A brief history of Swedish Snus

In the early 18^th century, a moist powder smokeless product called snus was discovered in Sweden. It originated from a variant of dry snuff and is consumed by placing inside the lip, in between the lip and gums for extended periods. It does not typically result in the need for spitting, which is why most people enjoyed it. Although used similarly to American dipping tobacco, snus is steam-pasteurized and not fermented.

Ettan, which means “the number one" is the oldest brand of snus still sold in the market today. It was registered in 1822.

Snus reached the peak of its popularity in the late 1960s when health risks associated with cigarette smoking were documented in several reports. In 1970, the first portion-packed snus was introduced, an important step for snus to reach a broader public. 

Local varieties of snus grow in popularity not just in Europe but in the United States as an alternative to chewing, dipping, e-smoking, smoking and vaping. However, US-manufactured snus is a bit different as they typically use significant amounts of sweeteners and they don’t have the same production standards as the Swedish snus.

As snus becomes popular in many parts of the globe, its production has increased, and many brands have emerged to produce it on a large scale. Purchasing snus can be confusing, but a comparison guide for snus might come in handy for those who are into these alternatives.

Today, Swedish snus is very popular among smokers who wish to stop cigarette smoking. Further benefits of snus has been proven through Nicotine Replacement Therapy, a medically-approved way to take nicotine by means other than tobacco. NRT is proven to increase the chance of quitting smoking or stopping chewing tobacco by about 55%.

General, LYFT, ZYN are only some of the popular brands of Swedish snus and pouches in the American and European markets today. Each brand comes in different packaging and features different flavors and strengths that every consumer may choose and enjoy safely.