Heated Tobacco

What is heated tobacco and how does it work?

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) heat real tobacco to a temperature high enough to generate a tobacco-flavoured aerosol, but below the temperature at which tobacco burns. Conventional cigarettes burn tobacco at around 900C at the tip, a process that produces smoke containing thousands of compounds, many of them harmful. Heated tobacco aims to eliminate combustion entirely.

IQOS TEREA sticks use what Philip Morris International calls the SmartCore Induction System. A metal element embedded in each stick heats it from the inside when inserted into an IQOS ILUMA device. The device reaches operating temperature in a few seconds, and each stick delivers the equivalent of roughly 14 puffs over about six minutes before the session ends automatically.

The sealed design means no tobacco residue contacts the device blade. Earlier IQOS models (Originals Duo) used a heating blade that required regular cleaning; ILUMA devices with TEREA sticks require no cleaning after each use. TEREA sticks are not compatible with older IQOS models, and HEETS (designed for the Originals Duo) are not compatible with ILUMA.

Nicotine content per stick is 0.5mg. Because no combustion occurs, the products are not classified as cigarettes under UK law, but they are still regulated tobacco products subject to tobacco tax and the same age verification requirements. 18+ only.

Heated tobacco vs vaping: what is the difference?

The distinction matters because the two products work in fundamentally different ways, and the choice between them often comes down to what someone is trying to move away from.

Vaping uses e-liquid, an artificially flavoured mixture of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and nicotine, which is heated by a coil to produce vapour. There is no tobacco involved. The flavour profile and throat sensation of vaping differs noticeably from cigarettes, which is why some long-term smokers find the transition easier with heated tobacco instead.

Heated tobacco uses real tobacco. The aerosol retains tobacco character more closely than even a high-quality tobacco-flavoured e-liquid, because the flavour comes from the tobacco leaf itself rather than a synthetic approximation. People who have tried various vaping formats without success in moving away from cigarettes sometimes find heated tobacco a better fit.

Cost differences are also worth understanding. A pack of 20 TEREA sticks at £7.00 is comparable per-unit to some cigarette prices but significantly less than traditional cigarettes in the UK, which are typically above £12 per pack of 20. Vaping is generally cheaper again, with a 10ml nic salt bottle at around £4 covering several days of use for most people.

Heated tobacco vs vaping

Neither option is risk-free. Both deliver nicotine, which is addictive. The choice depends on individual preference, particularly for people who value the tobacco character of cigarettes.

TEREA flavours: the full range

TEREA sticks come in a wide range of flavour profiles, grouped loosely into classic tobacco, menthol, and aromatic or Pearl variants. Each has an intensity rating from 1 to 10, giving a reasonable guide to strength and character before you try them.

The classic tobacco range covers most of the familiar ground. Amber is the benchmark: a medium tobacco with a smooth, balanced character and moderate intensity. Yellow sits at a lighter end with a malty, cereal-grain quality. Sienna adds a subtle caramel warmth to the base tobacco, while Russet and Teak are the fuller-bodied options with a more pronounced earthy tobacco note. Teak in particular has a woody, natural quality that experienced tobacco smokers often gravitate toward.

The menthol range runs from Turquoise at the mild end through Green (a balanced peppermint-forward option) to Blue, the most intense cooling variant. These are genuinely strong on the menthol; they are not a light background note the way some cigarette menthol variants are.

Pearl sticks are the most interesting addition to the TEREA range. They contain a small menthol capsule in the filter that can be crushed mid-session to release a menthol burst on the remaining puffs. The Amelia, Abora, Starling, Twilight, Provence and Riviera Pearl variants all have distinct aromatic profiles before the capsule is activated, typically fruit or floral notes at low intensity, shifting to a cooling finish when you squeeze.

DELIA sticks (Classic Red, Gold, Dark Green) are a slightly different formulation also compatible with ILUMA devices. They use a different tobacco blend to TEREA and tend to carry a stronger, more traditional tobacco character.

TEREA flavour guide at a glance

Intensity ratings are on the official IQOS 1-10 scale. Menthol intensity refers to cooling strength, not nicotine level (all sticks contain the same nicotine at 0.5mg per stick).

DELIA sticks (Classic Red, Gold, Dark Green) are also compatible with ILUMA. They carry a stronger traditional tobacco character. All sticks are sold in packs of 20.

Which IQOS device do TEREA sticks need?

TEREA sticks only work with IQOS ILUMA and IQOS ILUMA One devices. They are not compatible with older IQOS models that use a heating blade, including the IQOS 3 Duo and IQOS Originals Duo. Using TEREA sticks in a device they were not designed for is not possible without physical modification, and HEETS sticks designed for older models cannot be used in ILUMA devices.

The IQOS ILUMA One is the single-unit version, where the device charges the holder directly without a separate pocket charger. The standard IQOS ILUMA uses a holder that sits inside a pocket charger, making it possible to recharge the holder between sessions without plugging the charger into the wall. Both devices are compatible with the same TEREA and DELIA stick range.

The ILUMA range is also the first IQOS line that does not require regular cleaning after each session, because the SMARTCORE Induction System heats the stick without a blade contacting the tobacco. The sealed end of each TEREA stick prevents debris from entering the device.

How to use IQOS ILUMA with TEREA sticks

The process is simple and takes about thirty seconds from pocket to first draw.

1. 1

   Charge the device

   The IQOS ILUMA One has an integrated holder; charge it via USB-C before first use. For the standard ILUMA, seat the holder in the pocket charger and ensure both are charged. A full charge supports up to 20 consecutive sessions.

2. 2

   Insert the TEREA stick

   Pull the cap off the ILUMA holder and insert a TEREA stick tobacco-end first until it seats fully. Do not insert it partway. TEREA sticks have a foil end covering the tobacco; no preparation is needed before insertion.

3. 3

   Activate and wait

   Press the button once. The device vibrates and an LED indicator pulses while it heats. Heating takes around 3 to 5 seconds. When it vibrates again and the LED holds steady, you can start drawing.

4. 4

   Draw and finish the session

   Draw slowly and steadily, as you would a cigarette. Each stick lasts approximately 14 puffs or 6 minutes, whichever comes first. The device vibrates to warn you when two puffs remain. When the session ends, remove the used stick and dispose of it; allow it to cool before handling.

Heated tobacco at VapeCity

A quick guide to what we stock and who each format suits.

Running cost: heated tobacco vs cigarettes and vaping

At £7.00 per pack of 20 TEREA sticks, heated tobacco sits below the current cost of a standard pack of cigarettes in the UK, where duty and pricing mean most packs are now over £12 for 20. For someone consuming one pack a day, switching to TEREA represents a measurable saving over traditional cigarettes, while retaining real tobacco flavour.

Against vaping, the comparison runs the other way. A daily vaper going through one 10ml nic salt bottle (approximately £4) typically spends less per day than someone going through a pack of TEREA sticks. The nic salts and 10ml freebase categories at VapeCity cover both formats at lower running cost, if cost is the primary consideration.

The IQOS ILUMA device itself is an upfront investment; the device costs £69.99 and is not included in the price of TEREA sticks. If you already own an ILUMA device, the stick cost is your only ongoing expense. Newer device models have extended the average device lifespan, and ILUMA devices require no consumable parts beyond the sticks themselves.