Al Fakher Technique?

[jonny_lech]

So I've found a local store that carries this brand, finally. Bought Mango and Orange tubs for $10 a piece. Only problem is, I can't get good flavor out of 'em. 1 large 3Kings seems like it may be burning my standard Mya bowl. Does this tobacco generally need less heat? I'm using doubled over aluminum foil, with about 20-30 needle holes. I've also been packing conservatively; is this a brand that needs to be packed to the rim?

[mrmonk7663]

What's up. I did four bowls of Al Fakher Orange this weekend, along with some Al Fakher Grape. The flavor is so delicious and sweet it almost makes me feel like i'm gaining weight by smoking it haha. I also posted a couple videos of the clouds genereated with the orange, HOOKAH CLOUDS 2 shows the true density of the clouds, HOOKAH CLOUDS 1 shows the overal size from a distance. Anyway, here is what I do.

Medium Funnel with Scallis Mod
2 rings of holes, one on outside, one around mod
Either 4 Japanese Canary Gold in a cross OR 2 33mm 3 kings across from each other.

I do not move any coals until they are done, at which time if using the 3 kings I put 2 more where before there were none. I usually do the 2nd burn with 3 kings or Starlight, first burn is always Japanese Coals.

In the base I use water with ice, about 1" or so stem submerged.

I pack this shisha very loose. I break it up and drop it in. I don't use alot of shisha at all. Then I slightly press it down so as to make sure the foil doesn't touch. I use a Mya Thick Hose.

Next, I light it up. For the first 20 minutes I smoke with no windcover, as their is ample heat. After the coals begin to loose a small amount of heat, I place a windcover on so that the coals are concentrated, and so that I get the same size clouds and flavor until they are done.

Hope this helps. The ORANGE Al Fakher definitely works, and tastes great (if you like sweet) Setup and heat management are the key.

Ma Salama,
Michael

EDIT-When I used a large but regular type bowl, I would pack the same way, but I would use only 1 quicklight, be it 3 kings or Starlight. I would start the coal on the edge of the bowl and move the coal around during the burn, and finally towards the end of the coal I would place it in the middle. Also, inside the bowl, I would make a little hole in the middle of the shisha right over one of the holes in the bowl, so air could go straight through their. Flavor was good, not as good as the above mentioned setup though. Mike Edited July 9, 2007 by mrmonk7663

[ghostofdavid]

Give us the low down on your Al Fakher set up. It usually is a sturdy product.

[HookahPrincess]

I know I'm new to the forums but I figured I'd chime in on this one. The first brand I ever started smoking was Al fakher, and it was actually their Strawberry flavor, which I wouldn't choose now if given a choice. But either way, I didn't find that it was any harder or easier to start than other tobacco that I've tried also. Usually for me I pack the head lightly but full, kinda like feather it in. If I'm using instant lights, I use 2 pieces, but I usually go for the natural ones cuz they give it a better taste. So maybe you're packing it wrong?? I dunno but try packing it diff or using diff coals.

[deltr]

Pretty much all I smoke is Al Fakhar, since it's one of the few brands I can get my hands on without buying online (Al Fakhar mint = best, though).

As long as you have let your new batch air out for a few hours (read: "humidity shock") then this shisha is very easy to get great flavor and thick smoke from. If you had opened a new tub and immediately used it, I would chalk up any poor performance to humidity shock. If your shisha is at homeostasis, it will pretty much deliver both flavor and smoke with the first hit.

But like I said, this type of shisha doesn't require any special treatment in order to perform.

[Mapexdrumboi]

Are you sure its legit al fakher, i have tried the fake stuff and its horrible. The box will say al fakher, but the tub will say el fakher if its fake! So i would check if i were you.
Alex

[Hannibal]

I smoke alot of AF, and I really don't have a problem getting flavor out of it.

Make sure that you are "sprinkling" the shisha in and that its almost a full bowl (like hookahprincess said). I use 2-3 Jap coals to begin with and then just 2 once the original die out. I use a Mya bowl like you and get about 2 hours of smoking from one bowl.

I also have a few questions:
Are you getting no flavor, but decent amount of smoke?
or
Are you getting no flavor and no smoke?
or
Are you getting no flavor but a harsh smoke?

[oggie505#2]

So I've found a local store that carries this brand, finally. Bought Mango and Orange tubs for $10 a piece. Only problem is, I can't get good flavor out of 'em. 1 large 3Kings seems like it may be burning my standard Mya bowl. Does this tobacco generally need less heat? I'm using doubled over aluminum foil, with about 20-30 needle holes. I've also been packing conservatively; is this a brand that needs to be packed to the rim?

Damn a 40mm 3King, on a mya bowl?? AF is one of my favs, pack it losely, but you said you think you might be burning it, well you would get a horrible taste and a lot of smoke if you did. Try useing half of the 40mm 3K or 2/3 of it. With a standard mya bowl I only use 1 small 33mm 3K for any tobbacco I smoke out of it, once it burns down a bit, i then add another coal. I think you have too much coal on for that size bowl and that type of shisha, only nakhla needs a large disk on a mya bowl I think

[jonny_lech]

Well, actually I smoke mostly Nahkla, so that might explain it! Hahaha.
I'm sure this is legit stuff. Also, the character here is that the flavor is weak but the smoke is strong. I will try again with half a coal and add smaller chunks. Will post an update tonight!

[Hannibal]

Well, actually I smoke mostly Nahkla, so that might explain it! Hahaha.
I'm sure this is legit stuff. Also, the character here is that the flavor is weak but the smoke is strong. I will try again with half a coal and add smaller chunks. Will post an update tonight!

If it smokes well it could just be a crappy batch that didn't have enough flavoring......

[jonny_lech]

Al Fakher Eskadrani Apple? Smokes like a dream!

Al Fakher Orange? I can't get this to work. I've varied the coals, the amount in the bowl, etc. No matter what I do, the flavor isn't there. It's either hardly any smoke at all or plenty of smoke and a harshness that my throat disdains. I'm swearing it off until I get the phunnel in hopes that might help it work.

[spoolinspoon]

Where did you end up going? Oasis?

[Hannibal]

Al Fakher Eskadrani Apple? Smokes like a dream!

Al Fakher Orange? I can't get this to work. I've varied the coals, the amount in the bowl, etc. No matter what I do, the flavor isn't there. It's either hardly any smoke at all or plenty of smoke and a harshness that my throat disdains. I'm swearing it off until I get the phunnel in hopes that might help it work.

Hmmm....I've never had a problem with AF orange flavor or smoke wise. To think of it....I consider AF orange one of their stongest flavors. Bad batch I say.

[spoolinspoon]

whats the date on it?