ZYN vs. Dip—Safety, Ingredients, and Flavors Compared

With smokeless nicotine products growing in popularity due to more convenience and fewer health risks, knowing how they compare is essential to making the safest choice.

Two of the most popular options in the U.S. right now are dip—the traditional, old-school product, and nicotine pouches—a newer product made by brands like ZYN.

In this ZYN vs. dip guide, we’ll compare the two products and explain their differences so that you can make an informed choice and get the best one for your needs.

Dip vs. ZYN—Key Differences Explained

Dip, also known as moist snuff, is one of the oldest smokeless nicotine products. It’s made from fermented and cured tobacco leaves cut or shredded into different textures. The oldest U.S. dip brand is Copenhagen, founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1822.

In contrast, nicotine pouches are a relative newcomer to the smokeless nicotine market. ZYN is made by Swedish Match, a European manufacturer whose production started in the late 2000s. Since entering the U.S. market, ZYN has become one of the most popular brands of nicotine pouches globally.

The key difference between dip and ZYN is that ZYN pouches contain no tobacco. All other differences between these products stem from this key distinction. To better understand how they compare, we’ll examine them across these key criteria:

1. Ease of use
2. Ingredients
3. Flavors
4. Nicotine content
5. Health risks

Source: Darren Lewis

ZYN vs. Snuff—How Easy Are They To Use?

Although both products are used by placing them between the lips and gums, the overall experience differs significantly. 

To use dip properly, follow these steps:

1. Pinch the desired amount of tobacco or take a single dip pouch
2. Place the pinched tobacco or dip pouch between your lower lip and gums
3. Spit out the saliva as it builds up
4. Remove the tobacco once you stop feeling a buzz

Using dip can be messy and complicated. Pinching the tobacco will stain your fingers, and you have to spit the entire time you use it, which is inconvenient if you are in public. Unless you use dip pouches, you also have to pay attention to the amount of tobacco you use each time, increasing the risk of nicotine overexposure.

ZYN pouches are more straightforward to use:

1. Place one ZYN pouch between your upper lip and gums
2. Keep the pouch in for up to 30 minutes
3. Once you feel satisfied, remove the pouch and dispose of it

ZYN pouches are drier than dip, so you will produce less saliva when using them. You can also safely swallow ZYN spit while the pouch is in, though overdoing it may cause nausea in some people. ZYN pouches also don’t stain your teeth or fingers, making them more convenient to use. 

If you’ve chosen the correct strength, there is minimal risk of overexposure or side effects since each ZYN pouch has a consistent nicotine amount.

ZYN vs. Dip: Ingredient Differences

The biggest difference between ZYN and dip is that dip contains tobacco, while ZYN pouches are completely tobacco-free. The main ingredient of any dip brand is shredded or finely cut tobacco. In contrast, nicotine pouches use synthetic or purified, tobacco-derived nicotine—ZYN uses the latter. 

The average ingredient list of dip products looks like this:

• Water: Adds moisture to the tobacco
• Salt: Extends the shelf life of tobacco and enhances flavor
• Sucralose: Sweetener that reduces the bitterness of tobacco
• Ammonium and sodium carbonate: Help maintain consistent pH levels in the mouth for better nicotine absorption
• Ethyl alcohol: Used during production to help extract flavor and nicotine from tobacco leaves
• Flavorings: Add various aromas to the tobacco

ZYN pouches are made from pharmaceutical-grade nicotine salts combined with food-grade ingredients, typically including the following:

• Sweetener: ZYN pouches use Acesulfame K, a noncaloric sweetener
• Fillers: Ingredients often used in chewing gum that add bulk to the pouches
• pH balancers: Help maintain the pH level of the mouth for efficient nicotine absorption
• Stabilizers: Plant-based ingredients that maintain pouch consistency and prevent clumping
• Flavoring: Carefully selected natural extracts that give ZYN pouches flavor
• Granulation agent: Binds the ingredients together and maintains flavor distribution

Source: SnusBoss

Dip vs. ZYN—Flavor Options

When using dip, the strong aroma of tobacco is always present, no matter which flavor you choose. Because of this, the flavor selection of dip brands like Copenhagen or Grizzly comes down to minty, cooling flavors or flavors that complement the taste of tobacco, such as wintergreen.

ZYN pouches don’t have the same limitations since they don’t have an underlying tobacco aroma. The nicotine salts used in ZYN pouches are flavorless and odorless, leaving more room to explore unique flavor options.

When compared to products offered by popular dip brands like Grizzly, Skoal, and Copenhagen, ZYN offers a lot more variety, as shown in the table:

The flavor variety and absence of bitterness from tobacco aren’t the only advantages you get with ZYN pouches. With ZYN, you can also more easily control the nicotine content you absorb, leading to a safer and more consistent experience.

Source: Snubie

ZYN vs. Dip Nicotine Content

The nicotine content in dip is determined by the strength of the tobacco plant it’s made from. This means you can’t assess the strength of the product you’re using by looking at the package.  Unless you use dip pouches, the only way to adjust how much nicotine you’re getting is to change the amount you pinch each time.

Unlike dip, nicotine pouches like ZYN come in different strengths, allowing you to easily find the right product for your tolerance level. ZYN pouches are on the milder end of the spectrum when compared to other brands, making them ideal for newcomers and occasional users.

You can choose from four ZYN strengths:

1. Low: 1.5 mg of nicotine per pouch
2. Regular: 3 mg of nicotine per pouch
3. Strong: 6 mg of nicotine per pouch
4. Extra Strong: 9 mg of nicotine per pouch

When selecting the right product, the nicotine content isn’t the only factor to consider—absorption efficiency also plays a huge role in your experience.

Which Has Higher Absorption Efficiency—ZYN or Dip?

Nicotine strength indicates how much nicotine a product contains, but not all of it is absorbed during use. To understand this better, there are two values to keep in mind:

1. Total nicotine: The total amount of nicotine in the product 
2. Free nicotine: The amount of nicotine absorbed

For example, an average cigarette contains 10–12 mg of nicotine in total, but only 1.1–1.8 mg is absorbed by the body, meaning its free nicotine content is around 10%. 

According to one study, moist snuff has an absorption rate of around 19%. The same study estimates that ZYN pouches have an absorption rate of up to 50%, making them the most efficient nicotine product available.

This number isn’t fixed, though, as certain factors can lower or increase the efficiency, including: 

• Moisture: Higher moisture levels enhance salivation, speeding up nicotine delivery
• pH levels: Nicotine is absorbed more efficiently in alkaline environments
• Use duration: Keeping the product in your mouth for longer gives your body more time to absorb the nicotine 

Source: Cottonbro studio

ZYN vs. Dip—Health Implications

Although dip is a smokeless tobacco product, it still carries several health risks. The process of making dip involves fermenting, aging, and curing the tobacco, increasing the amounts of multiple toxic chemicals, such as tobacco-specific nitrosamines. This raises the risk of serious health problems, including gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer.

ZYN pouches don’t contain tobacco, and nicotine is not carcinogenic on its own, making them much safer than dip. Still, this doesn’t mean that ZYN pouches are completely safe. 

Nicotine pouches are safer than other nicotine products, but using them incorrectly or too often can lead to potential side effects, such as:

• Gum irritation: The tingling sensation when using a ZYN pouch indicates the nicotine is being absorbed but may lead to slight irritation. Overusing nicopods or using them always in the same place can lead to more significant irritation and a burning sensation
• Nausea and vomiting: Nicotine stimulates stomach acid production and, in high amounts, may irritate the stomach lining, leading to nausea
• Acid reflux: The increased amounts of stomach acid caused by nicotine can travel back into the esophagus, leading to heartburn
• Cardiovascular issues: Nicotine’s stimulative effects can temporarily raise heart rate and breathing, but ZYN is unlikely to cause heart problems unless you have an underlying cardiovascular condition

As with any nicotine product, using high-quality nicotine pouches can significantly reduce the risk of any issues, especially when used in moderation and as intended.

Where To Get High-Quality Nicotine Pouches

SnusBoss is a reputable supplier of top-notch pouches from premium European brands.

Because of the FDA’s 2016 classification of nicotine pouches as tobacco products, U.S. brands have significantly slowed down the development of their products. These limitations don’t apply to the EU, so European brands have had more time to improve their recipes and widen their selection of strengths and flavors to ensure the best experience.

By carefully selecting and importing premium pouches from Europe, SnusBoss’s industry experts stock fresh products with superior flavors and a longer-lasting buzz.

To order from SnusBoss, follow these three steps:

1. Visit the online store
2. Choose your favorite ZYN flavor and strength
3. Fill in your shipping and billing information

If you wish to experiment with other products, you can choose from the following brands available at SnusBoss:

When you order from Snusboss, you also get these perks:

• Free shipping on all orders above $249
• Competitive prices and bulk discounts
• Express shipping option for delivery within 2–3 business days

Featured source: Pixabay