The Lab
Page last reviewed: February 2026. Snusdaddy NZ stocks tobacco-free nicotine pouches only. This page is reviewed regularly to reflect changes in our NZ range and import regulations.
The Lab Snus – Not Available in New Zealand
The Lab is not available through Snusdaddy New Zealand. Our NZ store is built around a single category: 100% tobacco-free nicotine pouches. The Lab is a traditional Swedish tobacco snus made by Swedish Match, and tobacco snus sits outside what we supply to Kiwi customers.
If you've landed here because you enjoy The Lab's character – that dark, complex tobacco base with notes of herbs, oak, and almond – there are tobacco-free alternatives in our NZ range that come genuinely close. Jump straight to our recommendations below, or read on for the full story.
Browse Tobacco-Free Alternatives for NZ →
If You Like The Lab, Try These
The Lab is defined by three things: a sophisticated, layered flavour profile built around dark tobacco, oak, and almond, a refined slim portion format, and the quality standard of its manufacturer, Swedish Match. The three products below match one or more of those qualities – all tobacco-free, all in stock for NZ delivery.
| Product | Why it matches The Lab | Strength | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZYN Slim Citrus Strong | Made by Swedish Match – the exact same manufacturer as The Lab. The clean, dry citrus profile mirrors the restrained, non-sweet character The Lab is known for. A natural first step for Kiwis moving from The Lab into tobacco-free alternatives while staying with the same producer. | 9.1 mg/pouch Slim format |
View product → |
| Lundgrens Fjällskog | Nordic botanical profile with cloudberry and pine-herb notes that echoes The Lab's herb and wood complexity in tobacco-free form. Earthy, layered, and understated – the kind of pouch you reach for when you want something that rewards attention rather than just delivering sweetness. | 8 mg/pouch Regular format |
View product → |
| Lundgrens Mörk | The darkest, most full-bodied flavour in the Lundgrens range – roasted, slightly smoky, with the kind of earthy depth that directly parallels The Lab's dark tobacco and oak character. Our top pick for Kiwis who want the most serious, complex tobacco-free alternative available. | 8 mg/pouch Regular format |
View product → |
Not sure where to start? ZYN Slim Citrus Strong is our top pick for most users switching from The Lab – same manufacturer, same restrained quality philosophy, different format.
What Is The Lab Snus?
The Lab is a premium Swedish snus series developed by Swedish Match – the company now owned by Philip Morris International – and launched in September 2009 with two initial varieties: The Lab 01 and The Lab 02. The development process was unusual by industry standards: rather than working from a traditional recipe or a brief from a sales team, Swedish Match brought together a group of snus users, researchers, and designers and ran a structured series of blind tastings and collaborative sessions to build the product from scratch. The code numbers in the name – 01, 02, 05, 06 – are literally the development codes assigned to each mixture during testing, left in place as a nod to the process that produced them.
The result was a range built around what experienced snus users actually wanted: a slim, discreet portion format, a non-drip construction that significantly reduced the runniness common in traditional portions, and a flavour profile centred on dark tobacco with layered botanicals rather than the sweeter, more approachable profiles of mainstream snus brands. The Lab 01 and 02 launched at regular strength with a flavour of dark tobacco, herbs, cedar, and almond. The 05 (White Strong) and 06 (Extra Strong) followed as demand from higher-tolerance users grew, with The Lab 06 delivering 18 mg per portion at extra strong level – one of the most potent products in the Swedish Match range.
The slim portion format The Lab introduced became influential across the wider snus and nicotine pouch industry. Longer and thinner than the standard portion of the time, it sat more discreetly under the lip and reduced the visible bulge that regular users often wanted to minimise. The non-drip formula – achieved through careful control of moisture content and pouch material – was equally well received, addressing one of the most common complaints among snus users at the time. Within its first year, The Lab had established itself as one of the most credible premium snus products on the Swedish market.
Swedish Match has since expanded The Lab range with additional flavour varieties and refined the can design, but the core philosophy – collaborative development, restrained flavour complexity, and technical refinement of the format itself – remains intact. Today, The Lab is produced at Swedish Match's main snus facility in Gothenburg.
Why We Don't Stock It in New Zealand
The Lab contains tobacco plant material in every portion. Snusdaddy NZ supplies tobacco-free nicotine pouches only – every product we carry for Kiwi customers is 100% tobacco-free, all-white, and imported under New Zealand's personal-use nicotine product regulations. Traditional tobacco snus is a separate product category entirely and sits outside the scope of what we supply to New Zealand customers.
If you're based in Europe, our European stores carry a full snus range including The Lab series. For New Zealand customers, the tobacco-free alternatives listed above are the practical path to a similar experience.
Tobacco Snus vs Tobacco-Free Pouches – What Changes?
Both formats are used identically: placed under the upper lip, held for 20–45 minutes, then discarded. The differences lie in what's inside and a few practical consequences for the user:
| The Lab (tobacco snus) | ZYN / Lundgrens (tobacco-free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains tobacco | Yes | No |
| Format | Slim portion (original or white) | Pre-portioned slim or regular all-white pouches |
| Staining | Can stain teeth and gums (original portions) | All-white – no staining |
| Drip | Non-drip formula – significantly less than standard portions | Dry surface, no drip |
| Flavour release | Immediate (original) or gradual (white) | Gradual, consistent release throughout session |
| Available via Snusdaddy NZ | No | Yes – delivered in 5–8 working days |
Ordering for New Zealand
All Snusdaddy NZ orders ship directly from our warehouse in Lidköping, Sweden. Express delivery via UPS arrives in 5–8 working days to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and other main centres. Standard PostNord shipping takes 10–15 working days. Tobacco-free nicotine pouches are not subject to tobacco excise duty, and orders under NZ$1,000 clear customs without additional GST in the vast majority of cases.
Bulk discounts apply automatically at checkout and can be mixed across any brands or flavours: 10 cans = 10% off, 30 cans = 12% off, 60 cans = 14% off, 100 cans = 16% off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy The Lab snus in New Zealand?
Not through Snusdaddy NZ. Our New Zealand store stocks tobacco-free nicotine pouches only, and The Lab is a traditional tobacco snus. If you're looking for a similar dark, herb-and-oak flavour experience without tobacco, we recommend starting with ZYN Slim Citrus Strong (same manufacturer, clean and restrained) or Lundgrens Mörk (closest tobacco-free match to The Lab's dark, earthy complexity).
Who makes The Lab snus?
The Lab is manufactured by Swedish Match AB – the same company that makes ZYN, our best-selling brand in New Zealand. Swedish Match was acquired by Philip Morris International in 2022, but continues to operate under the Swedish Match name and produce from its facilities in Sweden. The Lab remains one of Swedish Match's most premium snus lines.
What does The Lab taste like?
The Lab 01 and 02 have a dark, complex tobacco base with notes of dried herbs, cedar, oak, and almond – earthy and sophisticated rather than sweet or fruity. The Lab 05 (White Strong) and 06 (Extra Strong) carry the same flavour profile at higher nicotine levels, with the extra strong 06 delivering 18 mg per portion. Among tobacco-free products, Lundgrens Mörk and Lundgrens Fjällskog are the closest available matches for Kiwi customers.
What nicotine strengths does The Lab come in?
The Lab range covers regular strength (01, 02 at around 8–10 mg per portion), strong (05 White at around 14 mg), and extra strong (06 at 18 mg per portion). In the tobacco-free range, ZYN Slim Citrus Strong (9.1 mg/pouch) and Lundgrens Fjällskog (8 mg/pouch) sit in the regular-to-strong bracket, while our full NZ range includes options up to 16.5 mg/pouch for higher-tolerance users.
Is tobacco snus legal to import to New Zealand personally?
Regulations around tobacco product imports are a matter for New Zealand Customs and the Ministry of Health, and we're not the right source for legal advice on that. What we supply and ship to New Zealand customers are tobacco-free nicotine pouches, which are legal to import for personal use under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990.
Looking for a tobacco-free alternative to The Lab?
Browse our full NZ range – complex botanicals, dark profiles, discreet all-white pouches. Made by the same Swedish Match manufacturer. Delivered from Sweden to anywhere in New Zealand in 5–8 working days.
Explore Legal Tobacco-Free Alternatives for NZ →
Nicotine is an addictive substance. All products on Snusdaddy NZ are for adult nicotine users only. Must be 18+ to purchase. Not for sale to minors.
About the Author
Erik Rosengren – Owner, Snusdaddy
Erik founded Snusdaddy to bring the full European nicotine pouch range to customers worldwide. The NZ store is built specifically around the tobacco-free category. The Lab is a brand Erik knows well from the Swedish market – it was one of the products that genuinely moved the snus industry forward in terms of portion format and development methodology, and the product recommendations on this page are his personal picks for Kiwi customers who've enjoyed The Lab's sophisticated character and want the closest tobacco-free equivalent. Questions? Email [email protected] – we respond within 2–4 hours on Swedish business days (CET).