Choosing The Right Nicotine Strength: A Guide to Starting with Nicotine Pouches

Selecting a nicotine pouch for beginners can feel overwhelming. There is a multitude of flavors, formats, and nicotine strengths to choose from. Having said that, how do you know which one to choose?

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a nicotine pouch is the nicotine strength. Nicotine pouches come in several different strengths and different manufacturers tend to present the nicotine strength in different ways.

Some manufacturers present the nicotine strength in the form of “dots,”, in other words, a scale or grading system from 1 to 4, or 1 to 5. Others present the nicotine strength in mg/g. For someone who doesn’t have much experience with nicotine pouches, it can feel difficult to know which nicotine strength to choose. Therefore, we will sort this out in this article so that you can better understand which nicotine strength is right for you.

Nicotine Content is Not the Only Factor that Matters

When discussing nicotine content, it is important to point out that nicotine content is not the only factor that affects your nicotine experience, although it is the easiest reference to look at.

In addition to nicotine content, humidity, and pH levels also play a role in how you experience nicotine. A more moist pouch tends to be perceived as stronger than a drier pouch because the more moist the pouch is, the faster and more efficiently it releases nicotine into the bloodstream. Furthermore, the format of the pouch also affects how long the nicotine has an effect.

Nicotine Pouch Nicotine Content

Nicotine pouches are usually divided into the following categories based on their nicotine content.

• Low: 0.1-6mg/g nicotine (one or two dots)

• Normal: 7 – 9.9 Mg/g nicotine (two or three dots)

• Strong: 10-15mg/g nicotine (three dots)

• Extra strong: 15.1-35mg/g (four or five dots)

What Nicotine Content should you Start with?

If you are new to nicotine pouches, the nicotine content you should start with depends on several different factors. Generally, however, it is recommended that beginners start with nicotine pouches that have a lower nicotine content, which usually corresponds to standard or low.

Nicotine is a chemical substance that humans develop a certain tolerance for the more they use it. Having said that, more experienced users often choose a stronger pouch with more nicotine content to get the same nicotine kick that beginners get from nicotine pouches with lower nicotine content. With this in mind, the recommendation is usually that beginners start with the weakest pouches, often called “low,” which usually corresponds to one dot. If you feel that you want a higher nicotine content, you can then choose to use pouches with a higher nicotine content. However, it is not recommended that beginners start with the absolute strongest variants because this often results in dizziness or even nausea.

The time of day you use nicotine pouches also tends to affect the perceived nicotine effect. Mornings are usually the time when nicotine is felt the strongest and the most noticeable nicotine kick is experienced since you haven’t consumed any nicotine overnight.

The Strength you Should Choose depends on your Nicotine Experience

The strength you should choose for the nicotine pouches depends on your overall experience with nicotine pouches.

If you have never used nicotine products before, you should choose nicotine pouches with the lowest nicotine content, which is equivalent to one dot. On the other hand, if you have some experience with nicotine pouches, you can choose one or two dots. An experienced nicotine user can choose nicotine pouches with two or three dots, which corresponds to a nicotine content between standard and “extra strong”. For individuals who are not very familiar with nicotine pouches or other nicotine products, it is advisable to choose the lowest nicotine strength and then choose a stronger nicotine content based on this, depending on how you experience the strength.

If you are a former smoker or have used other types of nicotine products such as traditional tobacco snus, you are likely to start with nicotine pouches with the “strong” or even “extra strong” strength if you have used nicotine pouches for a long time.

Different Nicotine Strengths For Difference Occasions

Many people who use nicotine pouches choose to vary the nicotine strength depending on the occasion. They often have a nicotine strength that they use “every day” and then a stronger pouch that they break off with when they want a more powerful and clear nicotine kick. If you don’t find the perfect nicotine pouch right away, that’s okay! You can experiment and try different strengths to find the one that suits you best. Additionally, you can also vary the nicotine strength depending on the occasion.

For example, in the morning you may want to wake up and start the day with a more powerful nicotine kick and therefore choose a strong or extra strong pouch. Others may prefer a less noticeable nicotine kick in the morning to avoid feeling dizzy or experiencing a too powerful nicotine kick and therefore choose a nicotine pouch with “low” strength.

During the day, you may want a more consistent nicotine intake and therefore use a “standard” or “normal” nicotine strength. To relax after a long day, it may be time to break off with a strong nicotine pouch again. Similarly, some may prefer a nicotine pouch with a longer nicotine content in the evening.

With that said, there is no right or wrong when choosing the strength of your nicotine pouches. It simply depends on your experience but also the occasion and what you feel like.

The More Experienced, the Higher the Nicotine Content

Generally speaking, the more familiar and experienced a person is with nicotine products and pouches, the higher the nicotine content they can handle. The brain and body tend to get used to nicotine and become less and less affected the longer and more they are exposed to it. This is the main reason why experienced snus users tend to switch to stronger nicotine pouches over time to experience the same type of nicotine kick.

However, it’s also important to not start with an overly strong nicotine pouch if it’s your first or one of your first times trying this product. There is otherwise a risk of feeling dizzy or nauseous. Fortunately, there is a wide range of different nicotine strengths to choose from on the market, ranging from 0.1-6mg/g nicotine (low) to Extra Strong with 15.1-35mg/g nicotine.