Chewing tobacco is an oral product made from ingredients such as tobacco, salt, water, and flavors. It serves as a smokeless alternative to cigarettes, as there is no combustion process involved during consumption. Chewing tobacco now comes in a variety of flavors, and the nicotine content varies depending on the brand or product. The strength of chewing tobacco, however, does not only depend on the stated nicotine content; other factors also play a role. In this article, we've compiled the strongest chewing tobacco brands and explained what truly determines the strength of chewing tobacco.
What Determines the Strength of Chewing Tobacco?
When it comes to chewing tobacco, it's not just about how much nicotine a product contains but also the type of chewing tobacco and the amount of saliva in the mouth. Typically, a chewing tobacco product will indicate the nicotine content, moisture level, pH level, and added flavors during production.
Like smoking, chewing tobacco does not result in the complete absorption of nicotine at once; only about 10 to 20 percent is absorbed. When consuming chewing tobacco, the pouch or loose tobacco is placed under the upper lip, and nicotine is released through saliva, allowing the chewing tobacco to exert its effects on the body. The nicotine content depends on the tobacco blend used, which varies from brand to brand.
Additionally, the moisture content of the chewing tobacco affects the amount of nicotine absorbed. Loose chewing tobacco is significantly moister than other types and, therefore, contains more nicotine. The pH level also plays a role: the higher the pH level, the more nicotine can be absorbed by the body. For this reason, chewing tobacco should always be stored in a cool place to maintain its moisture and pH levels.
True Strength vs. Perceived Strength of Chewing Tobacco
You will often find labels like 'Extra Strong' or 'Strong' on many chewing tobacco cans. Products without such labels are considered standard strength. As explained above, the strength of chewing tobacco depends on its moisture content, nicotine level, pH level, and flavors. Thus, it is possible for a product with lower nicotine content to be categorized similarly to a product with higher nicotine content.
When choosing your chewing tobacco product, do not solely focus on the nicotine content. If you're looking for a strong product, simply trust the label on the can. Beginners should consume chewing tobacco with a high nicotine content cautiously to avoid nicotine poisoning.
Additionally, flavors can influence the perceived strength of chewing tobacco. Menthol, for example, is a flavor that can affect the perceived strength of chewing tobacco.
All White Snus Strength
All White chewing tobacco is becoming increasingly popular alongside traditional tobacco snus. Many producers are constantly releasing new products on the market. Revolutionary in this field was VELO snus (formerly Epok) by BAT. Soon, other brands from Swedish Match, Kurbits Kautabak, and Multifill AG with the edel snus brand followed. Today, there are dozens of producers worldwide. For a long time, VELO with 16mg/g was one of the strongest available All White brands. Nowadays, there are Russian producers offering chewing tobacco with 150mg/g, which can be very hazardous to health. According to a study by the German Federal Health Office, nicotine in All White products is better absorbed than that in tobacco snus. Therefore, the effective absorption of nicotine in a tobacco snus, such as Siberia Red -80 Degrees (43 mg/g), can be compared to that of edel Onyx with 25 mg/g nicotine. Depending on the flavors of the chewing tobacco, it may feel stronger or weaker.
The Strongest All White Snus Varieties at Snushus.eu
