Washed Or Not

[everydayshisha]

Can anybody make 2 lists, one with the washed and one with the unwashed shisha?

[matt]

http://www.hookahforum.com/index.php?showt...8&hl=washed

scroll down to sonthert's post

[lilbrownindian]

ill paste it incase you dont feel like looking, lol

QUOTE(Sonthert @ Jun 16 2007, 06:15 PM)
Washed:
Tangiers
Romman
Nahkla
Al Waha
Abu Hitham

Partially Washed (Usually washed mixed with a little unwashed...to retain a little nicotine)
Al Basha

Washed Completely
Al Amir
Al Fahker
Layalina
Starbuzz
Havana
Fumari
HookahHookah

[Glottis2]

Although I agree that Layalina tastes like it's washed, I thought I remembered thinking that it was unwashed because it has the same nicotine content as the unwashed stuff.

[Sonthert]

Just because the package says its true, don't believe it. There's no federal law requiring it to be true.

[hookah hippie]

but why would they lie to me I am hurt

[lilbrownindian]

but why would they lie to me I am hurt

haha

[Sonthert]

Maybe they don't know the answer to the question. Maybe they don't even know what the question was in the first place.

[Rani]

Just because the package says its true, don't believe it. There's no federal law requiring it to be true.

Hmmm...... Pharaoh's claims to be a full 5% nicotine..... I do notice I seem to get more buzzed from it. But for me the buzz seems to be more about how recently I've eaten, how hydrated I am, etc. I've had nights that standing up from a few hard hits was an exercise in regaining balance. And then smoked the same batch a couple nights later with almost no effect. Interestingly enough it's been said that any effect is often highly influenced by your mind-set. Which would explain the effect of placebos as well.

Since I smoke for flavor and mental relaxation, honestly for me a heavy buzz is an inconvenience and/or uncomfortable.

'Rani

[blacklabelqlewis]

how do you tell if it is washed by the flavor? i have smoked 4 brands from the washed and 4 from the completely washed lists and i wouldnt be able to tell any other way than the buzz i get

[Sonthert]

Nicotinated tobaccos have characteristic twang to them. Thats the best I can say.

[Rani]

Nicotinated tobaccos have characteristic twang to them. Thats the best I can say.

Eric, I seem to recall you saying nicotine is an alkaloid. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Does the presence of the nicotine form some kind of barrier to flavor absorption? It seems like washed tobaccos are more intensely flavored. Or perhaps the twang you're describing is overriding the flavor a bit? And yet there seem to be exceptions. Tangiers Orange Soda (my current favorite flavor) comes through loud and clear. Much more so than any other washed orange I've tried.

'Rani

[blacklabelqlewis]

actually now that i clicked on the link in the second post and read some things, and clicked on the link in that thread, the twang thing makes sense. and why some flavors taste better in a/an un/washed brand becomes a bit clearer as well.

[Sonthert]

Unwashed tobaccos are going to suffer the effects of humidity shock more readily. Thats why the buzz varies from smoking time to smoking time. I think physical condition of the user plays a distant third. Although newer smokers will have more problems. I guess I'm saying I doubt hydration and such play as much a role. First is user skill with manipulating the tobacco, second is weather conditions. Third is whether I'm tired or not.

Nicotine is an alkaloid. An alkaloid is a chemical that is indigenous to plants, contains a nitrogen atom and has one or more qualities of being basic (Bronsted-Lowry or Lewis Bases). For instance, the constituents in "Mushrooms" aren't alkaloids because mushrooms are fungi and fungi aren't plants. Some chemicals are alkaloids, but are also found in non-plants. Ergot (Fungus) comes to mind, it contains Lysergic Acid Amide, which is also found in Morning Glories. There may be a term for the homologue of alkaloids in fungus...I don't know what it is.

No, I think quite the opposite, nicotine sets off most flavors. I, at the risk of sounding arrogant, think of it terms of cheap booze, good booze and cheap beer. Cheap beer will be infinitely smoother to consume than cheap booze, because there's a lot less of that material that's harsh (alcohol in this case, but we're really making an analogy between washed and unwashed tobaccos). Now, if we have a good booze, with good flavor, it might be every bit as smooth as cheap beer, although it contains far more active material. The problem is, that aside from Romman and Tangiers, all the unwashed brands tend towards being lower priced (and quality) brands, so many people are comparing cheap booze to cheap beer.

The sweetening agent in the tobacco makes a big difference, too. Corn Syrup (the most common sweetener used in sheesha on the market) has a distinctive, "muddy" flavor which I don't care for. Honey is a big improvement, but the flavor of the honey tends to fight with the flavor put on the tobacco...its a little more temperamental. Molasses seems to set the flavor better for nicotine, in my opinion, thats why I use it for Tangiers. That being said, I tried a little washed honey based tobacco for awhile, and several Tangiers flavors won't tolerate a that foundation at all. They need molasses and they need nicotine. Edited August 27, 2007 by Sonthert