According to recent research by TobaccoIntelligence, herbal heated sticks are gaining popularity worldwide as a substitute for conventional smoking and a viable alternative to heated tobacco products.
These sticks provide a similar experience to heated tobacco, but unlike their counterparts, they do not contain any tobacco. Instead, they are made with a different substance, often tea, which holds flavorings and sometimes nicotine.
The newly released Tobacco Intelligence Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker sheds light on this rapidly growing market, which is still not well understood.
It reveals that fruit flavors are the most popular in most countries, but the strength of nicotine varies greatly. For instance, only zero-nicotine products are sold in countries like Japan.
Why Choose Herbal Heated Sticks?
Director of market analysis at Tamarind Intelligence, publisher of TobaccoIntelligence, Eva Antal, explains that herbal sticks are typically cheaper than comparable tobacco products and can be used with some heated tobacco devices.
Therefore, from the consumer’s perspective, they offer a cost-effective alternative, and for manufacturers, they provide a legal way to offer flavors in countries where heated tobacco flavors are prohibited.
Currently, Japan and Poland have the most extensive selection of herbal heated sticks, with Japan offering a greater variety of brands. Interestingly, these products are cheaper in Japan, while Germany has the most expensive options.
Antal anticipates that more countries will see the launch of these products, but regulators are unlikely to ignore them forever.
The Herbal Heated Sticks Tracker covers nine major markets, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, and the U.K.
