Cold Tastes Compared
When I started using snus back in 2009, the mint flavor was not a very common one. Sure, there were a few out there, but it wasn’t what it is today. General Mini Mint, Offroad Ice Mint and Thunder Frosted were the main ones I remember being around back then. Thunder Frosted was the main one that reigned supreme. It was one of the strongest products on the market, but also one of the most popular flavors out there, too. But, mint wasn’t a very popular flavor, to say the least.
In the beginning, almost every manufacturer had at least one mint flavor. Now, every manufacturer has several. Say what you will about the flavor, it may not be your cup of tea, but it is undeniable how popular it is. Now, in snus and nicotine pouches both, mint is the most common and popular flavor, even over more traditional flavors such as bergamot.
So, do you like a cold taste? Today, we’re going to do a dive into the different types of cold tastes out there, the different types of mint, which each one is like, and some popular flavors in each category as well as some of my recommendations. There are a few different types, including peppermint, menthol, spearmint, and wintergreen. So, let’s check out these different types and get to know all these “cold” tastes!
Peppermint Snus
First, the most common flavor of mint snus you will find is peppermint. I wanted to start with this one because it’s the one that seems to sell the most, and has the most varieties out there. So, let’s talk about the peppermint flavor! First, peppermint is, of course, a member of the mentha genus. This one is actually a cross between a watermint and a spearmint. The largest supply of the world’s peppermint comes from Morocco, where 87% of the world’s supply of peppermint is sourced.
The common flavor hallmarks of peppermint are an icy, sharp, biting flavor. It tends to be more sharp than smooth, and has a more focused minty character to it. This is a flavor for those who like a present mint taste. The sweetness can vary from product to product, however. A product like Kapten Mint is a less sweet peppermint, whereas a product like General Mint is a sweeter peppermint. General Mint is the most popular flavor of peppermint on the market, and is always a top seller across the world of Swedish Snus.
For my recommendations, I tend to go to less sweet flavor. I’ll usually go for Kapten Mint, Skruf Fresh, or Catch XRANGE Mint. All of these are peppermint flavors, but are less sweet and more mild. With these, I still get the fresh taste of peppermint, but it’s not as sharp, and not as sweet. It really depends on what you’re looking for. But those are the main products I personally go for when I want peppermint.
Spearmint Snus
Spearmint is my personal favorite mint. It’s not as common in the world of snus, sadly. But, I think it’s easily the best tasting mint. Spearmint is your more common, garden mint. Also, a member of the mentha genus. It is native to Europe and Asia, but has been brought to North America and Africa, as well. The common flavor hallmarks you find with spearmint is that it is slightly sweeter than the flavor you’ll notice with peppermint. It’s also more smooth. Spearmint is a refreshing, chewing gum-esque flavor. It’s not as bold as peppermint, nor is it as “icy”, but instead it delivers a sweet, fresh experience.
In the world of spearmint snus, the most popular is, without a doubt, Oden’s Cold. Of that variety, Oden’s Cold Extreme White Dry is the most popular, and also one of the more popular mint snus flavors, in general. For me, I tend to prefer Nick & Johnny Green Ice. It’s not as strong, it has a smoother flavor, and I like the quality of it, being a Swedish Match product. There aren’t a lot of spearmint flavors out there, sadly. I wish there were more, but most of the market today tends to focus on peppermint flavors.
Wintergreen Snus
Ah, wintergreen. If you’ve read anything I’ve wrote on the subject, you know this is a very hit and miss flavor for me. I have talked to Swedes before who remarked that it reminds them of Jenka gum, but I’ve been told it isn’t a flavor that is super popular amongst Swedes. It is interesting to note that a lot of the world’s refined wintergreen oil comes from India.
Wintergreen is different, and is not a member of the mentha genus. Rather, it is a member of the Gaultheria genius. Fun fact, Methyl salicylate is an agent that is used in flavoring root beer, which is why some say the root beer beverage can have a wintergreen-esque presence to it. This compound is also commonly used in making wintergreen chewing gum and wintergreen mints. The wintergreen flavor is more herbal that you’ll find with regular mints. It’s an “outdoorsy” mint flavor, as I like to call it. It can be slightly sweet, but it’s not as sweet as you’ll find with other mints.
Of the wintergreen tastes available, the most popular is General Wintergreen. It isn’t my favorite, but it is the most popular. For me, I tend to reach for Jakobsson’s Wintergreen. I find the flavor to be more mild, balanced, and enjoyable. It’s a little sweeter, but not as bold or in your face as others out there.
Menthol Snus
Another flavor that is popular in the world of cold flavored snus is menthol. You find this in eucalyptus snus products, commonly, but also in some of the “double mint” hybrid snus flavors. Menthol is an oil that is often refined from other mints, such as peppermint or corn mint. It also has anesthetic properties, which is why you can sometimes find it in throat lozenges and other medications. Usually, to produce menthol, you freeze peppermint oils and extract the menthol crystals. China was the former largest producer of menthol in the world, but India has pushed China to second place.
Menthol has a medicinal flavor to it, which makes sense given that it is commonly used in medication. Some products have more medicinal tones to them, some have less. But it is something you’ll notice in the flavor. There aren’t a lot of menthol flavored snus products on the market, however. You’ll find quite a few in the nicotine pouch segment, but not as many in snus products. Swedish Match’s Catch Eucalyptus is the main line you’ll find more pure menthol flavors. I am partial to their White Large variant. In fact, I always keep a few cans of this in the freezer around cold season to use if I get a cold or a sore throat. Menthol is also a common component in some of the hybrid mint flavors. Oden’s Double Mint, for example, blends peppermint and menthol. Puck Icing is another one that blends the peppermint flavor with some menthol.
The Bottom Line
All of these flavors are similar, in that they have a fresh, cooling sensation to them. But they’re very different in terms of the flavor aspects and components. I mostly use spearmint, along with a little peppermint. From time to time I’ll use wintergreen, but usually if I’m outside or doing something outdoorsy. Menthol isn’t the most common flavor in my rotation, but I will use one if I have a cold. In fact, that’s all I will use if I have a cold. Which one you like will really come down to which component of the minty flavor profile you enjoy most.
Do you want sharp, biting taste of mint? Do you want an icy flavor? Then peppermint is going to be what you’ll go for.
Do you want a smooth, refreshing, sweet taste of mint? Then you’re probably like me, and spearmint is going to be what you want.
Do you like the outdoors? Do you want an herbal, slightly sweet taste of mint? You may or may not like wintergreen. I can’t say. But it’s worth a try.
And menthol. You don’t have to use it when you’re sick. You can, but I know some people who use menthol snus products all the time.
I’ve listed a few recommendations above, so hopefully some of them will serve as great options as you dive into this cold flavor category!
