What Are Nicotine Pouches Made Of?

• Nicotine pouches contain nicotine, plant fibres, pH regulators, and moisture agents
• They also have flavourings and sometimes sweeteners
• Nicotine pouches evolved from Swedish snus
• Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco leaf, unlike snus
• Women have played a key role in driving the popularity of nicotine pouches

There are six main ingredients in nicotine pouches:

• Nicotine
• Plant fibres
• Flavourings
• pH regulators
• Moisture agents (humectants)
• Sweeteners (occasionally)

These ingredients define what nicotine pouches are made of and influence how they taste and feel.

Now you know the inside contents of a nicotine pouch. But what do these ingredients all do?

As the name might suggest, nicotine is the active substance in nicotine pouches.

Nicotine occurs naturally in tobacco and tobacco leaf is the main ingredient of snus. In comparison, nicotine pouches have nicotine added separately. It is either extracted from tobacco plants or produced synthetically before being added.

Snus itself contains tobacco, water, salt, pH regulators, moisture agents, and flavourings. So this answers the question, “what is in snus compared to nicotine pouches?”.

In nicotine pouches, plant fibres replace tobacco leaf to give the pouch structure and stability.

These fibres are usually cellulose (a natural fibre in plants that make up the cell walls) which is commonly sourced from eucalyptus, pine, or cotton.

Flavourings are added to define the taste of the pouch.

As our nicotine pouch flavour guide explains, popular flavours include mint, citrus, berry, coffee, and liquorice.

pH regulators are used to regulate the acidity level of the pouch. 

This can influence how the pouch feels during use, which is why some pouches that are the same strength can sometimes be experienced differently.

Otherwise known as humectants, moisture agents help to maintain moisture levels and prevent pouches from drying out. 

Typical moisture agents include:

• Glycerol (E-422)
• Lecithin (E-322)

These moisture agents also ensure the even release of flavour and nicotine.

Finally, sweeteners like xylitol or sucralose are sometimes included to balance bitterness and round off flavour profiles.

A common question among nicotine pouch users is: do nicotine pouches contain sugar?

No, nicotine pouches do not contain sugar. However, some pouches do contain some sweeteners, like xylitol or sucralose. These are used to balance any bitter flavours and create a well-rounded flavour profile.

Transparency is central to Northerner UK’s mission.

This is why we work with NicoLeaks, an independent platform that shares laboratory results on nicotine pouches available in the UK and Europe. Through our parent company, Haypp, we arrange third-party testing of products from multiple suppliers. 

Key factors such as nicotine levels and pH value are analysed. This gives consumers independent and verified information about what is in nicotine pouches, so that they can make informed decisions. 

It also helps consumers spot fake nicotine pouches, which have emerged on the market in recent years.

The composition of nicotine pouches is no coincidence. They were designed to imitate the look and feel of Swedish snus, but without the tobacco leaf.

Snus has been used in Scandinavia for centuries, first as a loose mix of ground tobacco, water, salt, and flavorings. In the 1970s, portion snus reimagined traditional snus in a more practical format by packing it into small pouches. 

Nicotine pouches evolved directly from this format, replacing tobacco leaf with plant fibres and adding nicotine separately. This created a pouch with a familiar format, but different ingredients. In fact, in Sweden, nicotine pouches are even sometimes referred to as “white snus.”

Find out more about the development of snus and nicotine pouches in Scandinavia in our what snus is guide.

The historical move from snus to nicotine pouches also reflects changing social patterns in Sweden.

Johan Hansson, a snus expert at Northerner’s sister company Haypp, explains:

"The most fascinating thing is the journey of snus through the different social classes–from originally being used by the upper classes, to then being adopted by the working class, to finally becoming something for everyone."

Notably, the consumer preferences of women played a role in driving the popularity of nicotine pouches.

Historically, Swedish women avoided traditional snus and even portion snus was predominantly preferred by men. The arrival of nicotine pouches marked a turning point in usage patterns among Swedish women, who became more likely to choose this format.

Johan notes that today, women are just as likely as men to buy nicotine pouches. The tobacco-free ingredient blend has contributed to their popularity in Sweden and internationally.

Many users are curious as to what do nicotine pouches contain.

Nicotine pouches combine a blend of nicotine, plant fibres, flavourings, and supporting agents to create a consistent pouch experience. This ingredient blend evolved from Swedish snus to create a tobacco-free pouch format.

The growing popularity of nicotine pouches reflects changing consumer preferences, such as the move towards tobacco-free products. What’s also noticeable is the role of women in driving adoption–particularly in Sweden, where the category first took off.