The Best XQS Nicotine Pouch Flavours
Blueberry Mint is our best all-round pick. Black Cherry is the one to get if you want a richer fruit flavour, while Raspberry Blackcurrant has the sharpest berry profile.
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1
Blueberry Mint Sweet berry · Cool mint
The best balance of fruit and cooling. Sweet blueberry followed by a clean mint finish.
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2
Black Cherry Dark fruit · Rich
A darker, richer fruit flavour and a good change from the usual strawberry and watermelon options.
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3
Raspberry Blackcurrant Sharp berry · Tangy
A sharper berry blend with more bite than a standard mixed-fruit pouch.
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4
Tropical Mixed fruit · Sweet
A safe choice if you like sweeter tropical fruit without mint or heavy cooling.
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5
The Spearmint Soft mint · Fresh
Clean, straightforward spearmint without fruit, candy or unnecessary extras.
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6
Citrus Zesty · Sharp
Fresh, sharp and less sugary than the berry flavours. Good if sweeter pouches become tiring.
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7
The Menthol Cold · Direct
A direct menthol pouch for people who want cooling to be the main event.
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8
Cola Lime Sweet cola · Zesty lime
One of the stranger options, combining sweet cola with a sharper lime finish.
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9
Watermelon Blizz Sweet fruit · Icy
Sweet watermelon with a cooling finish. Familiar, simple and easy to like.
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10
Strawberry Kiwi Sweet · Lightly tart
A dependable sweet-and-tart pairing for anyone who prefers familiar fruit flavours.
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11
Arctic Freeze Intense ice · Mint
The coldest option in the range, with no fruit flavour getting in the way.
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12
Fizzy Peach Sweet peach · Soda
Peach with a fizzy sweet-shop twist. One for people who enjoy sweeter flavours.
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13
The Peppermint Classic mint · Cooling
A traditional peppermint profile, although it has less to separate it from the other mint options.
Our recommendation: start with Blueberry Mint if you want the safest all-round flavour, or Black Cherry if you prefer fruit without mint.
Browse All XQS Flavours →If you’re anything like me and you tend to get your nicotine pouches from supermarkets or places like SPAR, you’re missing out on an entire universe of brands that run rings around ZYN, VELO, and Nordic Spirit.
I got sent the entire XQS range to test out earlier this year. I had a blast getting to know the range, sampling the different flavour profiles and seeing how my usual go-to flavours (Spearmint, Wintergreen, etc) stacked up against XQS’s versions.
Turns out they’re pretty dope, so if you’re looking to mix things up and save some cash, XQS is well worth checking out. The bundle deals are insane, especially if you’re used to paying supermarket / off license prices. And, yeah, I will definitely be adding them to VapeBeat’s Best Nicotine Pouch Guide.
Who Makes XQS Pouches?
XQS started in Jämtland, Sweden, in 2005. It’s now part of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, and the range puts fruit and unusual flavour combinations front and centre. The pouches are tobacco-free and slim, with a mix of fruit, mint and cooling flavours.
I’ve ranked the flavours below using their listed profiles and the customer ratings in the retailer snapshot you shared. The stars and review counts are retailer-specific, and taste is personal, but they help pick out the flavours with the most feedback.
XQS vs ZYN, VELO and Nordic Spirit
XQS’s main selling point is the flavour range, the quality of the flavour profiles and the nice mouth-feel you get with the pouches. Flavour-wise, there’s a couple that immediately stood out to me:
- Blueberry Mint and Raspberry Blackcurrant were properly tasty, I couldn’t get enough of these
- Cola Lime and Fizzy Peach are the more wild-card options, and they go in directions ZYN and the players do not which I like
ZYN has a broader strength and pouch-size choice in the UK, but XQS pouches taste WAY better. And that’s all that really matters to me, as a user. I don’t need a gazillion flavours and sizes and types.
XQS pouches taste better than ZYN’s; there’s just way less chemical-swill-flavor-notes going on, and I find they don’t irritate my gums nearly half as much.
VELO and Nordic Spirit are also worth comparing if you’re shopping for fruit, mint or cooling flavours, and as much as it pains me to say it: I really, really like VELO pouches, especially its Bright Spearmint.
I have one in my mouth now as I write these words. For quality, they’re impossible to beat. But then, again, that’s what happens when you have billions in operating cash backing up your operation.
XQS is a much smaller brand but I’d argue it punches well outside its weight class. I test a lot of pouches, on both sides of the pond, and XQS’ really impressed me. They have a great flavour selection, solid nicotine strength ladders, and because they’re mostly available online, you’ll pay less for them than, say, ZYN or VELO in Asda or Tesco.
What XQS gets right
- More than the usual mint and berry lineup. Cola Lime and Fizzy Peach give the range a bit of personality.
- Good variety for fruit fans. There are sweet, tart, tropical and cooling options.
- A clear shortlist to start with. Blueberry Mint, Black Cherry and Raspberry Blackcurrant have the most retailer feedback in your list.
- Slim pouch format. XQS focuses on slim pouches, while brands such as ZYN also sell Mini formats in the UK.
The downsides
- A few flavours are out of stock in the retailer listing you shared.
- Some flavours have no reviews, so you’re relying more on the flavour description.
- The strength bars don’t tell the whole story. Check the nicotine amount in milligrams per pouch.
- The sweeter flavours won’t suit everyone. If you prefer a clean, simple taste, stick with The Spearmint, The Menthol or Arctic Freeze.
Which XQS flavour should you try first?
- I’d start with Blueberry Mint if you want a bit of both fruit and mint,
- Black Cherry if you want a richer fruit flavour,
- Raspberry Blackcurrant if you prefer something sharper.
- If you’re after a familiar mint, go for The Spearmint.
The Spearmint is now one of my main rotations; it’s easily one of the best spearmint pouches I’ve tasted in the UK.
