What does snus contain?

Snus is now available in many different flavours, from traditional snus to white snus and tobacco-free snus. But what does snus actually contain, and how do the ingredients differ between types? Here we look at what snus is made of and the differences between regular snus, white snus and nicotine-free snus.

What does traditional snus contain?

Traditional snus, such as loose snus and portioned snus, contains tobacco that has been processed and blended with other ingredients to add flavour and shelf life. The most common ingredients in traditional snus are:

• Tobacco - ground tobacco leaves form the base of snuff.
• Water - adjusts humidity and affects texture.
• Salt - adds flavour and acts as a preservative.
• Acidity regulators - for example, sodium carbonate, which stabilises pH and affects nicotine absorption.
• Flavourings - flavours such as bergamot, liquorice or mint.

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Try IQOS ILUMA i for 60 days

Discover a better alternative by heating tobacco instead of burning it.

No smell of smoke

Heats tobacco & nicotine without burning it

No second-hand smoke and no ash

With IQOS there is no fire and therefore no smoke or ash follows - and no cleaning required, ever, with our latest ILUMA series!

Try IQOS ILUMA i

What does white snuff contain?

White snus, or all-white snus, contains nicotine but not traditional tobacco. Instead, it uses a fibre base, often from plants such as cellulose, to which the nicotine has been added. Common ingredients in white snus are:

• Plant fibres - replace tobacco and give snus its texture.
• Water - to keep the snus moist.
• Nicotine - extracted from tobacco leaves or synthetically produced.
• Flavourings - common flavours are mint, citrus and berry.
• Acidity regulators - affect the pH and therefore the rate at which nicotine is absorbed.

Because white snus does not contain any tobacco particles, it usually does not discolour teeth as much as traditional snus.

What does tobacco-free snus contain?

Tobacco-free snus, or nicotine-free snus, is completely free from both tobacco and nicotine. The ingredients may vary, but usually it contains:

• Plant fibres or tea leaves - replace tobacco and give snus its structure.
• Water - keeps the snuff moist.
• Flavourings - usually mint, citrus or liquorice to mimic the taste of snuff.
• Minerals and salts - creates a sensation in the mouth similar to that of sniffing traditional snuff.

What distinguishes white snus from tobacco-free snus?

The main difference is that white snus contains nicotine, while tobacco-free snus is completely nicotine-free. However, both varieties lack tobacco and are instead made from plant fibres or tea leaves.

Whatever type of snus you choose, it is always good to know what it contains.