Nicotine pouches have become popular in the US, due to the high demand for less harmful substitutes than tobacco products. In fact, 26.9% of nicotine pouch distributors cater to US consumers because of Americans’ increased interest in the product, from brands such as Velo, On!, ZYN, and more. Among all the variants available in the country, the oral nicotine pouches that consumers most commonly buy are mint flavors like wintergreen and spearmint, fruity flavors, cinnamon, and coffee.
There’s a good reason why local consumers prefer flavored nicotine pouches over regular variants. To illustrate, here are some of the reasons why these flavored products are becoming more popular:
Reduces exposure to harmful products
The popularity of flavored nicotine pouches can primarily be attributed to the smoking cessation efforts of Americans.
A federal survey revealed that cigarette smoking reached an all-time low in 2022. About 42% of American adults were smokers in the middle of the 1960s, but the federal survey showed that only one in nine Americans were smokers in 2022. Fewer people use cigarettes now because they have switched to less harmful alternatives, like nicotine pouches. These pouches do not contain tobacco leaves and other toxic products created from their combustion, which is why many people use flavored nicotine products to reduce their health risks or quit cigarette smoking for good.
Creates a smooth and enjoyable experience
People can simply use regular nicotine pouches to feel more relaxed. However, many seek flavored versions of the product because they create a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
To illustrate, Mike Walters of Crown Distributing stated that Rush nicotine pouches have a strong flavor impact, soft mouthfeel, and overall nicotine satisfaction based on initial consumer feedback. The flavored versions of these nicotine pouches also have no tobacco extracts, which can add a dry or astringent taste to the product itself. Due to the lack of tobacco content in nicotine pouches, people can enjoy the pure taste of flavors like wintergreen, mint, cinnamon, and citrus for a more enjoyable nicotine hit.
Offers classic flavors that Americans love
It’s no secret that people from various cultures have different flavor preferences. Local nicotine pouches are created to suit the taste preferences of Americans, thus contributing to their popularity among consumers.
As previously mentioned, one of the top-selling variants of nicotine pouches in the US is those with wintergreen flavors. E-commerce platform Prilla stocks the ZYN Wintergreen nicotine pouches that are exclusively made for the American market by Swedish Match, which is why it’s not surprising that many locals reach for this particular flavor whenever they want an invigorating nicotine experience. Unlike spearmint and other similar mint variants, wintergreen pouches provide cooling notes of menthol with a subtle hint of sweetness to create the balanced taste that Americans like.
Has more options than most tobacco products
Aside from meeting the preferences of local consumers, nicotine pouches are also becoming popular among Americans because they offer more variety than most tobacco products.
Tobacco products used to have various flavor offerings, but the FDA started to ban all flavored cigarettes in 2009. The FDA continued regulating various flavored tobacco products and has even proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars in 2022. The FDA proposed the regulations on flavored tobacco products to help adult smokers quit, which is why many consumers have switched to tobacco-free nicotine products to enjoy a variety of flavors and also kickstart their smoking cessation journey.
Flavored nicotine pouches are a hit in the US market due to a variety of reasons. One can expect that these products will be more popular in the next few years, thanks to their appealing flavors and added features.