Where to Find the Best Khao Soi Near Our Shop (The Definitive Staff Vote)
February 18, 2026
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The end of a trip to Chiang Mai is always a bittersweet moment.
You have spent days (or weeks) living the dream. You’ve explored the temples of the Old City. You’ve driven a scooter up the winding roads of Doi Suthep. You’ve eaten enough Khao Soi to last a lifetime. And, if you are a customer of Haze Buds, you have likely sampled some of the finest Sativa and Indica strains in Southeast Asia.
But then, the reality of the return flight sets in. You look at the half-full jar of Pineapple Express 2.0 sitting on your hotel nightstand, and you feel a pang of sadness. You know the rules. You know you cannot take that flower across the border. The days of enjoying Thai cannabis are coming to an end.
However, just because you can’t take the plant home, doesn’t mean you can’t take the culture home.
Chiang Mai is not just a cannabis capital; it is a craft capital. For centuries, Lanna artisans have been mastering the arts of woodcarving, ceramics, and herbal medicine. Now, these ancient skills are being applied to the modern cannabis lifestyle.
At Haze Buds, we offer a curated selection of accessories that are beautiful, functional, and—crucially—legal to fly with.
Many tourists are terrified of packing anything related to weed in their luggage. They assume that a rolling tray or a grinder will set off alarms at customs. This is a misconception. As long as the items are unused (free of residue), they are simply wood, glass, or metal art objects.
In this guide, we will walk you through the Top 5 gifts you can buy at Haze Buds to bring a piece of Chiang Mai back to your living room, completely stress-free.
Before we open the gift guide, let’s clear up the legal anxiety. Question: Is it legal to fly with a bong or a pipe? Answer: Yes, BUT it must be unused.
International law generally focuses on controlled substances (the drugs themselves).
A clean, brand-new pipe is just a wood carving or a glass sculpture. It is not illegal to own wood or glass.
A used pipe with resin: This is now “drug paraphernalia” containing trace amounts of a controlled substance. This is illegal.
The Haze Buds Strategy: Buy your souvenirs at the end of your trip. Keep them wrapped in their original packaging. Do not “christen” them in Thailand. Save that first smoke for your homecoming reunion. If you do this, you can fly with confidence.
Best For: The friend who rolls on a magazine cover. Why it’s a great souvenir: It’s furniture, not plastic.
We have discussed the beauty of our Teak Trays in previous blogs, but as a gift, they are unmatched. Imagine your friend back in London, New York, or Berlin. They are probably rolling their joints on a warped IKEA table or a cheap plastic tray with a cartoon Rick and Morty on it. It’s functional, but it’s ugly.
Bringing them a Thai Teak Wood (Mai Sak) rolling tray is an immediate upgrade to their lifestyle.
The Material: Teak is the royal wood of Thailand. It is water-resistant, rot-resistant, and gets more beautiful with age. The golden-brown grain tells a story of the Northern forests.
The Craft: These aren’t stamped out by machines. They are carved by local artisans in Baan Tawai. No two trays are identical. One might have a swirl of dark grain that looks like a river; another might have a knot that looks like a sun.
The Legality: To a customs officer, this is a wooden tray. You could use it for keys, coins, or jewelry. It is 100% safe to pack.
Gift Idea: Pair a medium-sized rolling tray with a pack of Thai-branded rolling papers. It’s a complete kit.
Best For: The active stoner, the hiker, the clumsy friend. Why it’s a great souvenir: It costs less than a cocktail and lasts forever.
This is the number one best-selling accessory at Haze Buds for a reason. It solves a universal problem: The Crushed Joint. We all have that friend who puts a pre-roll in their pocket, only to pull it out an hour later looking like a sad, bent accordion.
The Teak Wood Joint Holder is the solution.
The Design: A simple, elegant cylinder hollowed out of solid teak, fitted with a tapered wooden stopper. It relies on friction to seal, creating a satisfying “pop” sound when opened.
The “Pocket Tax”: At around 200 THB, this is the perfect “bulk gift.” You can buy 10 of them without breaking the bank. They are small, lightweight, and easy to scatter into the gaps of your suitcase.
The Stealth Factor: Unlike plastic “doob tubes” which look medicinal, these look like high-end pen cases or lucky charms. They are discreet and classy.
Travel Tip: These are great for organizing cables or small jewelry (earrings) during your flight, giving them a “dual purpose” if anyone asks.
Best For: The connoisseur who hates metal shavings. Why it’s a great souvenir: It feels “alive” in your hand.
Most smokers use metal grinders. They are cold, industrial, and clinical. A Wooden Grinder offers a completely different sensory experience.
The Warmth: Wood warms to your touch. It has texture. It provides a better grip than slick aluminum, which is a huge benefit for older smokers or anyone with arthritis.
The Mechanism: Inside the wooden shell, we use high-grade metal pins. Unlike blade grinders that chop the weed into dust, pin grinders “fluff” the herb. This preserves the trichomes and creates a better airflow for rolling.
The Aesthetic: Leaving a metal grinder on a coffee table looks messy. Leaving a beautiful, polished teak sphere on the table looks like decor.
Legality Check: Ensure it is brand new. A used grinder is the hardest item to clean because resin gets stuck in the teeth. Never try to fly with a used grinder. Buy a new one at Haze Buds before you leave.
Best For: Grandma, the athlete, or the friend who doesn’t smoke. Why it’s a great souvenir: It merges Thai massage culture with modern wellness.
Note: While CBD is legal in many Western countries (USA, UK, EU, Canada), always double-check the specific laws of your final destination. Avoid taking these to strict countries like Singapore or the UAE.
If you have a friend who suffers from back pain, knee pain, or office syndrome, but is afraid of “getting high,” this is the perfect introduction. Thailand is famous for “Ya Mong” (Herbal Balm). You smell it everywhere—that refreshing blast of menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus. At Haze Buds, we stock CBD-Infused Balms.
The Upgrade: We take the traditional cooling herbal recipe and supercharge it with CBD isolate.
How it works: The menthol provides immediate cooling relief to distract the nerves. The CBD penetrates the skin to reduce inflammation locally. It does not enter the bloodstream enough to cause a psychoactive high. It just stops the pain.
The Packaging: They usually come in beautiful small glass jars with Thai labels, making them look exotic and premium.
Why it’s better than Tiger Balm: It’s Tiger Balm with a secret weapon. It shows you care about their health.
Best For: The collector, the art lover. Why it’s a great souvenir: You literally cannot buy this anywhere else.
You can buy a glass bong in New York. You can buy a ceramic bong in Amsterdam. But a bong hand-turned from a single block of Golden Teak? That is a Northern Thai exclusive.
Many people are skeptical: “Will the wood burn?” Teak is an incredibly dense, oily hardwood. It is naturally fire-resistant. When treated correctly, it withstands the heat of a lighter perfectly fine (though we usually recommend using a glass bowl piece insert for easy cleaning, which we supply).
The Look: These pieces are stunning. They look like vases or sculptures. You can leave one on a bookshelf, and it adds character to the room. It doesn’t look like a dirty bong; it looks like an artifact.
The Durability: Glass breaks. Ceramic chips. Wood dents. If you are buying a gift for a clumsy friend who has broken five bongs this year, give them wood. It is indestructible.
The Travel: Wrap it in bubble wrap, put it in your checked luggage. To security, it looks like a wooden vase or a candle holder. As long as it has never been smoked out of, it is just a wood carving.
To ensure a smooth trip home, follow the Haze Buds Packing Protocol:
1. The “Virgin” Rule We cannot stress this enough. If you buy a wooden pipe on Day 1 of your trip and smoke out of it for two weeks, do not take it home. The resin soaks into the wood. You will never get it 100% clean. The drug dogs will smell it. Buy your “Souvenir Stash” on your last visit to the shop. Keep the receipt. Keep it in the plastic wrap.
2. Protect the Wood Teak is strong, but you don’t want scratches. Wrap your trays and holders in your clothes. Put socks inside the bong to save space and add cushioning.
3. Declare if Asked If a customs officer asks what it is, be honest. “It is a hand-carved wooden tray.” “It is a wooden incense holder.” “It is a wooden pipe for tobacco.” There is no need to lie. These items are legal products. Lying makes you look suspicious.
You might see similar items at the Night Bazaar. Why buy from us?
Quality Control: The Night Bazaar items are often mass-produced tourist grade. Our items are curated. We check the seals on the holders. We check the finish on the trays. We ensure the wood is properly dried so it won’t crack in winter climates.
Supporting Artisans: We work directly with carving families in Baan Tawai. We pay fair prices to keep the craft alive.
One-Stop Shop: You can pick up your last gram of Super Silver Haze for the hotel room AND your gifts for home in one go.
When you are back home, shivering in the cold, dealing with emails and traffic, you will look at your coffee table. You will see that golden Teak Rolling Tray. You will touch the smooth grain. And for a moment, you will be back in Chiang Mai. You will remember the heat, the smell of street food, the sound of the temple bells, and the feeling of freedom.
That is the power of a good souvenir. It transports you. So, don’t smuggle the flower. It’s not worth the risk. Take the wood. Take the craft. Take the vibe.
Come by Haze Buds before you fly. We will help you pack a piece of Thailand to take with you.
Bring a piece of Chiang Mai home. Shop accessories.
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