2025 Nicotine Pouch Review
384: Pouch Brand Review, Hedge Funds Selling, Markets Update
Good morning everyone.
What the hell is the nicotine pouch craze about these days? Is it a fad like the mango juul mania of 2019 or is it a cultural shift towards healthier nicotine delivery methods and vices?
Hot Swedish chicks have been ripping upper deck zingers for years now — Swedish snus, a moist smokeless tobacco product, was the predecessor to modern nicotine pouches like ZYN. Originating in Sweden and used for centuries, snus was traditionally placed under the lip, offering a discreet way to consume nicotine without smoking. Unlike American chewing tobacco, Swedish snus underwent a pasteurization process, reducing harmful byproducts and making it a popular alternative. Then the craze hit America in full.
Today I am going to review 5 of the top pouch brands that have skyrocketed to popularity.
If you’re not a degenerate who packs upper deckys all day while crushing work — you can skip ahead to the markets and global news sections of today’s post — we talk hedge fund performance, crypto/equity updates, specific stocks, and the latest global news you should be aware of.
Tuesday I dropped a new guide for paid subs that covers all aspects of making/saving your first $1M dollars which you can find below. We cover specific jobs, investing methods, and mentality considerations required to save $1M.
1. Zyn
Let’s start with the most popular and obviously the king in the US.
ZYN is a nicotine pouch brand originally developed by Swedish Match, a company with deep roots in the tobacco industry. In 2022, Swedish Match was acquired by Philip Morris International, bringing ZYN under its ownership. The pouches are designed to be placed between the gum and lip, providing nicotine without tobacco. Available in various flavors and strengths, ZYN has gained popularity as a smokeless nicotine alternative.
Zyn saw an absurd surge in US culture — from everyone to athletes, to frat lords, to blue collar worker, to corporate drones, golfers, and high school kids. A $ZYN coin (which we still hold) launched in crypto markets as well. Sales of Zyn have increased 300-fold since 2016. In the first quarter of 2024, Philip Morris PM 0.00%↑ said, it sold 131.6 million cans worldwide (CNN). The value prop was evident immediately — get your nice buzz without picking shards of Wintergreen long cut out of your teeth or getting mouth cancer at age 40.
It was discrete, cheap, and flooded the shelves across America in a few months. After the Juul craze died down during Covid, millions of young kings were left without an optimal nicotine delivery vehicle and Zyn claimed that throne quickly.
Zyn has been my go to for awhile, as sick as it sounds I do still like the fact the pouches are dry as it gives me the classic burn that long cut or pouches would in college.
I’ve moved back and forth between 6mg and 3mg — 3mg is simply too weak if you have the habit in full swing, I won’t go any higher with other brands as I don’t want to be a full blown addict dependent on high doses of anything. Peppermint, Spearmint, Wintergreen, Chill, and Smooth are obviously the top picks. Some sickos want to pretend like they live in a trailer park and rip menthols which is absurd, while flavors like Citrus or Cinnamon are for absolute psychos.
At this point in time most Zyn comes in 3mg and 6mg — though I know you can source more exotic flavors online or in Europe and potentially higher mg tins.
Overall Rating - 9.1
2. ALP
Recently I experimented with the first alternative to Zyn I have taken seriously.
ALP Nicotine is a pouch brand co-founded by size lord Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host, in collaboration with Turning Point Brands. The company operates under the joint venture ALP Supply Co. LLC, with Carlson playing a key role in product development and a large theme of the brand being anti wokeness (in response to alleged Zyn campaign contributions to Kamala Harris). ALP offers pre moistened nicotine pouches in various flavors and strengths, positioning itself as a competitor in the growing nicotine pouch market stateside.
I ordered a 6 pack of ALP recently to try out and was pleasantly surprised. You get a nice Arb opp here — each tin has 20 pouches (5 more than most other brands) and they come in 3/6/9mg. I got the chilled mint — at first I was a little put off by the shape as they are a bit thicker than Zyn but eventually I came to like them as they flatten out over time and seem to last a good deal longer than Zyn and other brands. For now — I will be sticking with these over Zyns, purely because they last longer.
I reached out to the team at ALP recently to see if we could partner and they got back confirming they were interested.
You guys can buy with our code below if interested in trying (it will be auto applied) — you will get 10% off your first order.
Overall Rating - 8.5
3. Lucy
The only time I have ripped Lucy was when I was hungover as hell in Texas and needed a tin before a long flight — I grabbed a sampler at a local pharmacy and hopped in my uber. It was fine in my opinion but nothing mind blowing.
Lucy nicotine pouches are known for their soft, moist texture and fast nicotine release, making them a popular choice among users looking to send it to Mars immediately. Available in flavors like mango, apple ice, and mint, they come in nicotine strengths of 4mg, 8mg, and 12mg. The brand also offers a unique "Breakers" line, which features a flavor capsule that can be popped for an extra burst of flavor and moisture (this seems kid of excessive).
Some kid I knew from high school who used to take shits in kids lockers loves these things for what it’s worth.
While the initial flavor is strong, some users note that it fades after about 10-15 minutes, with the overall experience lasting around 20-25 minutes.
Compared to competitors like ZYN, Lucy stands out with its broader range of strengths and moist texture, catering to those looking for a quicker nicotine release but users may be disappointed by it’s longevity.
Overall Rating - 7.2
4. Velo
VELO nicotine pouches are the Swiss Army knife of the nicotine world, offering a variety of strengths and flavors to suit any craving. With options ranging from a mild 4mg to a powerful 20mg, they cater to both casual users and those looking for some type of out-of-body experience at work. I’ve had them once and they weren’t anything crazy.
The flavor lineup is as adventurous as a smoothie shop menu, featuring choices like Citrus Burst and Dragon Fruit. However, some flavors, like Black Cherry, have left users questioning their life decisions, with an aftertaste that lingers for quite awhile.
Designed to be slim and discreet, VELO pouches are easy to use without drawing attention. While they provide a smooth nicotine release, some users have noted that the flavor fades quickly—much like fleeting enthusiasm for New Year's resolutions like avoiding Pornhub or working on shedding man tits at Equinox. Overall, VELO delivers a versatile experience, though a few flavors might be an acquired taste.
For brands like Velo and Lucy I feel like the only reason people stick with them is because they found them before Zyn, Alp, or other more popular brands.
Overall Rating - 6.9
5. Rogue
If Zyn and ALP are for sophisticated gentlemen who enjoy a nice buzz post drink or out on the golf course on a sunny day, Rogue seems to be for global war on terror veterans or guys that work in the lumber industry.
Rogue nicotine pouches are like the gas station sushi of the nicotine world—technically legal, suspiciously cheap, and yet, somehow, people keep buying them. They come in flavors like mango, apple, peppermint, and wintergreen, though some users say the taste lingers like an ex who won’t take the hint.
With nicotine strengths of 3mg and 6mg, Rogue markets itself as a smooth experience, but some users report it’s more like a slow burn—kind of like the first pee after a one night stand that you shouldn’t have taken down. On the plus side, they give you 20 pouches per can instead of the usual 15, which is either a generous deal or a clever way to keep you distracted from asking too many questions.
Despite its sketchy reputation, Rogue has a loyal following of bargain hunters and risk-takers who appreciate its affordability, mild buzz, and the thrill of never quite knowing what you're going to get.
Overall Rating - 6.9
General health disclaimer — while we can scour the ingredients lists and contents of nicotine pouches all we want, I doubt any of us will actually know 100% of what goes into these things or the long term effects. My take based on what I have read is that they’re astronomically safer than ripping cigs, cigars, and heaters or dipping. That I think we can all agree on. If you’re like me with genetic receding gums you try to move the placement around and I always wonder if Zyn or other brands are a CCP scheme to get us all hooked on chemicals. Quitting is not easy, though it is possible, you’ll just be an absolute asshole for 2-3 weeks and want to punt your coworkers through the 5th story window.
If you haven’t started — I wouldn’t. For me — this was a good alternative to cigars and occasional drunk cigs. I took down my fair share of cope logs in college while bass fishing as well, which undoubtedly destroyed my gums for years.
I would be remiss not to mention that there are definitely health benefits you can look up of nicotine itself, so before people get too judgey you should do some research and figure out what you want to do. As far as vices go — I would rank this low on the totem pole for the capacity to destroy you, which is good for all of us.
May you all buzz like a mating hornet brothers.
Markets & Crypto
Markets thankfully bounced a bit after the non stop selling shitshow we had late last week and earlier this week. Bitcoin has bounced back to the $84,000 range and major tech names like PLTR, TSLA, AMZN, and others rebounded as well. Indices were up marginally yesterday in trading.
February’s inflation report provided an unexpected but positive lift to stocks after price increases came in lower than anticipated.
The Consumer Price Index showed a 2.8% year-over-year rise, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target but a slight improvement from January’s 3% annual increase. Economists had expected a 2.9% inflation rate for the 12 months ending in February.
Senator Cynthia Lummis's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill is now on Congress. Gov's website
The Trump administration is reportedly pushing to eliminate taxes for individuals earning less than $150,000 per year, according to a recent interview with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick
The SEC acknowledged filings to permit staking for both Fidelity and Franklin spot Ethereum ETFs this week
The Bank of Russia is set to allow Bitcoin and crypto buying for limited investors (Bitcoin Magazine)
Rumble announced purchases of $17.1 Million in Bitcoin during the recent dip in accordance with their previously announced Bitcoin treasury strategy
Intel's board announced that Lip-Bu Tan will start as Intel’s new CEO on March 18
$1.5 trillion Franklin Templeton filed for a spot $XRP ETF with CBOE this morning (WatcherGuru)
February PPI inflation falls to 3.2%, below expectations of 3.3%. Core PPI inflation fell to 3.4%, below expectations of 3.6% (Kobeissi Letter/Fed data)
The equity sell off isn’t just fleecing retail traders — the big boys are taking some punches as well.
Multi-strategy hedge funds (pods) are facing their toughest test since the early days of the pandemic, as a sharp market downturn forces them to rapidly unwind heavily crowded trades. Citadel and Millennium Management, two of the largest multistrat firms, saw losses in February and continued to decline in the first week of March, according to sources familiar with their performance (Bloomberg)
Several teams managing billions within these firms have already been forced to cut or fully liquidate positions as mounting trade tensions from the Trump admin and persistent inflation put pressure on popular equities.
Ken Griffin’s Citadel, along with other top players like Point72 Asset Management and Balyasny Asset Management, saw significant declines in early March. Citadel’s 1.7% drop in February marked its worst monthly performance since May 2021, and the fund lost another 1.7% through March 6.
Hedge funds are also increasingly relying on weather specialists to shape their commodities trading strategies. Among them is Alex Goldstein, a 35-year-old leading a team of data scientists and meteorologists at Millennium Management, reflecting the growing demand for weather-driven insights in financial markets (Investing.com)
Weather plays a crucial role in commodities trading, particularly in markets like natural gas and agricultural products such as coffee, cocoa, and grains. This year, extreme cold across the U.S. has triggered a surge in natural gas futures, while other concerns over unfavorable weather in Brazil, a key coffee producer, have sent Arabica coffee futures to record highs as of late.
Firms including Squarepoint Capital, Jane Street, DV Trading, Millennium, and Balyasny Asset Management have reportedly been actively hiring weather analysts or expanding their existing teams as they look to better anticipate market-moving climate events — some of the comp packages are super high. So if you’re in college studying political science might not be a bad time to pivot to weather.
While I am skeptical the chop and dip is completely over on the equity and crypto front I have started to purchase.
On the equity front I have added the following:
INTC 0.00%↑ TSLA 0.00%↑ PLTR 0.00%↑ HON 0.00%↑ and VOO 0.00%↑
On the crypto front I bought a decent amount of Ethereum and Bitcoin towards the bottom of that most recent dip. As I say frequently some of the best times to add are when you’re staring at your portfolio thinking to yourself “is this it?”.
The Kobeissi Letter reported that President Trump said this morning he will place a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming from the EU if they do not cancel their 50% tariff on US whisky — US Futures did not like that news and so we’re slumping again. Everyone seems to be hyperactive in the market the last two weeks, unsure of we are the precipice of a much larger correction or if weak hands are getting shaken out by sabre rattling and hyperbole.
Local bottom might be in within the coming days — if that’s the case we could see some strong rallies as updates come on the inflation front and tariff mania drive more optimistic sentiment. The War in Ukraine officially ending would no doubt send global markets higher as well, at least until Iran decides to launch one of their amateur missile raids against Israel. For now — I am a cautious buyer of things I did not want to add 2 months ago.
“Financially, we will be stronger than ever before; I think the markets are going to soar.”
— President Trump
Geopolitical News
The majority of global headlines circle around the Trump Administration’s ongoing trade war and tariffs, as well as the developing situation in Europe as the War in Ukraine becomes the talking point of global politics.
British, French and Turkish military chiefs of staff are meeting in Paris this week in discussions over European security
The Polish government has urged the United States to relocate nuclear weapons to Poland as a deterrent against potential Russian aggression. The request has raised concerns about escalating tensions with Moscow
Greenland’s general elections have brought a center-right party to power, reviving discussions on independence from Denmark. The election comes amid renewed U.S. interest in the island’s strategic location and rich mineral resources
The European Investment Bank is reviewing its $760 million investment in the Ruzizi III hydropower project due to increasing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Growing instability in the region is raising concerns about project viability and energy development efforts
At its annual National People's Congress meeting, China announced a push for major investments in high-tech industries, including artificial intelligence, to drive domestic growth
South Africa is working to deepen economic ties with the European Union as both seek alternatives to counter the fresh impacts of new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum
The German defense giant Rheinmetall said it could take over idle Volkswagen plants and use them to produce tanks (Spectator Index)
Putin has rejected the initial cease fire agreement proposed in the past week and recently appeared in military fatigues in a meeting, something rare for him which may be an attempt to posture or could in fact be concerning, especially given Germany’s commitment to boosting defense production/manufacturing and Poland’s recent ask for nukes in their territory.
That’s all for today lords — see you guys early next week for a new episode of Risk On and deeper post on geopolitics with a focus on the top emerging conflicts around the world and their effect on various markets.
Andy
As much as I wanted to like Alp's and get off the Zyn, they are nasty (threw out all of my tins). No buzz, burn, awful after taste. Zyn's are still king.
Is there still an arb Andy discord? Can I get the link?