From September 18 to 20, the Dortmund Tobacco Trade Fair (InterTabac 2025) was successfully held in Germany. As the industry's annual grand event, several major awards were presented to outstanding companies and products. Innovative tobacco alternative company FAV Tech won the prestigious "2025 Best Alternative Product" award with its hybrid electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) product FAV. The company stated that FAV restores the authentic mouthfeel of traditional cigarettes without combustion-this revolutionary device made its official debut at the exhibition for the first time.
Winning the "2025 Best Alternative Product" award marks a milestone for this Hong Kong-based startup. The company positions its technology as a strong competitor to established heated tobacco products like Philip Morris International's IQOS and British American Tobacco's Glo. By combining liquid nicotine delivery with patented coil technology that heats real tobacco leaves, FAV aims to deliver a more authentic smoking sensory experience than traditional e-cigarettes or heat-not-burn (HnB) devices.
Industry executives and analysts at the InterTabac exhibition noted that this win highlights FAV's potential in the rapidly growing smoke-free tobacco market. Ciprian Boboi, founder and board member of the European Independent Vape Alliance (IEVA), praised the product as "the most innovative e-cigarette technology on the market today." He said: "As a seasoned practitioner, I've witnessed the rise and fall of countless products, but I believe FAV will stand the test of time. For smokers seeking to quit and switch to alternatives, FAV is the ideal solution they've been waiting for."
Unlike traditional e-cigarette devices that only use e-liquid, FAV heats e-liquid while simultaneously heating a small amount of real tobacco leaves. The patented "Real Tobacco Coil" technology developed by FAV Tech precisely controls the heating process, preserving natural flavor compounds without reaching the ignition point, producing an aerosol that contains both nicotine and pure tobacco aroma. The company claims this technology effectively reduces the intake of harmful chemicals by users.
FAV's founder and CEO, James Xu, previously founded the largest e-cigarette retail chain in the U.S. at the time and assisted in opening the first IQOS stores in the U.S. He stated that the FAV device was developed directly based on smoker feedback. "I've witnessed firsthand the difficulties adult smokers face when trying to switch to e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products. After years of research and direct consumer feedback, I believe FAV is the ideal solution-restoring the authentic cigarette mouthfeel that adult smokers crave through next-generation technology."
Xu emphasized that authentic flavor is the foundation of the design. "We start with the finest tobacco leaves," he explained. "We use a very small amount of tobacco in each cartridge, allowing us to select only the premium leaves to ensure exceptional flavor and aroma. Our tobacco undergoes a unique drying and blending process to preserve natural flavor and aroma components, maintaining the authentic taste of traditional cigarettes."
"Each rechargeable device comes with 2ml disposable cartridges containing PG, VG, liquid nicotine, and the real tobacco coil. When the e-liquid combines with the coil, FAV's advanced heating system releases nicotine and flavor compounds through precise temperature control, producing a flavorful aerosol free of harmful byproducts that perfectly simulates the real smoking experience," Xu explained.
