The small pouches people hold in their mouth all look much the same. But the contents differ, and so does their status in law.
Confusing them means either looking for something you cannot buy, or putting something in your mouth you did not intend to.
The three side by side
| What is inside | Tobacco leaf | Nicotine | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snus | Tobacco leaf and nicotine | Yes | Yes | Tobacco product |
| Nicotine pouch | Nicotine, no tobacco leaf | No | Yes | Nicotine product |
| Caffeine pouch | Caffeine and food ingredients | No | No | Food |
Same shape, three different categories of product.
Snus
A product with a long history in the Nordic countries, particularly Sweden. It is moistened tobacco leaf powder in a pouch, used without lighting anything.
Because it uses tobacco leaf, Japan treats it as a tobacco product.
Nicotine pouches
Snus with the tobacco leaf removed and the nicotine kept. They are sometimes called "tobacco-free", but the nicotine is still there.
Caffeine pouches
Neither tobacco leaf nor nicotine — food ingredients such as caffeine instead. They are classified as food, in the same bracket as coffee and tea.
Why Japan handles them differently
This is where most of the confusion comes from. The three fall under different laws.
| Primary law | |
|---|---|
| Snus | Tobacco Business Act (as a tobacco product) |
| Nicotine pouch | Nicotine falls under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act |
| Caffeine pouch | Food Sanitation Act / Food Labelling Act (as a food) |
Nicotine is regulated under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act. Pouches that contain nicotine without tobacco leaf are therefore not freely sold over the counter in Japan.
Meanwhile, most of the "smokeless tobacco" sold in Japanese convenience stores does contain tobacco leaf — which places it under the Tobacco Business Act, where it can be sold.
Caffeine pouches contain neither, so they are handled as food. That is why they can be sold normally in Japan.
Regulation and its application change over time. Whether a specific product can be sold is a question for the seller or the relevant authority. This is only the broad framework.
The line against medicines
There is a second reason caffeine pouches stay on the food side of the line: form.
Under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, forms such as sublingual tablets, sublingual drops and oral sprays are treated as medicinal. Powder sealed into a single-serve pouch does not fall into that group.
That is why a statement on the pack that the product is a food is a useful signal that it has been put together with the classification in mind.
Which to choose
If you know what you are after, there is not much to decide.
- You do not want tobacco or nicotine → caffeine pouch
- You want to count your caffeine → caffeine pouch (a fixed amount per unit)
- You are looking for a nicotine product → outside the scope of this article; check with the seller
When choosing a caffeine pouch, check the caffeine content per pouch. It varies between products, and that changes how much of your daily guideline one unit uses up.
There is more in What is a caffeine pouch? and How much caffeine a day is the guideline?
Common questions
Do caffeine pouches contain nicotine?
No. A caffeine pouch is a food and uses neither tobacco leaf nor nicotine.
Is a caffeine pouch the same as snus?
No. Snus is a tobacco product containing tobacco leaf and nicotine. A caffeine pouch contains neither. Only the shape is similar.
What is a "refresh pouch"?
It is a name, not a description of the contents. Some contain caffeine, some contain nicotine. Check the ingredients.
Can I buy caffeine pouches in Japan?
Yes. They are handled as food, so there is no special restriction on selling them. Some retailers stock them online.
Are they habit-forming?
Caffeine is known to cause headaches and similar effects on stopping after regular heavy use. Stay within the daily guideline and account for other drinks.
Before you use one
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, sensitive to caffeine, on medication or under treatment, avoid use or ask a doctor first
- Avoid using it before bed
- Do not swallow the pouch
- Keep out of reach of children and pets
Ne9 is a single-serve pouch of confectionery powder sealed in non-woven fabric — a food product. 150mg of caffeine and 75mg of L-theanine per pouch. No nicotine, no tobacco, no sugar. It has not launched yet — you can sign up for updates (the form is in Japanese).
This is a food product, not a medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.