If you’ve heard about HEETS and wondered what they actually are — or you’re a smoker curious about heated tobacco as an alternative to cigarettes — this guide answers every question clearly and honestly. We’ll cover what HEETS are, how they work, their nicotine content, the full flavour range, how they compare to vaping and smoking, and — crucially — the 2026 product update every IQOS user needs to know about.
- What Are HEETS?
- How Do HEETS Work?
- Nicotine Content: How Much Nicotine Is in a HEET?
- HEETS Flavours: The Full UK Range
- HEETS vs TEREA: The Critical 2026 Difference
- Heated Tobacco vs Vaping vs Cigarettes
- Health & Safety: What the Evidence Says
- How to Use HEETS
- Where to Buy HEETS & TEREA in the UK
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are HEETS?
HEETS (also written “HeatSticks” in some markets) are specially manufactured tobacco sticks designed for use with IQOS heated tobacco devices made by Philip Morris International (PMI). Unlike a conventional cigarette, HEETS are not lit and do not burn. Instead, they are inserted into an IQOS device, which heats the tobacco to around 350°C — well below the 600–800°C temperature at which cigarettes combust — producing a tobacco-flavoured nicotine aerosol rather than smoke.
Each pack of HEETS contains 20 tobacco sticks, similar in size to a cigarette but slightly shorter. Each stick is designed for a single-use session of approximately 6 minutes or up to 14 puffs — roughly equivalent to the duration of a conventional cigarette.
Key point: HEETS contain real tobacco. They are not an e-liquid product and are not the same as vaping. Heated tobacco products sit in a distinct regulatory and product category of their own.
How Do HEETS Work?
A HEETS stick is inserted into the holder section of an IQOS bladed device (such as the IQOS Originals Duo). Inside the holder, a precision-engineered ceramic blade heats the tobacco plug at the base of the stick to approximately 350°C. This temperature is hot enough to release the nicotine and tobacco flavour compounds as a vapour (aerosol), but below the combustion threshold that produces smoke, tar, and the most harmful chemical byproducts of burning tobacco.
The aerosol travels through a series of filters inside the stick itself — including a cooling filter made of PLA (polylactic acid) and a cellulose acetate mouthpiece filter — before reaching the user. These filters cool the aerosol to a comfortable temperature for inhalation.
What’s inside a HEETS stick?
A HEETS stick is made up of six structural components:
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Tobacco plug | Finely processed real tobacco leaf, mixed with VG and natural fibres, formed into a compressed plug |
| Outer paper & casing | Keeps the tobacco compact and transfers tobacco vapour upward through the stick |
| Cooling filter (PLA) | Made from polylactic acid; cools the aerosol from ~350°C down to a comfortable inhale temperature |
| Inner hollow tube | Assists with airflow and aerosol delivery |
| Cellulose acetate filter | Similar to a conventional cigarette filter; provides the mouthfeel and removes excess moisture |
| Outer wrap & filter tip | Structural wrap with printed pattern; the end the user draws from |
Nicotine Content: How Much Nicotine Is in a HEET Stick?
According to IQOS and independent testing using the ISO industry-standard measurement regime, each HEETS stick delivers approximately 0.5mg of nicotine in its aerosol. This is comparable to the nicotine delivered by a conventional cigarette.
It is worth understanding the distinction between the nicotine in the raw stick and the nicotine in the aerosol. Each HEETS stick contains approximately 4.6mg of total nicotine in the tobacco itself, but the aerosol measurement — the nicotine that actually reaches the user — is around 0.5mg. The same approach is used for cigarette measurement.
All HEETS flavours contain the same amount of nicotine. The differences between flavours are entirely about taste, intensity, and the presence or absence of menthol — not nicotine strength.
HEETS Flavours: The Full UK Range
There are up to 10 HEETS flavours available in the UK, across tobacco and menthol profiles. All contain the same nicotine level; the only differences are taste, intensity, and menthol content. Note that menthol and aromatic HEETS are not available in Northern Ireland due to flavour regulations.
HEETS vs TEREA: The Critical 2026 Difference You Must Know
This is the most important section for anyone searching for HEETS in 2026. There is widespread confusion between HEETS and TEREA sticks, and using the wrong stick in the wrong device will result in it simply not working.
The bottom line: HEETS and TEREA are not interchangeable. They use completely different heating technologies and are incompatible with each other’s devices.
| Feature | HEETS | TEREA |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible device | IQOS Originals, IQOS Originals Duo (bladed devices) | IQOS ILUMA, ILUMA One, ILUMA Prime, ILUMA i (induction devices) |
| Heating technology | Ceramic blade inside device penetrates stick and heats tobacco | Metal element inside TEREA stick heated by electromagnetic induction from device |
| Cleaning required? | Yes — after every 20 uses | No — sealed design leaves no residue |
| Session duration | ~6 minutes / 14 puffs | ~6 minutes / 14 puffs |
| Nicotine per stick | ~0.5mg in aerosol | Similar (varies by variant) |
| UK availability in 2026 | Discontinued — limited stock only | Fully available — current range |
| Price per pack (UK) | ~£6–7 where available | ~£6.85–7 per pack |
| Can you use in the other’s device? | ❌ No. Completely incompatible. Do not attempt. | |
What if I currently use HEETS?
If you own an older IQOS device that uses HEETS (such as the IQOS Originals Duo), your device and HEETS continue to work together as normal while HEETS stocks remain available. However, as HEETS are being phased out, you will eventually need to consider upgrading to an IQOS ILUMA device and switching to TEREA sticks.
The flavour transition is straightforward — most HEETS variants have a closely equivalent TEREA variant. Many users who have switched describe the TEREA experience as smoother and more consistent, partly due to the sealed stick design and more even induction heating.
Heated Tobacco vs Vaping vs Cigarettes: Key Differences
People switching from cigarettes often compare heated tobacco and vaping before deciding which is right for them. They are very different products. Here’s a clear side-by-side comparison.
- 🔥 Burns tobacco at 600–800°C
- Produces smoke, tar & CO
- ~£12–14 per pack (2026)
- Strong lingering smell
- Produces ash
- Associated with highest health risks of all nicotine products
- ☀ Heats tobacco to ~350°C
- No smoke, no tar, no ash
- ~£6.50–7 per pack (2026)
- Less persistent odour
- Contains real tobacco
- Fewer toxicants than cigarettes, but evidence on long-term health still emerging
- ⚡ Heats e-liquid (no tobacco)
- No smoke, no tar, no ash
- ~£8–14 per 10ml e-liquid
- Minimal odour
- Contains no tobacco leaf
- NHS recognises as a smoking cessation tool; stronger independent health evidence base than HTPs
Health & Safety: What the Evidence Says About HEETS
This is a YMYL topic and we are committed to giving you an honest, evidence-based picture rather than marketing language. Here is where the independent science currently stands:
Public Health England’s 2018 evidence review described heated tobacco products as “lower in toxicants than cigarettes”.[1] Philip Morris International’s own clinical data, scrutinised by the US Food and Drug Administration before IQOS was authorised as a “modified risk tobacco product” in the United States in 2020, showed meaningful reductions in many of the harmful chemicals associated with cigarette smoke.
However, the scientific consensus is more nuanced. A 2025 University of Bath analysis of 40 clinical trials on heated tobacco products found that while some trials showed reductions in certain biomarkers of harm, the overall evidence remains inconclusive due to the small scale of most studies, their short duration, and the fact that the majority were conducted or funded by tobacco companies.[2]
The independent position is clear: heated tobacco products are not risk-free and are not recommended as a health product. They contain nicotine (addictive) and real tobacco, and they still contain harmful and potentially harmful chemicals, albeit at reduced levels compared to cigarette smoke. Quitting all nicotine products entirely remains the best option for health.
As ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) notes, all tobacco products are harmful to health and heated tobacco products contain many of the same chemicals as combustible tobacco products, including cancer-causing substances.[3]
The NHS’s guidance is consistent: for adult smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit entirely, switching to a less harmful alternative is preferable to continuing to smoke. The NHS’s main recommended cessation tools remain nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and vaping; heated tobacco sits in a separate category with a less mature evidence base.
How to Use HEETS: Step-by-Step
This guide applies to older IQOS bladed devices (Originals, Originals Duo) which use HEETS.
| Step | Action | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Charge | Ensure the IQOS Pocket Charger is fully charged before use | A fully charged holder gives one session; the charger holds enough charge for approximately 20 sessions |
| 2. Insert stick | Remove the holder from the pocket charger. Insert a HEETS stick gently into the holder cap until it meets resistance — do not push with force | The tobacco end goes in first. Do not twist or force |
| 3. Activate | Hold the holder button for 2 seconds until it vibrates and the LED pulses. A second vibration after ~20 seconds indicates the device is ready to use | The light flashes while heating and becomes solid when ready |
| 4. Vape/draw | Draw slowly from the mouthpiece end of the stick — similar technique to a cigarette, not a vape | The session lasts ~6 minutes or 14 puffs. A double-vibration warns you when approaching the end |
| 5. Remove | After the session ends (indicated by a final double-vibration and LED flash), remove the used HEETS stick | The used stick should be cooled before disposal. Do not reuse — HEETS are single-use only |
| 6. Clean | Clean the ceramic blade inside the holder using the provided cleaning tool after every 20 sessions | Residue build-up on the blade affects performance and taste quality |
Shop Heated Tobacco at 888 Vapour
We stock IQOS ILUMA devices, TEREA sticks, and HEETS (while stocks last) across our stores in Grantham, Newark, Sleaford, Lincoln and beyond, and online at 888vapour.com. Our team can advise on device selection, flavour matching, and making the switch from HEETS to TEREA.
Shop Heated Tobacco → Shop TEREA Sticks →Related Guides
- IQOS Explained: Heated Tobacco vs Vaping — Which Is Right for You?
- What Is the IQOS Originals Duo? Full Device Guide
- Complete Guide to Nicotine Salts — A Vaping Alternative
- How to Switch from Smoking to Vaping
Frequently Asked Questions About HEETS
- Public Health England. Evidence Review of E-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products 2018. Available via: gov.uk
- Braznell S, et al. University of Bath / STOP. Critical appraisal of heated tobacco product clinical trials. (April 2025). Available at: bath.ac.uk
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Heated Tobacco: ASH Position. ASH Smokefree Adult Survey 2025. Available at: ash.org.uk
- IQOS UK. HEETS vs TEREA. Available at: iqos.com
- NHS. Stop Smoking Services. Available at: nhs.uk
- MHRA. E-cigarettes: regulations for consumer products. GOV.UK. Available at: gov.uk
Written and reviewed by the 888 Vapour specialist team. Last reviewed: May 2026. This article is for information only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your GP or NHS Stop Smoking Services for personalised cessation support.
