Do Nicotine Pouch Flavors Influence Nicotine Uptake? A Look at Recent Research

Flavors continue to be a widely discussed aspect of nicotine pouches. But does flavor selection actually change how much nicotine the body absorbs? And beyond nicotine delivery itself, what role do flavors play in satisfaction and in the decision to move away from higher-risk products such as dip or cigarettes?

Recent research published in Drug & Alcohol Dependence reports on two clinical studies conducted by Swedish Match, the manufacturer of ZYN. Together, these studies help shed light on how flavoring relates to nicotine uptake and user experience.

The research consisted of two randomized, cross-over clinical trials involving Swedish adults who regularly used snus and/or nicotine pouches. Participants tested two pouch formats: a higher-nicotine “moist” pouch (9 mg) and a lower-nicotine “dry” pouch (6 mg). Each format was offered in one unflavored version along with eight different flavors, including mint, fruit, and traditional profiles.

The studies focused on two main questions:

• Does flavor influence how much nicotine is released from a pouch and absorbed into the body?
  
  
• How does flavor affect user-reported outcomes such as satisfaction, craving reduction, and overall product liking?

One of the clearest findings from the research was that flavoring did not alter nicotine uptake. To assess this, researchers measured nicotine concentrations in the blood along with the amount of nicotine remaining in the pouch after use, which allowed them to estimate total nicotine extraction.

Across flavored and unflavored pouches with the same nicotine content and similar product characteristics, nicotine absorption remained consistent. This pattern was observed for both moist and dry pouch formats.

• Blood nicotine levels were comparable across most flavor variants.
• The proportion of nicotine extracted from the pouch did not meaningfully differ by flavor.
• While moist pouches contained more nicotine overall (9 mg), about 41.3% was extracted (3.7 mg). In comparison, 60.2% of the nicotine in dry pouches (6 mg, or 3.6 mg) was extracted, resulting in similar total nicotine delivery.
  

Taken together, these results indicate that flavor selection is a matter of preference rather than a factor that increases or decreases nicotine intake.

Although nicotine delivery was unaffected by flavor, participants’ subjective experiences did vary. Flavored pouches generally received higher ratings for satisfaction, enjoyment, and willingness to use the product again, particularly in the study involving moist pouches.

Importantly, no single flavor performed best across all participants. Some individuals favored unflavored options, while others preferred specific flavor profiles. Each flavor appealed to a subset of users.

This variation highlights the potential value of offering multiple options, as satisfaction and product appeal can influence whether users continue using pouches instead of higher-risk alternatives like cigarettes.

• Beyond flavoring, certain product characteristics—such as moisture content and pH—can affect nicotine release and absorption.

All products evaluated in these studies were produced by the same manufacturer, meaning that moisture and pH levels were relatively consistent across flavors. The moist pouches contained approximately 40% moisture by weight and had a pH of 8.5, while the dry pouches contained around 3% moisture with a pH of 8.3.

Pouch size was similar between formats (13.5 × 34 mm for moist pouches and 14 × 28 mm for dry pouches), though moist pouches weighed roughly twice as much (0.8 g compared to 0.4 g).

• Participants used each pouch for 60 minutes.

While moist pouches appeared to deliver nicotine somewhat faster, total nicotine exposure over the full 60-minute period was similar between moist and dry products.

• The study population consisted of Swedish users of oral tobacco and nicotine products.

Their perceptions of satisfaction may differ from those of people accustomed to inhalable products. For example, a 2024 study involving U.S. smokers found that satisfaction levels after five minutes were lower for nicotine pouches than for cigarettes, likely due to slower nicotine delivery. Further research is needed to determine which pouch characteristics may be most relevant for supporting switching among people who smoke.

For nicotine pouch users, these findings suggest that flavor choice can be guided by personal taste without concern for differences in nicotine uptake, provided products have similar characteristics. From a broader public health and harm reduction perspective, the research also points to the importance of variety: offering multiple flavor options may help more individuals find an alternative to smoking that works for them.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of nicotine pouches as a safer alternative to cigarettes or other tobacco products. The author does not make any representation or warranty regarding the relative safety, risk, or health impacts of nicotine pouches compared to cigarettes or other tobacco products. Furthermore, no claim is made as to the efficacy of nicotine pouches as a smoking cessation aid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nicotine pouches for use as a cessation tool, and scientific research on the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine pouch use is ongoing. Readers should consult with qualified health professionals regarding tobacco and nicotine use and cessation methods.