CHARCOAL!!

[logan91]

Hey guys, just wanted a new poll (with current members that frequent
the site rather than some old poll someone might search for and post up
because i was too lazy lol),
ads on web sites for charcoal all claim no odor no taste, and differnt
people post different opinions on the same coal, just wanted to see a
majority vote on what is most used and liked.

after voting please post to say why you like yours, what bad experiences you have had with other charcoal brands and types

post what you like about your charcoal even if you have only used one type and brand for smoking

i was going to make a poll for "type of charcoal" but we can figure this out by how you vote anyway,

P.S.
if you use lets say "lemonwood (or quicklight, natural, etc)" other
than romman, go ahead and select romman lemonwood just so we get an
idea of a popular type of charcoal as well, i wont put up and "other"
option since that could be many different types,  thanks for
voting!!

[mushrat]

i use natural bulk charcaol, which doesn't fit in any catagory.
 

[pojzon]

I vote for 3kings because in Hungary this is the besat charcoal.

[tiMMey]

I voted for Natural Coconut Hookah Charcoal.I've only tried many types of quicklighting coals before, and I'm of the opinin that coconut coal is much better than every coal I tested before!It's cheap (~4$ / kg), VERY hot (many people think it's TOO hot ), and you can use one piece of coal for at least 1 hour!The disadvantage of this coal is that they're big chunks that have to be "crushed" with a saw before using, which makes a lot of dirt.I guess the lighting of coconut coal is just as complicated as it is for all other non-qucklighting charcoals.greetsTim

[Sonthert]

Problem is there are two "Golden Charcoals" one is a Japanese manufactured, square tablet. One is a Turkish/Lebanese hockey puck with gun powder. I prefer Abu Hitham Charcoal Tablets, the Japanese Golden Tablets second. With third place going to coconut husk coals. Diamante are awful, almost as bad as "quick-lite".

[yashman19]

I've used sort of a variety, which include:

Manara (naturals)
Nour Fingers (naturals)
3Kings (quicklights)
Golden (quicklights)
Diamante (natural)

And I choose Nour Fingers as my favorite which I used the most. Out of
all the brands there, there is pretty much one rule that you need to
follow in order to not ruin your session, and that is to not start
puffing until your entire coal is lit. You don't want to start pulling
on the hose when only half the coal is lit. If you do, you can pull in
a lot of unwanted coal flavor into your bowl.

Anyways, all of the natural coals I listed give off odor in some way or
another. I like Nour's the most because they're coals seem to be the
most consistent. I've gotten a few bags of each of the others, and each
new bag, their coal is a little different than the last, in that the
way they ash or break when ashing... I hate it when I'm ashing a
natural coal and they break into smaller pieces, because it makes it
harder for me to control my heat. I don't like using little broken
pieces.

But Nour's have been good to me. They do give off an odor, but only
when lighting them. Once they are lit, you can't taste any coal while
smoking. And when it comes time to ash, they stay in one piece and
don't break.

These things seem trivial, but its just how I like my coals. And it is
also nice that for a large bag of Nours, its only 4.99. Not a bad price

[pimpy]

Man... I'm SO frustrated.I can't find the oversized coals anywhere.Descriptions haven't been too good on the websites I've peeped.Last one I just bought said they were oversized... but its the same thing...

[tequila_sunrise]

I would have to go with Nuer coals for now... I picked up a bag... the label said "Al Ajdad" but it is the same design and everything as my friends Nuer bag so... im going to guess they are identicle haha.  That being said... I just bought a box of abu hitan...  they ash far less, but I have not yet smoked them enough to get the flavor of it yet.

[crepenchicha]

I've just kind of had to come to terms with the fact that when you live in a dorm and don't have consistent access to a stove, quick lite's the only way to go.  Until August, it's Three Kings for me... 

[tequila_sunrise]

crepenchicha that sounds horrible!  you should invest in a portable heater at walmart for like $8Ive seen many a hookah cafe use them.

[mushrat]

We do what we must! You're lucky your smoking in your dorm at all...

[pavlakos_politakos]

i voted 3kings because i used to use em,but just last week i learned how to light the natural bulk coals and like mushy said they dont fit  into any category.

[Vlax]

I use to be of the opion of olive wood but after going back to coconut. I much prefer my coconut.

[crepenchicha]

In my three years of smoking hookah, I haven't used anything but quick lites.  Ffrom all I've read, I'm starting to get discontented with them, but I'm not going to get myself addicted to something better until I can have a steady source  And yuppers, I'm mad lucky to go to a school with OOOOOLLLLDDDDDDDdddddd smoke detectors and high ceilings.  Woot!

[jeans]

Where can a person purchase natural bulk coals? I've seen people lighting their coals, on the stove in the 3rd floor lounge and carry them back with tongs to their room. The stove has coils, so is that a natural coal?
I don't know much about coals

[pavlakos_politakos]

naturals can light on coil stoves sure.and you can get em online or any  arabic convenience store.or at least here in nyc you can.

[jeans]

Thanks pavlakos

[pavlakos_politakos]

no problem dude.

[ataneja]

I use 3 kings, because that is the quick lite that the store near me sells.  I looked into purchasing online, but there really isnt much cheaper.  He sells it for $12/box.  

[smokinshisha4life]

I use three kings, I've used natural stick coals before and the taste
was a bit better but the smoke volume was a lot less. I usually buy
boxes of 10 rolls for 20.00

[TheGrandPuba]

I use three kings because i also live in a dorm. I have also used Adu Hitan at friend's houses, but I hate the silver flakes it leaves everywhere.  I do think they have less taste to them and burn a bit better though.  As a relatively new hookah smoker I still like watching 3 kings light anyways.

[yashman19]

[quote name='TheGrandPuba']I use three kings because i also live in a dorm. I
have also used Adu Hitan at friend's houses, but I hate the silver
flakes it leaves everywhere.  I do think they have less taste to
them and burn a bit better though.  As a relatively new hookah
smoker I still like watching 3 kings light anyways.[/quote]

Just curious, why does living in a dorm have anything to do with only
using 3Kings? I've gone 2 years in my schools dorm using Nour Nat
Fingers. All you need is a 11.99 torch from home depot, or a hotplate
from Walmart or Target.

[Johnny_Z]

After years of smoking and trying all different kinds of charcoal I
have come the distinct conclusion that I must be a barbarian when it
comes to the hookah

 I've tried tons of different brands of premium ma'assell and all
sorts of charcoal, and I still come back to smoking Nakhla most of the
time and the only charcoal I find to not add any flavor to my smoke and
give me a good clean smoke is Three Kings quick-lights.

 Lemonwood makes my ma'assell taste like Pinesol, Nour makes it
taste musty and woodsy (and is a real pain in the butt to distribute
heat evenly with), and everything else other then Three Kings just
makes the ma'assell taste odd and funky for me.

 So yeah, the only coal I use is Three Kings quick-lights. Therefore I must be a barbarian. 
Please excuse me while I get back to my bowl of Nakhla Askandarany Apple...

[mushrat]

Well, Yash sent me a few fingers of Nour to try. I need to get a few bags of this stuff...
Smokes and smells a little when it gets going and then clean burning from htere on out. Even when you ash it there's no smell, unlike the al kemma finger coals I can get locally.
I hate to say it, especially since i have about 3 punds of natual coals at home, but I think Nour will eventually become my primary coals with the bulk for special occasions...

[coldfire22x]

i've not been satisfied with the round golden charcoals ... they retain a peculiar odor for quite some time after being fully lit and they burn extremely fast.  i find myself going through at least 4 or 5 of them per session.