THIS IS BAZA

Our dear comrade, flavorist of Original Virginia and a true Hookah Battle legend — Enver Pulatov — has introduced a new brand: Baza.

The core values of the product are clear:

— Minimalist packaging

— Precise flavor profiles

— Stability, quality raw materials, and deep respect for the person preparing the bowl

It’s a product clearly made for professionals and mixology, which made us very happy. At JC Fest, the first thing we did was head straight to the Baza booth.

We tested everything currently available — and here’s our take

Stronger Line:

Nuts – A decent blend of hazelnut and peanut, though slightly muted. Definitely interesting for mixology.

White Tea – A dry, plant-based tea aroma. Doesn’t taste like white tea specifically, but more like the raw tea leaf. Neutral profile, works even solo.

Fir Tree – Pleasant spruce-like aroma, no bitterness. Refreshing without menthol.

Peonies – Tastes more like rose. Slightly soapy with a sour hibiscus (karkade) undertone. Overall, a bright floral profile.

Orange – Slightly odd. Tastes more like mandarin. A bit too sour for solo smoking, but works well in mixes.

Cardamom – A good, well-balanced spice. Doesn’t resemble dry cardamom exactly, but pairs very well with the cigar-like base.

Kashmir – A solid Kashmir flavor with a well-translated spice blend.

Lighter Line:

Mango – One of the best mango flavors! Think yellow ripe mango with a hint of Chupa Chups candy. Light herbal touch. Excellent in mixes.

Popcorn – Great flavor, more balanced than the Original Virginia version.

Feijoa – A nice green feijoa with light herbal notes and low sweetness. Performs well in herbal-style mixes.

Butter – Really does resemble creamy butter. Slightly fatty and a bit sweet. We’d call it a buttery cream — perfect for mixology!

Milk Chocolate – A decent, mixable chocolate. Resembles natural-style chocolate bars. Slight bitterness, dry finish, and a touch of sweetness. The milky notes come through.

Milk – Fairly dry aroma, but the milky character is there. Interesting for mixing. Tasty even solo.

White Tea (from the lighter line) – This one is milkier and more floral. Reminds us of milk oolong or something similar. Delicate, smooth, and really good!

About the lines:

The stronger line isn’t so much about high nicotine impact, but more about alkalinity — there’s a noticeable lingering nicotine taste.

The lighter line feels more like a medium strength.