As the nicotine pouch market continues to expand, new brands keep appearing to cater to the various needs of the growing user base. One of the most recent entries into the market is Tucker Carlson’s nicotine pouches—Alp.
Because the brand is still new, not everyone knows what Alp has to offer. As an introduction to the Alp nicotine pouch brand, we’ll answer the following questions:
- Who makes Alp nicotine pouches?
- How do Alp nicotine pouches work?
- What are Tucker Carlson nicotine pouches made of?
- How strong are Alp nicotine pouches?
- What are the flavors of Alp nicotine pouches?
Who Makes Alp Nicotine Pouches?
The Alp nicotine pouch brand may be a new name in the market, but the company that manufactures them isn’t. Alp pouches are produced by Turning Point Brands, a company already known for creating FRE, another popular nicotine pouch brand.
The brand was established as a 50/50 joint venture between the Tucker Carlson Network and Turning Point Brands after the commentator had a disagreement with ZYN’s parent company, Phillip Morris International.
The brand launched recently, in November 2024, but has already built up a following through Carlson’s platform.
How Do Alp Nicotine Pouches Work?
Alp nicotine pouches work like every other nicotine pouch—they deliver nicotine through the mucous membrane of your gums directly into your bloodstream. You place the pouch between your upper or lower lip and gums and let it sit there.
When you tuck the Alp pouch, you might feel your gums tingle. This is a normal part of nicotine pouch use and means that the pouch is working. The tingling usually goes away within the first few minutes as the gums adjust.
Once the pouch is wet enough, it will start to gradually release nicotine and flavor for up to 30 minutes. The timeline should look something like this:
- 0–5 minutes: The pouch gets wet and slowly begins to deliver nicotine and flavor
- 5–10 minutes: The nicotine is in your bloodstream, and you start to feel your mood and focus improve, and your nicotine cravings slowly go away
- 10–20 minutes: The effects of nicotine become more pronounced, and your nicotine cravings are almost gone
- 20–30 minutes: Most of the nicotine from the pouches is gone; the nicotine levels in your blood are at their peak, and you don’t feel the cravings
- After 30 minutes: You can remove the pouch once 30 minutes have passed, but if you wish to savor the flavor a bit more, you can keep them in for an additional half an hour
Source: Alp
What Are Alp Nicotine Pouches Made Of?
One of the main benefits of nicotine pouches is that they don’t contain any tobacco, so the health risks associated with the plant are largely eliminated.
Alp nicotine pouches use natural, plant-derived nicotine and other food-grade ingredients to provide a smooth, satisfying experience. The exact ingredients found in Alp pouches are:
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Xylitol
- Water
- Propylene glycol
- Flavorings
- Flavorant
- Tobacco-derived nicotine
- Tartaric acid
- Sodium chloride
- Sodium carbonate
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Sucralose
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Gum arabic
Alp pouches use water as an ingredient because the brand focuses on moist pouches. Moist pouches are softer and more pliable than dry pouches, releasing nicotine and flavor more quickly.
Source: Alp
How Strong Are Tucker Carlson Alp Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine tolerance and intensity preference vary between users. This is why nicotine pouches come in a variety of strengths.
Depending on the brand, pouches can be very mild, with nicotine content lower than that of a cigarette. Some brands go in the opposite direction, creating strong nicotine pouches, with some of them containing as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
Alp pouches sit somewhere in the middle, with three strength levels currently available:
- Regular (3 mg): Intended for users who smoke about 10 cigarettes daily or use up to 6 mg vapes. Each of these pouches is about as strong as a cigarette but with a longer-lasting buzz.
- Strong (6 mg): If you smoke around 15 cigarettes every day or use 12–18 mg vapes, these pouches are for you because they’re made to satisfy stronger cravings.
- Extra strong (9 mg): Reserved for those who smoke a pack of cigarettes or more daily and prefer 20+ mg vapes, these are the strongest pouches Alp has to offer.
When you first start moving from other nicotine products to pouches—go slow. The difference in delivery method means that even milder nicotine pouches will take some getting used to.
Source: Alp
How To Choose The Right Strength?
If you’re looking to start using nicotine pouches and you’re not sure about the pouch strength to go for, you may have to experiment a little until you find the sweet spot. If you’d like to avoid risking a negative reaction and wasting money in the process, you should keep a few things in mind:
- Start lower and go up
- Mind how you reaction
- Don’t chase a buzz
- Adjust to the situation
Start Lower and Go Up
A great way to stay safe while finding out which pouch strength works for you is to start slightly below what you think is right and then move up. If you haven’t used nicotine pouches before, start with the mildest ones and go from there.
It takes a little longer to feel the buzz when using nicopods compared to other nicotine products, so don’t use more than one at a time if you don’t feel anything right away. Leave them sit in your mouth until you feel the buzz, and if it’s not enough—go up in strength.
Mind How You React
Paying attention to your reaction is an important part of finding the correct strength and avoiding negative reactions when using pouches in general. Individual factors like health, weight, and diet can significantly affect how you react to pouches, even if you’re using milder products.
Nicotine pouches should provide you with the benefits of nicotine while minimizing the downsides. Therefore, if you start feeling nauseous or get a headache while you have a pouch in your mouth, remove it right away.
Don’t Chase a Buzz
Nicotine pouches were intended to help you relax and focus while providing a longer-lasting nicotine hit. Consistently upping the dose to chase a buzz can lead to problems.
Nicotine is an addictive substance, and your body gets accustomed to it through exposure, which means the more you use it the higher amounts you will need to feel the same effects. Having increased nicotine levels in the body consistently may lead to oral, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular issues or exacerbate existing ones.
Adjust to the Situation
You don’t have to use the same nicopod strength all the time. For example, taking a milder pouch can help you when you need more focus and clarity. On the other side, if you’re in a high-stress situation or a social context and looking to relax, going slightly above your usual level can help take the edge off.
Be careful when deviating from your usual strength—especially when going with a stronger product. If your body isn’t used to stronger nicotine pouches, you might experience an unexpected reaction.
Source: Alp
What Flavors Does Alp Offer?
The absence of tobacco in nicotine pouches means that they don’t have to contend with the bitter aftertaste of that plant, which gives brands like Alp a lot more freedom to explore flavor options.
Alp pouches currently come in four flavor varieties:
- Mountain Wintergreen: Described as a “slap of fresh mountain air for your senses,” Alp’s Mountain Wintergreen pouches balance the coolness of mint with the almost sweet wintergreen flavor
- Chilled Mint: As their name suggests, these pouches have a sharp, icy, and refreshing mint flavor with notes of peppermint mixed in
- Refreshing Chill: Like Chilled Mint, these pouches are cold and refreshing but sweeter and not as sharp
- Tropical Fruit: A combination of tropical fruits with hints of sweetness and a little citrussy tang added in
You can find all these flavors in each strength profile, making it easy to find a perfect fit.
Alp Pouch vs. ZYN—What Are the Differences?
It’s no secret that Alp nicotine pouches were designed to be in direct competition with ZYN—one of the oldest and most popular nicotine pouch brands in the U.S. Although there is some overlap between the two brands, they have some notable differences that make them distinct.
The most notable difference between the two is that Alp pouches contain more water than ZYN. Because of their higher moisture content, Alp pouches provide a more intense flavor and a more pronounced nicotine kick than ZYN.
When it comes to strength options, Alp and ZYN are in the same range, with both brands offering 3, 6, and 9 mg options. ZYN, however, has an additional, extra mild strength profile at 1.5 mg, intended to provide a smoother entry point into the world of nicotine pouches.
As for the flavors, the lineups currently look like this:
| Alp | ZYN |
| Tropical Fruit Chilled Mint Mountain Wintergreen Refreshing Chill Sweet Nectar (announced) | Chill Smooth Wintergreen Spearmint Cool Mint Cinnamon Coffee Espressino Menthol Citrus |
ZYN currently offers 10 flavors, two of which are unflavored options. Alp has four options, but the offer is already expanding with Sweet Nectar, which was announced in January, and possibly more flavors are on the way.
One significant factor that goes in ZYN’s favor is that the brand originated in Europe, which gives it some unique advantages over Alp.
European vs American—Why Does It Matter?
The difference between European and American nicotine pouch brands extends beyond the geographical differences. Manufacturers from different countries must deal with different laws and regulations, which has a great effect on the production and development of nicotine pouches.
In 2016, the FDA expanded existing tobacco laws to other products, including nicotine pouches. From that point on, manufacturers had to pass additional assessments and premarket evaluations before their products could enter the market. The legislation significantly slowed down progress for American nicotine pouch brands.
European brands never had to deal with the same rules while developing their products. This freedom gave them more room to continually improve and refine the quality of their nicotine pouches. Over time, this gave European nicotine pouches a significant edge over their American counterparts in terms of flavor and quality.
Where To Find Quality Imported Nicotine Pouches
If you’re looking for a reputable seller of high-quality imported nicotine pouches, SnusBoss is the place for you. Created and run by veterans with over 10 years of experience, SnussBoss offers a carefully handpicked selection of premium European pouches that are guaranteed to be fresh and delicious and offer a satisfying buzz every time.
The brands currently available at SnusBoss are:
| ZYN | Velo | Dope | GOAT | Denssi |
| Glitch | Hit | Oryx | Pik | Snatch |
| Pablo | Kozmo | Jäger | Kurwa | White Fox |
| Thor | Roger | Killa | Klint | Thunder |
| Siberia | Chapo | Paz | Kick | Skruf |
Shopping from the website is a simple, three-step process:
- Go to the online store
- Select the brand, strength, and flavor you like
- Put in your payment and shipping information
When you shop at SnusBoss, you also get access to additional perks like:
- Free delivery on purchases above $249
- Regular discounts and promotions
- 2–3 day delivery time when you select the express shipping option
You need to be 21 or older to legally purchase and use nicotine products in the U.S.
Featured image source: tuckercarlson
