Newbie Cant Get Flavour

[Andy1990]

Hey everyone,

I've had a shisha pipe for about 2 months now.

The problem I have is that even when i use Al Fakher grape and get the swift coals perfectly hot AND even use cold water with ice in the base.... it still just tastes of smoke rather than the grape flavour.

The Al Fakher grape smells great in the tub. I even tried leaving some of it out for 3 hours before i used it to see if it made a difference and it didnt. still no propper flavour.

The first time i had tried shisha was with some guys over from Qatar and when they made a shisha pipe setup with teh Al Fakher Grape it was sweet and amazing.

I just feel very fustrated i cant get mine to do any flavour

HELP PLEASE... its killing me!

[ahwahoo2006]

There are many variables.

Are you using foil or a screen?

If you are using foil, what sort of hole pattern are you using?

How many coals are you using?

[hookah hippie]

mix up the tobacco well and don't pack it too tight

[malakas]

I've had the same problem with AF Grape for some time now.

The few instances in which I did get flavor (pretty good btw) the shisha was straight out of the box or I had something other than water in the base. I've honestly had better experiences with this flavor with natural coals, but I find this tobacco burned a little easier than I would have liked it too.

Good luck I guess, but you might want to look into a different grape.

[Muhammad]

Andy if your using those swift lite charcoals then that's probably what your problem is, I've used them and thhey are not nice, can hardly taste the flavour of the shisha.

[Andy1990]

Hey, cheers for the quick responses.

I use foil with a pattern perfect with more thinner holes around the edge and then about 3 bigger one about 3mm across in the middle.

I've used between 1 and 2 swift lights but moved them around the foil to make sure the shisha didnt burn.

[samildanach]

do you have any holes that are not directly under the coal?

because if you cover all the holes with the coal, it maybe the reason.

[Xeft]

It looks like you made a mountain of shisha in the middle...don't do that...even it out so the top of the bowl is nice and flat with it's edges.

Try to makesure you don't wrinkle your foil when you put it on.

You tongs for coal movement should have a poker, use that to make the holes in the foil...a good 20 or so.

Use like 2-3 pieces of coals and try not to cover up the foil holes to much. Doing this will create less flavor and more smoke...

I would also smoke indoors, but if that's a problem then use a cover. Doing this will conceal the heat, which might make it harder to smoke (inhale) yet at the sametime it should give a nice taste of that grape flavor.

[MechAnt]

Acclimate the tobacco where you will be smoking. Let it sit (like you did previously) for about 3-4 hours and stir it every so often. When you pack the bowl, sort of sprinkle it in the bowl and dont pack it down. Its ok to gently press on it just to make it more even but, dont overpack or put too much in. With the coals, I first recommend getting new ones cause those stink. Don't put too many coals. Start with a single piece and after a few minutes, if it doesnt smoke, add another. And then every 10 min or so, ash them. This should help a little bit. Part of hookah is trial and error. Enjoy it too.

[Andy1990]

What type of coals do you reccomend I get?

Im guessing its not going to be any quick lite ones. Can you tell me any brands to go for that are the best?

If all this doesnt work is there any possibility that its my new shisha pipe thats broke or just that i still need to fine tweek my setting up?

[Muhammad]

Quick lites are alright but from my experience those swift lite charcoals don't give you much flavour off the tobacco. Try 3 Kings they're quicklights but much better than what your using right now. It could be a variety of things you need to do to improve taste, just try out what everyone is saying and trial and error until you get it perfect.

Good luck!