How to use a nicotine pouch: a plain, step-by-step guide

To use a nicotine pouch, place one between your top lip and gum, off to one side, and leave it there for about 20 to 40 minutes. Don't chew or swallow it. When you're done, take it out and drop it in the compartment in the can's lid or in a bin. That's genuinely all there is to it. The details below just make the first few pouches go better.

Step by step

1. Open the can and take one pouch

Most cans open by twisting or flipping the lid. Take a single pouch. One at a time is the rule, especially at first.

2. Place it under your top lip

Tuck the pouch between your upper lip and gum, slightly to the left or right of centre. Press it flat with your tongue or a finger. Under the top lip is where it sits most comfortably and where nobody can see it. The bottom lip works for some people, but most find the top more comfortable.

3. Notice the tingle, then forget about it

Within the first minute you'll usually feel a tingle or slight burn where the pouch sits, along with the flavour. That's normal, and it settles. Stronger pouches and cold mints tingle more. If it feels like too much, take the pouch out. There's no rule that says you have to finish it.

4. Leave it 20 to 40 minutes

Most people keep a pouch in for somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes. The flavour fades gradually, and when it's mostly gone, the pouch has done its job. There's no benefit in keeping it in much longer.

5. Don't chew, suck or swallow

A pouch is designed to sit still. Chewing or sucking it doesn't help, and swallowing the juice or the pouch isn't how it's meant to be used. If your mouth feels dry, a sip of water helps.

6. Bin it properly

Take the pouch out and put it in the lid compartment that most cans have on top, then bin it later. Never drop used pouches on the street, on a train platform or in a plant pot. Nobody wants to find one.

7. Switch sides next time

Alternating left and right between pouches is more comfortable over a day than using the same spot every time.

Common first-timer mistakes

• Starting too strong. The biggest one. If you're new to pouches, start at the bottom of the Light band (1.5mg to 6mg), with something like ZYN Cool Mint 3mg. Daily nicotine users can start at the top of Light, around 5mg or 6mg. Medium (7mg to 12mg) comes later, and Strong later still. See the strength guide.
• Using two at once. Doubling up because the first one "isn't working" is how people overshoot. Give one pouch its full time first.
• Moving it around constantly. Park it and leave it. Fiddling makes the tingle sharper and the pouch more noticeable.
• Judging the flavour on pouch one. The first pouch of any new flavour is a surprise. By the third you'll know whether you like it. More in how to choose a flavour.
• Leaving the can open. An open can dries out. Keep the lid shut between pouches.

Where and when people use them

The appeal of a pouch is that nobody needs to know. Nothing burns, there's no smell of smoke and nothing to spit. Regulars use them at a desk, on a commute, in a cab or on a long drive. Some places have their own rules about nicotine of any kind, and those apply. And it's only for adults: never use one around, or give one to, anyone under 18.

Looking after your cans

• Keep cans closed and out of direct sun or a hot car.
• If you buy several cans at once for the volume discounts, keep the unopened ones sealed and open one at a time.
• Keep cans where children can't reach them. They're small, colourful and easy to mistake for sweets.

What's actually in the pouch?

Nicotine, plant-based fibre, flavourings, sweetener, and ingredients that manage moisture and pH. There's no tobacco leaf. We go through a typical ingredient list line by line in what's in a nicotine pouch.

Your first order

If you're starting out, three cans is a sensible first order. It gets free delivery and lets you compare.

• ZYN Cool Mint 3mg: the standard first can.
• ZYN Coffee 3mg: a non-mint contrast.
• CLEW Spearmint 5mg: a different brand and pouch feel, at the top of the Light band.

Or browse ZYN, VELO, CLEW, or everything in stock. Pay by UPI when you order or in cash or UPI at the door, with no COD fee. The box is plain, and the rider checks ID at handover.

Questions people ask

How long should you keep a nicotine pouch in?

Usually 20 to 40 minutes. Take it out sooner if it feels like too much.

Do you spit with nicotine pouches?

No. Unlike chewing tobacco, there's nothing to spit.

Upper lip or lower lip?

Upper lip, slightly off-centre, is the most common and the most comfortable for most people.

Is the burning feeling normal?

A tingle in the first minute is normal and settles. Strong pouches and icy mints tingle more.

Can I use a pouch while eating or drinking?

Most people take the pouch out to eat. Sipping water or tea with one in is fine for most.

Who can use nicotine pouches?

Adults 18 and over only. Nicotine is addictive. If you don't use it today, don't start.

For the bigger picture on what to buy, see ZYN vs VELO vs CLEW or our guides page.