WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
40% off your first orderMystery Box 30% offFree delivery over $150Ships from Canada · CAD
Basics

Nicotine pouch glossary: terms on the can

This glossary explains the terms you will see on nicotine pouch cans and product pages, from mg per pouch and strength dots to formats such as Mini and Slim and regulatory terms such as PMTA. Where FDA defines a term, the definition follows FDA's wording.

Updated

What do the product terms mean?

  • Nicotine pouch: "a type of tobacco product," in FDA's words: a small fiber pouch, typically placed between the gum and upper lip, used without spitting and not heated or burned.
  • Pouch: the single portion you take out of the can and use.
  • Can (or tin): the container the pouches come in. PouchSelect lists brand, flavor, format and strength as printed on it.
  • Nicotine salts / nicotine powder: the two forms of nicotine FDA says nicotine pouches contain.
  • Fillers: one of the ingredient types FDA lists for nicotine pouches; FDA's example is microcrystalline cellulose.
  • White pouch: a term some brands print on the can to describe the look of the pouch. Check the can for what the maker means by it.
  • Flavor family: PouchSelect's grouping of flavors (mint, citrus, fruit, coffee, licorice, ice, cola). See flavors.

What do the strength terms mean?

  • mg per pouch: milligrams of nicotine in each pouch. The number to use when comparing brands.
  • Strength dots: PouchSelect's 6-dot strength rating, the same for every brand: 2 dots is 6 mg, 3 dots 8 mg, 4 dots 10 mg, 5 dots 17 mg and 6 dots 20 mg per pouch. More filled dots means more nicotine per pouch.
  • Lid dots: the dots a maker prints on its own lid. Each brand sets its own scale, so lid dots don't compare across brands.
  • Strength tier: PouchSelect's grouping of cans into Light, Regular, Strong and Extra strong, by mg per pouch where listed. See the strength guide.

What do the format terms mean?

  • Format: the brand's name for the pouch's size and shape, printed on the can.
  • Mini: a format name, used on our shelf by ZYN. The brand defines what it means.
  • Slim: a format name, used on our shelf by ZYN. The brand defines what it means.
  • Gold Edition: the Pablo line on our shelf (17 mg per pouch, 5 of 6 strength dots).

See mini vs slim nicotine pouches and browse by format.

What do the regulatory terms mean?

  • Tobacco product: the legal category nicotine pouches fall into in the US, whether the nicotine comes from tobacco leaf or is made synthetically.
  • Synthetic nicotine: nicotine made without tobacco. Since April 14, 2022, products made with it are regulated as tobacco products and need FDA authorization to be marketed.
  • PMTA (premarket tobacco product application): the application a maker files with FDA for authorization to market a new tobacco product.
  • FDA-authorized: on FDA's list of authorized nicotine pouch products, which FDA describes as "the only nicotine pouch products that may be lawfully sold in the United States." See how to check the list.
  • Tobacco 21: the federal law, signed December 20, 2019, that set 21 as the minimum age to buy any tobacco product.
  • Snus: an oral tobacco product that FDA lists with smokeless tobacco such as dip, snuff and chewing tobacco. See nicotine pouches vs snus.

What do the buying terms mean?

  • Age verification: the 21+ check PouchSelect runs at checkout, before an order ships. See the age verification policy.
  • Adult signature: a delivery that someone 21 or over has to sign for.
  • Interac e-Transfer: how retail orders on PouchSelect are paid. See the payment policy.
  • Roll and carton: pack sizes on PouchSelect. A roll is 5 cans; a carton is 10.
  • Trade account: a wholesale account for licensed retailers, paid by wire transfer. See wholesale.
  • White label: launching your own nicotine pouch brand. See white label.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

Frequently asked questions

What does mg mean on a nicotine pouch can?

Milligrams of nicotine per pouch. It is the strength number you can compare across brands.

What does PMTA stand for?

Premarket tobacco product application: the application a maker files with FDA for authorization to market a new tobacco product.

What is synthetic nicotine?

Nicotine made without tobacco. Since April 14, 2022, products made with synthetic nicotine are regulated as tobacco products and need FDA authorization to be marketed.

Related guides