How to Use Nicotine Pouches: Step-By-Step
Nicotine pouches - a smoke-free and spit-free oral nicotine product. Similar to Swedish snus, nicotine pouches are small, tea bag-like pouches designed to sit comfortably and are easily hidden when parked between the upper lip and gums. Although snus and nicotine pouches differ in that nic pouches are tobacco free whereas a snus pouch does contain tobacco.
The nicotine these pouches contain is extracted from the tobacco plant as a nicotine salt, or synthetically produced. As a result, they provide the effects of nicotine without the smell of snus products and do not stain your teeth.
While they are growing in popularity in the UK, how do you use nicotine pouches? Check out our full simple steps guide on how to use nicotine pouches to learn how to get the most out of your nicotine pouches.
What are Nicotine Pouches made from?
Before using a new nicotine product it's a good idea to know what's in it. Nicotine pouches are made from small woven cellulose-based envelopes that contain nicotine suspended in granules. The tiny holes in the weave allow the nicotine to be released into your mouth once it meets the moisture there.
While nicotine pouches contain zero tobacco, they generally do include a small number of other food-safe ingredients such as preservatives, flavour enhancers like glycerol, and pH modifiers.
How to Use Nicotine Pouches in 4 Simple Steps
Ready to get started with nicotine pouches, here are the 4 steps you need to get started with your can of pouches.Estimated Cost: 0 GBP
1. Open the Can of Nicotine Pouches
You may be wondering how to open snus cans or nicotine pouch cans. For the cans that are round cans, just break the seal around the can to begin. After that open the nicotine pouch can by squeezing it with your thumb and forefinger, gently on the sides of the can. Some cans may have different instructions, like On! Nicotine pouch cans are opened slightly differently, so always check the label on the can for specific instructions on how to open unique snus cans.
2. Place the Nicotine Pouch Under Your Lip
Once you have got the lid off your can of nicotine pouches, take a single pouch out of the can and use your index finger to pop it in your mouth, between the upper lip and gums. These pouches park comfortably, which allows you to enjoy the flavour and nicotine without anyone noticing. There is no real “proper placement” - just make sure you use them orally and place them between either the upper lip and gum or lower lip and gum.
3. Enjoy the Pouch For Up to 60 Minutes
Nicotine pouches, especially if you are new to the product, can cause a mild tingling sensation. If you are new to nicotine pouches (even though you have used other products containing nicotine), we recommend you only leave the pouch in for a short amount of time (5-15 minutes) and choose a pouch with lower nicotine content. As you get more accustomed to the pouches, you can enjoy them longer, for up to 30 minutes and adjust the nicotine strength you choose as required.
4. Remove the Pouch
Once you are done enjoying your nicotine pouch, it is important to properly dispose of it. Most cans have a handy extra compartment on top of the lid, where you can store your used pouches when there isn't a bin nearby. Since the materials used to create the majority of the actual pouches are not recyclable, you mustn't throw the pouches on the ground or elsewhere. If you are looking to recycle the plastic can make sure to remove any pouches before you add them to the recycling bin.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Nicotine Pouches?
The cons of Nicotine Pouches
Smaller selection of pouches than vapes
Some people are disappointed with the smaller available selection of flavours and brands of nicotine pouches compared to other nicotine products like vapes. However, because these pouches are a fairly new introduction to this country, the variety available is likely to increase with time.
Nicotine pouches are still unregulated
Another concern for those considering using nicotine pouches is that they are currently unregulated by UK law. While vapes and the e-liquids used in them are regulated by UK law. The best way to curtail any safety concerns about this is to make sure you always buy your nicotine pouches from a trusted provider like Northerner.
The benefits of Nicotine Pouches
Pouches Are Convenient to use
Like snus pouches, nic pouches are a convenient way to use a nicotine delivery system. This is because they are small enough to be portable and come in their own tin. There is also no device or maintenance needed as all you need to do is pop one in your mouth when you feel like it.
Pouches can be used anywhere
Products like snus and nicotine pouches are much more discreet than other ways to consume nicotine. This means you can use them pretty much anywhere including smoke free places where vaping is banned such as on public transport, at work, or even after dinner in a restaurant.
Nicotine Pouches can be cheaper than other options
With the cost of nicotine pouches at around £4 for a 20-pack, they can be significantly cheaper to use than other ways to consume nicotine like vapes. This is because there is no hardware to drive the cost up.
Choosing the Right Nicotine Pouch
One of the biggest choices that can impact your nicotine experience when learning how to use nicotine pouches properly is the product you choose. When choosing from the different range of nicotine pouches out there, it is important to consider the following factors:
- - Nicotine Strength: How strong do you want your pouch to be? It is always better to start with a less intense nicotine strength and go up as needed, rather than the other way around!
- - Flavour: There are various flavours of nicotine pouches to choose from such as mint, berry and lemon. When choosing a flavour, look at what options you have in your nicotine strength of choice, and choose a flavour similar to ones you know you like in other products (i.e. if you don't like a cola flavoured product, maybe swerve the cola flavoured nicotine pouches).
- - Brand: Each brand has different experiences, so keep this in mind when choosing a product. Consider trying a range of products from different brands when trying to find the right pouch in the beginning (a mix pack is a great way to do this at a good price!) Some of the most popular nicotine pouch brands include Nordic Spirit and VELO.
Understanding the Nicotine Strengths
When choosing between the different nicotine strengths, you should consider whether you are used to nicotine or not and how often you use nicotine products. On Northerner we categorize strength in four different groups.
So, how strong are nicotine pouches? On Northerner, there are 3 categories of nicotine strength:
- - Normal Strength (3-6mg of nicotine per pouch)
- - Strong (6-9mg of nicotine per pouch)
- - Extra Strong (9mg and over of nicotine per pouch)
How to Use Nicotine Pouches: Final Tips
If you are new to nicotine pouches you may be wondering about the safety and usage of this type of tobacco free product. Here are three final tips worth considering:
Never overuse nicotine pouches. You may start to feel dizzy or nauseous if you overuse nicotine pouch products. If this happens it's because you have consumed too much nicotine, so be sure to remove the product from between your lip and gum. You may also wish to choose a product with lower nicotine strength for use next time.
Swallowing. When using a nicotine pouch you should always properly dispose of it. It's not recommended to swallow a nicotine pouch. However if an accident occurs where this happens the risk is minor, because the lining of your stomach is unable to absorb nicotine. Although if you feel ill after swelling a pouch it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately.
Disposing of your nicotine pouches. Disposing of your used pouch responsibly is essential. Just like used snus, nicotine pouches need to be thrown away in regular rubbish not recycling. When you are on the go you can use the special space in the lid of your nic pouch tin to dispose of them. Never spit your snus or nicotine pouches onto the ground as this is considered not only rude, but littering.
Buy Your Nicotine Pouches from Northerner UK
When using tobacco-free snus, you must remember to make sure you get proper products by choosing to buy from legitimate retailers such as Northerner. If you want to buy snus or nicotine pouches online, make sure to do your research before you add to cart!
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