Abstract: A microwave heating method and unit for heating an aerosol-forming sample due to microwave absorption by a material of the sample and in particular for thereby releasing by or from said sample upon heating said sample at least one aerosol, in particular in a or as a inhalation, vaporizer and/or smoking product or device, in particular for medical and/or pulmonary drug delivery applications. The microwave heating unit includes (i) a sample holding and exposing unit configured to receive and hold a sample in a holding and exposing space and to expose the sample to a microwave radiation field within said holding and exposing space, (ii) a microwave radiation generating and/or releasing unit configured to release the microwave radiation field to said holding and exposing space, and (iii) an impedance matching unit configured to achieve impedance matching between the holding and exposing space and the microwave radiation field.