Help?! What’s wrong with my hookah!

[Micky3210]

I'm a big noob to this whole thing.... so excuse me.....

Every time i use my hookah, there's no taste whatsoever! Actually, i lie, there is a small taste of charcoal!
I don't know that i'm doing wrong, allthough i think it's because i'm not using a cover to put ontop of my charcoal?
What's going on?
I need help!

[mushrat]

Ok..welcome to the forum first of all...
to help us help you we need soem information:
1)type of hookah, # of hoses that sort of thing
2)type of coals, quicklites or naturals
3)how many coals you are using
4) are you getting any smoke at all?
5)what type of tobacco are you using?
If you are getting smoke but no taste, id say either you have an air leak or crappy tobacco.
if you are getting thin or no smoke, Id say you are not using enough heat, add coals.
If you have a multi hose, make sure the other hose is stoppered if not in use.
Check out cypress's "how cypress sets up a hookah" thread/video to see if you are doing anything drastically different.
The search engine is a wonderful thing :-)
 

[mushrat]

here's the link:
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1046&KW=how+cypress"] [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1046&am"]http://www.hookahforum.com/forum/forum_pos...asp?TID=1046&am[/url][/url] p;KW=how+cypress
Oh, and make sure whatever coals you are using are white all over before you even try to put them on the foil/screen.

[Sonthert]

Also, humidity plays a part. If the humidity is fairly different from
what the tobacco was packaged at the flavor can be weak or
non-existent. 

[Sonthert]

Leave your tobacco open to the air for 24 hours, then try again.

[mushrat]

Hmmm..learn something new every day....love this place.

[hookahlover18]

Hi , i got the same problem:
1)type of hookah, # of hoses that sort of thing
Taqseem Stargate hookah , 1 hose
2)type of coals, quicklites or naturals
quicklites
[b]Rolland Instant-Lite Hookah Charcoal 100 Pieces[/b]
3)how many coals you are using
one then i add another one when smoke becomes tiny 
4) are you getting any smoke at all?
yes im getting good smoke
5)what type of tobacco are you using?
[b]Al Waha Strawberry Hookah Tobacco 250 Gram Jar[/b]




Nakhla Double Apple Hookah Tobacco 250 Gram Box
 
i dont know why but the taste isnt noticeable  , maybe the hose that i got with the stargate isnt good ? or my set up is wrong ? i put a low quantity of water on the base just at the level where the stem tube get into the water . what else ... i dont use a screen , everything seems to be perfect! maybe one thing is that sometimes i put the coal while it still lightning and sometimes i put it even if its not all white (black unburned parts) maybe its the problem ?
 

[mushrat]

Well..I'd say patience grasshopper...wait for your coals to turn white all over, I'd say start them, THEN go set up your hookah if you are the impatient type.
If you aren't tasting the Nakhla 2 apple there IS something wrong alright...that is NOT a subtle flavour.
Have you tried the air tight test, remove your boel, put your hand over the hole and see if you can suck in any air? But if you are getting smoke...hmmm....
I can suggest starting with 1 1/2 quicklites to start, fire that puppy up good and hot to start with. be prepared to burn a bowl or two while you experiment, but it will be worth the effort...

[gunsboy]

As mentioned above Nakhla Flavours are not consistant.  Sometimes I  used to get a great Nakhla double apple and other times, it tastes so bad I might as well just use newspapers instead of tobacco.  It depends on how long has it been stocked and if it dry or not too. 
I replaced the hose I had by another one with a bigger diameter and is washable.  I think it is one of those syrian hoses.  It made a huge difference. The ones that are thin, especially near the mouth piece  just feel like they lose alot of the flavour.
The coal, try the natural coal or something like Nour Coal instead of quicklights.  If you insist on usign quicklights then make sure the whole coal turns white or red before you put it on the foil.
The foil, if it is very thin or even normal kind.  I sometimes like to double foil it.  With good tobacco it makes a difference.

[Donkeema]

you need to go see a doctor if you cant taste double apple!!! - thats a hugely strong flavour , just like mint. yet nicer .

if your a smoker then dont expect ALOT of flavour because my dad WAS a
very Heavy smoke , then they quit now they smoke zahgoul - flaverless
tobacco because there traditional and dont like flavoured and becuase
they just cant TASTE anything!

 
is your flavour dry
by any chance?