ZYN - Icy Blackcurrant XX Strong

Swedish Match developed the ZYN Icy range as a sub-family of high-intensity products within the broader ZYN lineup. The defining characteristic of Icy products is the prominence of the menthol cooling element, positioned as a more intense version of the standard cooling present in other menthol-containing ZYN products. ZYN Icy Mint and ZYN Icy Blackcurrant were the two founding members of this positioning, with Icy Mint focusing on pure menthol and spearmint intensity and Icy Blackcurrant pairing that intensity with a dark fruit base.

The choice of blackcurrant for the Icy Blackcurrant product was deliberate. Among common UK fruit flavours, blackcurrant has the most natural affinity with menthol: the astringent, slightly tart quality of the berry creates a contrast with the cooling that prevents the product from reading as simply sweet. Blackcurrant and menthol is a combination with genuine history in the UK market, appearing in everything from throat lozenges to blackcurrant and mint confectionery. ZYN Icy Blackcurrant drew on this established flavour pairing and adapted it for a tobacco-free nicotine pouch format.

The XX-Strong designation reflects 12.5mg nicotine content per pouch, placing Icy Blackcurrant at the very high end of the standard ZYN range. In the original product naming, XX-Strong meant two dots above the maximum on the ZYN strength indicator. This made Icy Blackcurrant one of only a small number of ZYN products positioned above the Strong (9mg) tier and into genuinely high-strength territory. The combination of maximum menthol intensity and maximum strength in a flavoured product was specifically designed for experienced users who wanted the most intense possible ZYN experience in a non-mint-only format.

Philip Morris International completed its acquisition of Swedish Match in 2022 and retained the ZYN Icy Blackcurrant product as part of the ongoing ZYN range. The ZYN 3.0 redesign updated the can to Blackcurrant Frost and nudged the strength to 13.5mg, but the Icy Blackcurrant name and formulation continues to be available through retailers who have not yet transitioned their stock. VapeCity stocks the Icy Blackcurrant XX-Strong variant alongside other ZYN products including ZYN Icy Mint and ZYN Menthol Ice.

The flavour of ZYN Icy Blackcurrant XX-Strong is built around two notes that each have presence and depth in their own right. The blackcurrant is not a background hint: it is a full, recognisable dark berry flavour with the characteristic astringency and tartness that distinguishes genuine blackcurrant from sweeter, simpler berry options. In flavour terms, blackcurrant sits closer to a complex, slightly tannic dessert fruit than to a confectionery berry, and ZYN Icy Blackcurrant reflects this character.

The menthol element is genuinely intense compared to other menthol-containing ZYN products. The Icy designation in the product name references this intensity directly: the cooling is pronounced from the first minutes, activating cold receptors in the gum tissue and producing a chill that spreads across the mouth as the session develops. Some retailers describe the product's flavour as "Minty Berries", which captures the dual character well: the menthol provides a mint-like freshness while the blackcurrant provides the berry depth.

The interaction between the two notes is what gives ZYN Icy Blackcurrant its distinctive character. The menthol cooling heightens the perception of the blackcurrant's tartness, making the fruit note feel more vivid and intense than it would in a menthol-free format. Meanwhile, the blackcurrant flavour adds a complexity to the menthol cooling that stops it from feeling purely functional: the berry note makes the sensation feel flavourful rather than just cold. The overall result is a product with a coherent and memorable profile that stands out clearly from simpler mint-forward options.

In the slim dry format, the flavour develops progressively. The initial contact produces blackcurrant immediately, with the menthol building from the first minute as the pouch begins to moisten and deliver nicotine. Full intensity is reached within two to three minutes and holds across a session of 35 to 45 minutes. The menthol cooling often persists as a residual sensation for a few minutes after the pouch is removed, which is characteristic of high-intensity menthol products in this format.

At 12.5mg, ZYN Icy Blackcurrant XX-Strong is positioned for experienced and heavy nicotine users. This is not a product for anyone who is new to nicotine, for occasional users, or for people who are uncertain about their nicotine tolerance. At this strength level, the nicotine effect is substantial and the session should be treated accordingly.

The appropriate user profile includes heavy daily smokers who are switching to tobacco-free alternatives and need a high strength to match their established intake, vapers who consistently use 20mg or higher nicotine salt strength on a regular basis, or long-term snus or nicotine pouch users who have built up a high tolerance over years of use. Users within this group will find 12.5mg provides a satisfying, long-lasting session of 35 to 45 minutes without needing supplementation.

The slim dry format is appropriate for users who are already comfortable with the ZYN product type. New users of nicotine pouches in general might find the delayed onset of the dry slim format counterintuitive: the flavour and nicotine release takes two to three minutes to establish, which can lead some users to add a second pouch prematurely. At 12.5mg, this would be a very high combined intake and is strongly inadvisable. Allow the full development time before judging the effect.

At £20.00 per can with approximately 20 slim pouches, the per-session cost is £1.00. At 12.5mg per pouch over a 35 to 45 minute session, a can provides substantial daily coverage. For users using three to four pouches per day, a single can provides five to seven days of use. The cost per day of use compares favourably with smoking or vaping at comparable nicotine levels.

The method is the same as for any ZYN slim product. At 12.5mg, full session discipline is important: complete the session before considering a second pouch.

Here is how ZYN Icy Blackcurrant XX-Strong compares with the most relevant alternatives across the nicotine pouch market.

ZYN Blackcurrant Frost 13.5mg is the direct successor product within the ZYN range. It uses the same flavour basis of blackcurrant and menthol, updated to the ZYN 3.0 can design and with the nicotine level nudged from 12.5mg to 13.5mg. For most users, the difference between 12.5mg and 13.5mg will be imperceptible in practice. The flavour character is the same; the 3.0 formulation may have minor seasoning adjustments but the blackcurrant and menthol profile is consistent. Both are available at VapeCity: choose Icy Blackcurrant if that is the specific label you have purchased before, or ZYN Blackcurrant Forest for the current 3.0 version.

Velo Black Currant 11mg is a pre-moistened slim pouch with faster onset than ZYN's dry format. At 11mg, it sits slightly below the ZYN Icy Blackcurrant 12.5mg level. The Velo product uses a sweeter blackcurrant profile with a lighter menthol note than ZYN: it is a more approachable and mainstream version of the blackcurrant-menthol combination. ZYN Icy Blackcurrant XX-Strong is for users who specifically want maximum intensity across both the berry and the menthol dimensions and who prefer the dry slim format and higher strength level.

Pablo Blackcurrant Ice is a very high-strength option (50mg) from the extreme end of the market, targeting only the most high-tolerance users. At 12.5mg, ZYN Icy Blackcurrant sits in entirely different territory: it is a premium, quality-controlled product from a major manufacturer within the regular strength range. Pablo products are for niche high-tolerance users; ZYN Icy Blackcurrant at 12.5mg is for experienced heavy users who want a serious product from a trusted brand without entering the extreme-strength segment.