Do Electronic Cigarettes Contain Tobacco?

There are many smoking alternatives out there today available for legal age adult (18+) smokers, and each have different features and functions. Some legal age adult (18+) smokers may have the tendency to wrongly group all smoking alternatives under one category: “electronic cigarettes”. But electronic cigarettes are actually one type of smoke-free alternative, specifically referring to products that do not contain real tobacco.

Did you know that there are other types of smoking alternatives which contain real tobacco?

Let’s take a look at these different options. 

First things first: What are e-cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes – also called e-cigarettes or vapes – are one type of alternative to smoking. The key thing to note about e-cigarettes is that they do not use real tobacco. Instead, they heat e-liquids (sometimes called vaping liquid), which evaporates, producing a vapor that is drawn from the device through a mouthpiece.

No combustion occurs when a user draws from an electronic cigarette, as nothing actually burns. While there is vapor, there is no smoke. This is why electronic cigarettes are sometimes referred to as a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes. In addition, the e-liquids utilized in e-cigarettes can come with or without nicotine, and generally come in various flavors, including tobacco flavor. So, while there may be e-liquids that produce a vapor that tastes like tobacco, e-cigarettes with real tobacco do not exist.

If electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco, what types of smoke-free alternatives do?

While you won’t be able to find “e-cigarette tobacco”, if you are a legal age adult (18+) who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products, there are smoke-free tobacco products that you can explore. In this case, heated tobacco may be what you are looking for.

Heated tobacco, or heat-not-burn, is a type of smoke-free technology. Heated tobacco devices use real tobacco that is specially processed and formed into sticks. The tobacco sticks are then inserted into the device, where the tobacco is heated to very specific and controlled temperatures. This controlled heating makes sure that the real tobacco does not burn, but since there is heating involved, tobacco flavors are released, while smoke and ash are removed from the tobacco experience.

IQOS is one example of a heat-not-burn device that utilizes real tobacco, formed into tobacco sticks called HEETS^TM, developed to be used exclusively with IQOS technology. HEETSTM are made of real tobacco leaves which are specially prepared and compressed. They are also designed to last around 14 puffs, which is around the same amount of time as a cigarette.

IQOS heats the tobacco stick with a heating blade, which means the tobacco is heated first (and not the paper wrapped around the tobacco stick), ensuring a consistent tobacco taste and experience. HEETS^TM tobacco sticks are not risk free and are addictive; they contain nicotine, which is naturally occurring in tobacco.

How do I choose between electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco?

Once the main difference between electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco is understood, it is a matter of personal preference for the legal age adult (18+) smoker who is looking for a smoke-free alternative. Electronic cigarettes do not contain real tobacco but use an e-liquid which is vaporized instead, allowing the experience to be smoke- and ash-free.

On the other hand, heated tobacco products, like IQOS, use real tobacco formed into sticks, like HEETSTM, which provides real tobacco taste, just with the added benefits of a smoke-free alternative. You can find out what’s unique about each IQOS device with this handy tool to compare devices.

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Important Information: This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.

_{IQOS are only for adult smokers who otherwise wish to continue to use tobacco or nicotine containing products.}

_{This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.}