Best Snus and Nicotine Pouches of 2023!
Happy New Year! Whether it feels like 2023 went super slowly, or sped by, it’s over and behind us and we’re facing a brand new year. I figured it would be fun to take a look back on 2023 and talk about some of the best new snus and best new nicotine pouch products that we saw released in 2023! We didn’t see a lot of snus products released, but we sure did see a lot of nicotine pouch products released. I went through my reviews of everything I had in 2023 and put together a list of my top 5 snus and top 5 nicotine pouch products that I enjoyed last year. These are also all still available for sale right now here on SnusExpress.com, which sometimes is hit and miss because the market moves so fast and products can be discontinued before you even know it! But thankfully all of these, as of today, are still available.
I hope everyone had a fun New Year’s holiday! I can’t remember the last time I actually stayed up on New Year’s Eve but this year we actually made it to midnight. I actually made a note of what product I had in exactly when midnight hit so I could mention it in this article. I rang in 2024 with Vårgårda Bär White Portion in my lip. That one is actually on our list below, and we’ll be talking about it shortly! Now, with all that being said, let’s get into the product list and check out what products I enjoyed most in 2023!
Snus Products
Artisan Dark Vanilla White Portion
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “A premium portion snus from Chad “Snubie” Jones and the Swedish manufacturer The Snus Factory with a high nicotine content and a rich flavor profile. It delivers strong nicotine kicks (13.5 mg/portion) together with a rustic and earthy tobacco flavor that is topped by a delicious touch of dark Madagascar vanilla. Only carefully selected tobacco from Guatemala, India and the U.S have been used for the tobacco blend to ensure highest quality. Its well-filled and white portions have dry surfaces for a low drip experience. Something that in turn enables them to provide satisfyingly long-lasting release of both flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: Of course I was going to start off with one of my products. Artisan Dark Vanilla is one of the most popular products in the Artisan family, but with the original portion version on hiatus, this is the only one still on the market. But, if you ask me, I think this is the best one of the two. The white portion version of Artisan Dark Vanilla comes across in a much more smooth, gentle, and mellow way, which I think balances the flavor of tobacco and vanilla quite well. I don’t use a lot of the original portion version, but I love this one.
Artisan Summer Chili Mango
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Artisan Summer Chili Mango Slim (Ldt. Edition) is an original portion snus designed by Chad “Snubie” Jones together with The Snus Factory that uses the power of nostalgia to create something new, unique and delicious! This Artisan snus has a dark and robust tobacco character, and it treats you to a fruity flavor experience where you’re first greeted by juicy mango and hints of ripe peaches which is then finished of by a light touch of spicy chili. A nuanced and summery burst of flavor that is enhanced by a powerful and extra strong nicotine kick (15.4 mg/portion). Its original snus portions are slim sized for an optimal fit, and they have humidified surfaces that results in an instant release of both flavor and nicotine. The tobacco leaves used are grown in Central America and Asia, and they’re carefully selected to ensure absolute highest quality.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: And of course, another one of my products made the list. Artisan Summer Chili Mango was a limited edition release we made in the Summer of 2023. There’s still a little left for sale, so don’t worry, if you missed out, you can still get some! I love this one, because it blends some of my favorite things: chili peppers and tropical tastes like mango. I took this one with me on a cruise last year to Belize and it made the perfect summer time companion. But, it’s still good to use even now, as the weather has turned cold! If you like tropical tastes, you’ll enjoy this one a lot.
Knox Purple White Portion
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Knox Karaktär Purple White – A white portion snus from Knox and the Swedish manufacturer Skruf. It has a full-bodied tobacco character and flavor that incorporates tones of licorice and black currant. A nuanced burst of flavor that is accompanied by a medium strong nicotine kick (10 mg/portion).Its soft and comfortable portions have somewhat dry surfaces that keep their drip down, which in turn lengthens their release of flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: One thing I’ve missed a lot in snus is the black currant flavor. Swedish Match made one a decade ago, and I’ve been wanting one ever since. Skruf released one this past year to fill that void, which actually blends black currant and black licorice! I wasn’t sure what to think of this one when I first saw it, but after trying it I found it to be quite tasty. If you like black currant, you’re really going to enjoy this one. It’s a nice snus you can throw in your rotation to mix things up!
Vårgårda Bär White Portion
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “A white portion snus from the manufacturer JTI that offers a flavorsome snus experience! It has a light and spicy tobacco character and flavor that incorporates tones of red forest berries and elderberries. A nuanced composition of flavors that is complemented by a medium strong and solid nicotine kick (10 mg/portion). The somewhat dry surfaces of its well-filled and white portions make them drip less than original portions, which in turn results in a longer release of both flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: This one was one that really caught me off guard! As you may have seen, the red berry flavor in snus has been growing a lot. Lots of companies are getting in on this one. In 2023, Nordic Snus launched the Vårgårda line, which has a pretty unique variety of flavors. This one, however, is my favorite. It reminds me a lot of the old Röda Lacket White Portion, which sadly was discontinued years back. It really blends the tobacco base and a dark, semi-sweet red berry flavor in a beautiful way.
Vårgårda Skog White Portion
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Vårgårda Skog – A white portion snus that takes you on a stroll through one of Sweden’s many and vast forests! It has a light and spicy tobacco character, and a flavor where notes of juniper and lavender meets subtle hints of birch sap and wood sorrel. A floral release of flavor accompanied by a medium strong nicotine kick. Its well-filled portions have somewhat dry surfaces that reduce their drip. This low amount of drip results in a satisfyingly long-lasting release of both flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: When I first heard about this one, I’ll be honest, I was a bit nervous. Swedish Match made a limited edition Skog snus years ago, and I couldn’t get into that taste. But, this one from Nordic Snus is top notch. It’s an interesting taste. It blends juniper with outdoorsy tastes in a really interesting way. It’s almost like a blend of Lundgren’s Norrland and Göteborgs Rapé. After I reviewed it, I gradually found myself craving it over time, and now it’s one I keep around in my freezer for whenever I get a craving for it!
Nicotine Pouch Products
Lyft Black Currant Slim
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Lyft Black Currant Strong Slim – A perfect choice for you who’s looking for something discreet, stimulating and flavorful! These tobacco free, all-white and slim nicotine pouches from the manufacturer BAT deliver strong nicotine kicks (10 mg/portion) together with a fruity and tasty black currant flavor. The natural plant fiber filling used by these comfortable nicopods eliminates any potential risk of them leaving stains while it also reduces their drip significantly, something that lengthens their satisfying release of nicotine and flavor.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: As I mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of black currant. When I heard about this one, I was quite intrigued. After reviewing it, I quickly realized this was one of the best nicotine pouch releases of 2023! The black currant flavor is a little on the sweeter end, so those who like a pouch with a little sweetness to it are going to like this one. It has a really nice flavor profile, and is one I’d definitely recommend.
Velo Cinnamon Flame
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “A tobacco free and all-white snus from the manufacturer BAT that brings the heat! These slim sized and discreet nicotine pouches deliver strong and stimulating nicotine kicks (10 mg/portion) together with a spicy flavor combination of cinnamon and black pepper that provides a warming sensation under the lip. The natural plant fiber filling used by these comfortable nicopods eliminates any potential risk of them leaving any stains on your teeth while it also minimizes their drip. This low amount of drip makes sure that they provide a satisfyingly long-lasting release of both flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: Here in the US, the cinnamon flavor is pretty common in the mini dry pouches like ON! and Zyn. But, on the Swedish market, you don’t see it as much. Velo attempted to rectify that with this one: Velo Cinnamon Flame. This is one tasty pouch, I have to say. The cinnamon flavor comes across in a sweet, but spicy way. It even has a little warming sensation under the upper lip which adds a lot to the experience. If you like the taste of cinnamon, this is one you want to put on your order list in the new year.
Velo Royal Purple
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Velo Royal Purple Strong Slim – A flavorful and stimulating Velo Snus from the manufacturer BAT. These tobacco free, all-white and slim nicotine pouches deliver strong nicotine kicks (10 mg/portion) together with a tasty and fruity red grape flavor. The filling used consists of natural plant fibers. It ensures that these nicopods won’t stain and that they offer a low drip experience. This minimal amount of drip enables them to provide a long-lasting release of both flavor and nicotine.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: I remember when I first tried Velo Royal Purple. It came in a mini sized pouch, which bummed me out because I don’t use mini pouches. However, shortly thereafter, a new version came out which came in the slim format, with a more full pouch. If you never had Royal Purple, it has a really nice grape taste. It’s a little on the sweeter end, but not overly sweet. The grape flavor comes across really nice, and is quite enjoyable!
General XRANGE Nicotine Pouches
SnusExpress.com Product Description: “Are you a fan of the iconic General Snus flavor and looking for a tobacco free alternative? Look no further than XR General Slim Nicotine Pouches! This all-white snus comes in the shape of discreet and slim sized nicotine pouches, and it delivers medium strong nicotine kicks (6.5 mg/portion) together with a nuanced flavor of bergamot topped by hints of lime, orange and a subtle dash of ginger. The natural plant fiber filling used by these comfortable nicotine pouches consists of natural plant fibers. A high-quality filling that ensures that they won’t stain and that they offer a low-drip experience.”
Snubie’s Thoughts: When I saw that Swedish Match was releasing a new nicotine pouch in the XRANGE series, I was a bit nervous. The first time they did, it was not that good. However, I went into this one with an open mind and was quite impressed. Though it’s called “General”, it’s not exactly a clone of General Snus. It has a nice citrusy flavor that reminds me of bergamot and lime. This is one of those for people who are looking for an all day, every day type of pouch. It’s got a really nice flavor that you can use as your full time product!
The Bottom Line
As we start 2024, it’s fun to look back on 2023. We saw a lot of great products release, and I’m looking forward to seeing what releases in 2024! I predict we will see a lot of new nicotine pouch products. We’ll probably see a few new snus products, but as we have seen with the past, it won’t be many. We’ll see as many, or less than, as we did in 2023. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way the market is going. Nicotine pouches are taking over, and snus users are lessening. But, don’t let that worry you, we’ll still see some new snus products. From what I’ve heard, we’re in for a great year, because some of the flavors I’ve heard about that are in development are quite tasty sounding to me! Happy New Year!
