come in two nicotine strength options—3 mg and 7 mg per pouch—making them suitable for a wide range of users, from those transitioning from smoking to more experienced nicotine pouch users.
You'll also find a variety of flavors, including unique options like Strawberry, Pineapple Banana, Banana Ice, Citrus Ice, and Skittle Ice (inspired by Skittles candy).
Shop Ziip Stick Z Pouches here
What are some of the main ingredients in ZYN nicotine pouches?
ZYN pouches contain nicotine bitartrate dihydrate, a pharmaceutical-grade form of nicotine free of ground, cut, or leaf tobacco. ZYN pouches come in two nicotine strengths, 3 mg and 6 mg per pouch.
Like other nicotine pouches on the market, ZYN pouches are filled with plant fibers. ZYN also uses several fillers and stabilizers in its pouches to add bulk and texture and to keep the ingredients separate and stable. The fillers include microcrystalline cellulose, maltitol, and gum arabic, while the stabilizer used is called hydroxypropyl cellulose, or HPC.
ZYN also uses sweeteners (acesulfame K) to help with taste, and pH adjusters (sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate), which help with nicotine absorption.
ZYN is known for its unique flavors, including Wintergreen, Spearmint, Cool Mint, Citrus, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Coffee, and Menthol. They also have an unflavored option called Smooth and an option with only a slight hint of menthol called Chill.
As a final note, ZYN pouches are distributed dry, allowing for a more sustained release of nicotine over 40 to 60 minutes.
Shop ZYN nicotine pouches here
What are some of the main ingredients in Rogue nicotine pouches?
Tobacco-leaf-free, Rogue pouches contain nicotine polacrilex, a form of nicotine derived through steam extraction. Nicotine strength options are 3 mg and 6 mg per pouch.
Like nearly all nicotine pouches, Rogue pouches are sugar-free. They contain Acesulfame K as a sweetener, which is very common among today's pouches.
With Rogue, you have a wide variety of flavors to choose from: Wintergreen, Peppermint, Honey Lemon, Mango, Apple, Cinnamon, Berry, Spearmint, Citrus, Original, and Tabac (i.e. Tobacco).
In terms of other ingredients like fillers or stabilizers, Rogue doesn't specify exactly what else is in the pouches, other than to say that they use "other inactive food-grade ingredients" for flavor and texture.
Like ZYN pouches, Rogue pouches are shipped dry. This is intended to provide a longer and more sustained nicotine release.
Shop Rogue nicotine pouches here
What are some of the main ingredients in on! nicotine pouches?
Like ZYN, on! pouches contain nicotine bitartrate dihydrate as the nicotine source and acesulfame K as a sweetener. on! uses maltitol and cellulose powder as binders to help provide structure and texture to its pouches, and sodium carbonate as a pH adjuster. on! pouches also use propylene glycol as a stabilizer, which helps maintain the consistency of the pouch's contents.
on! is somewhat unique in terms of nicotine strengths, with more options than you might typically find, and more options than anyone else on this list. Your choices for nicotine strengths are 1.5 mg, 2 mg, 3.5 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg. Those lower-end nicotine strengths make on! a more than accessible choice if you're planning to use this brand to gradually "step down" your nicotine intake as part of a smoking cessation program.
Beyond the Wintergreen and Mint flavors, which are pretty typical for pouches regardless of brand, on! also offers a few unique options, like Citrus, Berry, Cinnamon, and Coffee.
Shop on! nicotine pouches here
What are some of the main ingredients in VELO nicotine pouches?
VELO is one of the more popular nicotine pouches around. They’re widely available both online and in the wild, including gas stations and convenience stores.
VELO offers two main types of pouches. Mini dry pouches are mainly marketed to new users. As the name suggests, they’re known for being compact and discreet. VELO’s second offering, the slim pouch, is slightly larger than the minis and is perfect if you’re looking for a more substantial pouch.
VELO comes in three nicotine strengths — 2 mg, 4 mg, and 7 mg. The nicotine in VELO pouches is derived from the tobacco plant, but the pouches themselves are completely tobacco-free, similar to every other option on our list.
VELO pouches contain common plant-based fibers, namely microcrystalline cellulose and a combination of xylitol, sucralose, and acesulfame K as sweeteners. Like other pouches on this list, VELO also includes sodium bicarbonate as a pH adjuster and sodium alginate as a stabilizer.
VELO has standard flavor options like Wintergreen and Peppermint, and some more unique choices like Dragon Fruit, Black Cherry, Cinnamon, Citrus Burst, and Coffee.
Explore VELO nicotine pouches here
Are the ingredients inside nicotine pouches safe, and what are some of the potential side effects?
While each nicotine pouch may have slightly different ingredients, many are common across most varieties. Nicotine, for example, is in every single nicotine pouch you'll find.
Beyond that, other ingredients like fibers, sweeteners, pH adjusters, and stabilizers are found in almost all pouches, even if the specific ingredients might vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Here are the common ingredients you'll find across just about every nicotine pouch, along with some potential side effects that you might experience from each one. This will help give you a better idea of the pros and cons of nicotine pouches, and help answer the question, are nicotine pouches safe?
Nicotine: The dangers of nicotine are well known. Not only is it highly addictive, but it's also a dangerous substance all on its own, whether it's contained in a cigarette, a vape’s e-juice, or in a nicotine pouch. Nicotine has been linked to problems like an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure, which in turn can cause things like heart attacks and strokes. For people sensitive to nicotine or anyone new to nicotine, side effects like nausea, dizziness, headaches, irritability or mood changes are some of the other side effects you might experience.
Sweeteners: Just about every nicotine pouch contains an artificial sweetener. We've named some of them above, but common ones include acesulfame K and sucralose, both of which have been recognized as generally safe by most government agencies. However, excessive consumption can lead to digestive issues in some people — i.e., a mild upset stomach.
pH adjusters and stabilizers: These are generally considered safe, but they can cause things like minor mouth or throat irritation, or, again, a mild upset stomach if you consume too much of them.
Flavorings: Most flavorings in higher-quality nicotine pouches are food-grade, but that doesn't mean they’re without risk. There’s always the possibility of allergic reactions, and their long-term effects haven’t been thoroughly studied.
Now You Can Buy With Confidence!
There you have it—our rundown of what you’re typically going to find inside some of today’s most popular nicotine pouches. We hope this gives you a better idea of what to look for when choosing the best brand for you.
Our Ziip Stick Z pouches lead the way when it comes to the best nicotine pouches. They’re highly rated by those who use them, and we’ve been able to secure a large base of repeat customers who value quality ingredients and reliable customer service. You can check out the entire Ziip Stick nicotine pouch collection here.
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