Smokeless tobacco - Snus, Snuff & Dip explained

Smokeless tobacco products such as dip, snus and nasal snuff have been popular alternatives to cigarettes for ages. In this article we will introduce you to the various products and briefly explain the differences between them.

Snus

Snus is manufactured by steam-pasteurizing finely ground tobacco leaves along with water and salt.
Swedish food regulations apply to the manufacturing of snus, controlling the content and ingredients in snus products.
Swedish snus is available in two main varieties; loose snus (lössnus in swedish) and portion snus (portionssnus in swedish)

“Lössnus”, or loose snus, is a moist tobacco powder that is portioned by pressing and molding a desired amount of product into a spheric or cylindrical shape according to preferance. This is usually done with your fingertips, but a purpose-made device can also be used. The portion, often called a prilla or pouch, is then placed under the upper lip between the lip and gums.

Portion snus is the kind favoured by most snus users today. The moist tobacco powder is packed into small tea bag-like pouches, allowing you to enjoy the snus without having to press or mold it. The portions come in a variety of sizes, strengths and moisture levels, providing a more convenient and discreet alternative to loose snus.

Dip tobacco

Dipping tobacco (sometimes also called dip, chew or moist snuff) is quite similar to snus. It is made by either air- or fire-curing the tobacco, processing it into fine particles (fine-cut) or strips (long-cut). Long Cut dips are the easiest to use for beginners, since the pinches do not easily fall apart after packing them. Unlike snus, the dipping tobacco is then fermented, instead of pasteurized. This gives dipping tobacco a somewhat smokier aroma compared to snus.
While snus is typically put under the upper lip, dipping tobacco is usually placed under the lower. It also often requires spitting, since the excess nicotine infused saliva caused by dipping can irritate the esophagus and cause nausea and vomiting. Some dippers use a specially made so called spittoon for this.
Dipping tobacco is the most common type of smokeless tobacco in the United States.

Nasal snuff

Both snus and dipping tobacco originate from the first form of smokeless tobacco, called snuff. This is a finely ground or pulverized tobacco powder, often scented with various flavourings such as herbs and florals. It is consumed by lightly sniffing or inhaling a pinch of the product, either placed on the back of the hand, nipped between the thumb and the index finger, or by using a specially made "snuffing device”.