Flavored nicotine pouch use in the United States: Mint represents the leading flavor

Nicotine pouches are an emerging tobacco product available in a variety of flavors. We examined flavor preferences among adults who used nicotine pouches in the past 30 days and identified characteristics associated with flavored-only versus unflavored-only use. The 2022–23 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey data collected in the U.S. ( n = 495) were used. Among adults who reported current nicotine pouch use, the prevalence was 81.51% for flavored-only use, 16.84% for unflavored-only use, and 1.66% for co-use. Mint was the most commonly used flavor (49.85%), followed by “other” (22.65%), menthol (7.82%), fruit (6.87%), and clove, spice, or herb (3.91%). Bivariate analysis indicated that use of flavored-only pouches was especially prevalent among 18–24 (89.93%) and 25–44 (85.73%) year-old adults, men (85.22%), non-Hispanic White (85.48%) and employed (86.10%) adults, as well as among those who formerly (88.78%), never (84.73%), or occasionally (80.74%) smoked. However, in model-assisted analysis, only sex and smoking status remained significant (p's < 0.05). These findings provide the first nationally representative estimates of flavored and unflavored pouch use among U.S. adults who reported current use of nicotine pouches in 2022–23. Future research should examine the role of flavored nicotine pouch use in tobacco use and cessation. • Among adults who currently used nicotine pouches, 81.51% used only flavored ones. • Among adults who currently used nicotine pouches, 16.84% used only unflavored ones. • Mint was the most commonly used nicotine pouch flavor. • Use of flavored-only nicotine pouches was more common among men than women. • Use of flavored-only nicotine pouches varied by smoking status.