Snus words explained: an A to Z glossary for Pune buyers

Every word you're likely to meet on a snus can, from portion to strength dots, is defined below, so you know exactly what you're ordering when you buy snus-style pouches in Pune. We deliver tobacco-free pouches to most Pune pincodes, with cash or UPI on delivery.

The ordering is simple. The vocabulary is less so, partly because snus itself means two things: a Swedish tobacco product, and in India, almost any pouch you tuck under your lip. Start with that entry if you're not sure which one you're looking at.

The glossary, A to Z

All-white. A pouch with a white filling and no tobacco leaf. Another name for a nicotine pouch.

Can. The round tin pouches are sold in. Most are plastic, or cardboard and plastic, and many have a compartment in the lid for used pouches. The pouch count is printed on the can; ZAR AirPouch, for one, lists 20 per can.

Drip. The flavoured moisture a pouch gives off. Moister pouches drip more, drier ones less.

Dry. A pouch with less moisture than usual. It feels crisper and keeps its shape. Siberia -80° Slim Dry is the example on our shelf.

Extra strong. On our scale, any can above 20mg per pouch. On a can's label it's just the brand's own word, so check the mg.

Flavour family. A group of similar flavours: mint and cool, fruit, berries, drinks and dessert, and the odd ones out. Our shop filters use them.

Lid compartment. A small chamber in the lid, or at the base of some metal cans, that holds used pouches until you can bin them.

Loose snus. Traditional tobacco snus sold as a moist mass that you shape yourself. Not something we sell.

mg per gram (mg/g). Nicotine per gram of pouch contents. Common on snus cans, and not the same as mg per pouch.

mg per pouch. Nicotine in one pouch. The number our strength bands use, and the one to compare across brands.

Mini. A smaller pouch that sits neatly and suits shorter sessions. ZYN Mini Black Licorice is one.

Moist. A pouch with more moisture. It tends to start faster and release flavour sooner. In Swedish snus, "original portion" means the moist kind.

Nicotine pouch. A white, tobacco-free pouch containing nicotine, plant fibre and flavour, used under the lip.

Portion. One pouch. It's the snus word for it.

Refill. A full can, or the pouches from one, used to top up a reusable metal can. The Pouchman Metal Snus Can takes any standard 20-pouch refill.

Release. How quickly flavour and nicotine come out of a pouch. Moisture, pH and pouch size all play a part.

Rotation. Using a few flavours in turn so none of them gets old. A mint for mornings and a fruit for evenings is the simplest version.

Slim. A long, narrow pouch that sits flat under the lip. Every CLEW can is slim.

Snus. In Sweden, moist ground tobacco used under the lip, loose or in portions. In India, an everyday word for almost any under-lip pouch, including tobacco-free ones.

Strength band. Our four groups by mg per pouch: Light 1.5 to 6mg, Medium 7 to 12mg, Strong 13 to 20mg and Extra strong above 20mg.

Strength dots. A row of dots or bars some brands print to show strength within their own range. Two dots from one brand and two from another don't mean the same thing, so read the mg.

Tingle. The prickly, warm or cool feeling where a pouch sits in the first minute or so. It settles. Cold mints and higher strengths tingle more.

Ultra slim. The thinnest cut. Siberia -80° Ultra Slim is the example on our shelf.

White portion. In Swedish snus, a tobacco portion that isn't moistened on the outside before packing. Despite the name, it's still tobacco.

White snus. The everyday Indian name for all-white nicotine pouches.

XL. A bigger-than-standard pouch with more surface against the gum. ICE Reaper XL 20mg is one.

Reading a real can name

Put a few of those words together and product names start to decode themselves.

• Siberia -80° Slim Dry 33mg: the Siberia brand, its -80° mint line, a slim pouch with less moisture, 33mg per pouch. Extra strong.
• ZYN Mini Black Licorice 3mg: a small pouch, a liquorice flavour, 3mg per pouch. Light.
• CLEW Wintergreen 15mg: a slim pouch, because every CLEW is, in wintergreen, at 15mg per pouch. Strong.
• ICE Reaper XL 20mg: a bigger pouch, an icy mint, 20mg. The top of Strong.

Our product pages list strength per pouch wherever the maker gives it, plus the format and flavour family, so you can check any name the same way. If you're starting out, CLEW Blueberry 5mg or ZYN Cool Mint 3mg are easy reads: one flavour, one format, a Light strength.

Three pairs worth keeping apart

• White portion and all-white. The first is tobacco. The second isn't.
• mg/g and mg per pouch. Two different measures. Our Delhi snus guide shows how to convert one to the other.
• A brand's "strong" and our Strong band. They can be far apart. ZYN Sour Ruby Strong is 9mg, which our scale calls Medium. The strength guide explains why the adjective on a can is a poor guide.

Ordering in Pune, in glossary terms

• Pincode check. Type it at checkout to confirm we reach you and see an expected delivery date. Most Pune pincodes are covered, including Koregaon Park, Hinjewadi, Baner, Viman Nagar, Kalyani Nagar and Kothrud.
• COD. Cash on delivery: pay the rider in cash or by UPI at the door, with no COD fee. Or pay by UPI as you order.
• Handover. The moment the rider gives you the box and checks your ID. A Hinjewadi campus security desk can't do it for you.
• Plain box. No brand or product name outside, and the invoice inside.
• Free delivery. Three cans or more.

City details: nicotine pouches in Pune. For brand matching, see ZYN and CLEW in Pune, and for bundles, nicotine pouches in Pune.

Questions people ask

What does portion mean on a snus can?

One pouch. Snus makers call each pouch a portion.

Are strength dots the same across brands?

No. Dots only compare cans within one brand. Compare mg per pouch instead.

What is a refill?

A can of pouches used to top up a reusable metal can, such as the Pouchman Metal Snus Can.

Do you deliver to Kothrud and Koregaon Park?

Yes, to most pincodes in both. The pincode box at checkout will confirm yours.

Can I order to a Viman Nagar office and pay there?

Yes. Choose cash on delivery and pay the rider in cash or by UPI when you collect it in person. The rider checks ID, so it has to be you.

Who can order?

Adults 18 and over only. The rider checks ID at handover. Nicotine is addictive. If you don't use it today, don't start.

Back to snus in India for the full overview.