Tangiers (according to Bubble)

[MR Bubble]

As some of you know, i received my samples of Tangiers from Mushrat (bless his innards) last week. Since I had finished sampling alen's Serbleti I decided it was time. MRS Bubble called me at work today to inform me she was going to set out a pinch of the Kashmir Peach at about noonish to acclimate.... And she did.
My oh my. The cut is something akin to Red Man chewing tobacco. That's okay. Being an aminal who has thumbs, I was able to make it more manageable. The smell of the three samples together in the large bag (Kashmir Peach, Black thorn, and Apple) smelled like the fruit Fairy farted. The smell of the peach alone was very, very peachy, but too bad the tidy bowl man was in the bag too. Oh well, just some company.
Smoking it does remind me of other made in USA massells. There is the slight dull, lucky-strike taste in the back of my throat, but nothing compared to the likes of Hookah-Hookah, or Sultan. As far as the actual taste goes, I'm not thinking it to be an accurate representation of peach. Oh, don't take it wrong, there is peach, but covered up with the "Kashmir" taste. The Kashmir is rather "floral" tasting, kind of like Nakhla's Jasmine flavor, but with out the musky cat-urine taste. In fact the Kashmir might be something good on it's own. There have been a couple draws that reminded me a little of Cardamom, but further smoking tells me "Nein. Das ist nicht cardamom." However, it would go lovely with a Turkish coffee.
Anyway, back to the peach. The flavor is nicely balanced (maybe 60-40 in favor of the peach) between the two flavors. When I talk about "flavor," it isn't a sweet wad of goo type of flavor found in AF, but close to an abstract rendition type compared to Nakhla's style. You know the flavor is peach, with something else, but it's not a kool-aid, over-stimulated taste. That's how I like it! Good old Tangier has had some positive influence from the great EN. But anyway, what peach is available here, I would call it very good. I am curious to taste the peach on it's own.
Flavor:  This is just bizarre enough for me to get into. However, nothing so weird as to turn anyone off. Even when the smoke gets thin, it still delivers its full taste. The flavor DOES change though. Starting out is too floral, but the peach kicks in a few minutes later. This is my 3rd peach flavor, but it is probably my favorite... So far.
Smoke density:  Nice, rich and thick smoke. Not silky looking as AF, but slightly thicker than EN.
Buzz Factor: OMG! Nice, Very nice. A sloppy, mellow buzz that reminds me of Nakhla strawberry gone bad. However, nothing as mind-bending as some have claimed. THAT wouldn't be so much fun.
Nose-hitability: So-so. I give it a 1 carpet tack rating, but the floral Kashmir flavor is slightly more noticeable. The buzz-factor picks up a little. It may not sting, but you still get the feeling you're being weird.
General feeling of wellness:  I feel well. I'm sitting here with a mellow, sloppy buzz, feeling my nicotine urges satisfied, and love for everyone around. Gee, could it be.. No, it can't be. Maybe.. well, just a little maybe: Oh no! It's frontal lobotomy in a bag!!! AAARRR!
Final thoughts: If you can't figure out what all I'm driving at here, I do understand. It'd tough being me. Shisha smoking is a very emotional experience for me. I stop communicating like a literate human being. I communicate by a series of grunts and whines. I've been known to pee on the floor when smoking Nakhla Esk Apple. It is hard for me to be an eloquent writer. I used to be in my younger days, but somewhere between a thousand blacked-out drunks (the last being several years ago, thank God), I turned stupid with a pen in hand. I guess a little self-induced dain bramage? I guess when I can focus, I can write eloquently, but during emotional times like this, it all hangs out and I refuse to focus. Don't want to spoil the moment. It's my special moment of the day.
And special this Tangiers Kashmir peach is! Thanks you Tangiers for brewing something up for us "real smokers." I was afraid of another tuti-fruiti, kool-aid type of shisha, but you delivered the goods. I can't wait to try the other flavors.
Number rating? Oh gee-whiz, I have to come up with numbers at a time like this? Okay, Let's do a [b]9.5 for creativity and originality[/b]. [b]For overall sheer pleasure and smoking enjoyment, I'll rate this at a 9. [/b]I'll re-rate the numbers on my second go with this.
Oh, by the way. I broke one 3 kings disk up into 4 pieces (as usual) and started with 3 of those quarter-pieces. After about 15 minutes, I added the 4th piece. worked out nicely. This was done on a standard sized Egyptian clay bowl, 30 inch Egyptian hookah, and aluminum foil covering the head.
MR Bubble

[mushrat]

YES!

[mushrat]

I'll see if i have any regualr peach left to send you.

[MR Bubble]

You're too kind. It is optional. If you do, understand it is appreciated.
Can you believe MRS Bubble didn't like it?
MR Bubble

[mushrat]

what did she think of the chocomint?
 

[yashman19]

Very nice, detailed review Bubble. I don't think you could have left anything out infact

I'm excited to try the Tangiers brand in the near future myself. I too
every once in a while like to smoke something without so much sweet
flavor, so I find myself using a lot of vanilla either by itself, or
mixed with fruity flavors.

I just gotta remember to set it out for a while before smoking, and to
lay off the heat... I tend to use quite a bit of heat and my friends
complain that its slightly on the harsh side when smoking with me. I
just like to have as much heat as possible to give the most smoke as
possible without burning the ma'assel. Smoking on the edge sort of

Once again, very informative.

[crepenchicha]

Tangiers,Most folks comment on the cut of your tabacco, often stating that they prefer to modify it a bit from its chunkier packaged form.I'm wondering: Is there a reason you cut it as such?  Does it preserve better in packaging or interact with flavoring differently?  In your cafe or at home, do you modify it before you pack a bowl?  Is there a logic here that would be helpful for others who make their own tobacco?As always, thanks for your insight, and for your review, Bubbly 

[Sariél]

[quote name='Tangiers']Ahhhh! Why you little!...I don't advise it, you'l just have to believe me that the average size of the pieces is exactly the right size.[/quote]

[PipeSmokeMcGee]

MR Bubble-great review!  can't wait to get my samples.  i'll be doing the same!BEN

[crepenchicha]

Incidentally, I just received some samples from the ever-generous Tangiers today.  The included info sheet says,Q: Why are the pieces larger than other brands?A: If the tabacco is cut too fine, it tends to clog the holes at the bottom of the bowl.  Larger pieces allow more air to get through the tobacco, making for a better hit.And that answers that!

[MR Bubble]

[quote name='mushrat']what did she think of the chocomint?
 [/quote]
 
Haven't seen it yet. When did you send it out?
MR Bubble
 

[Sonthert]

Well...I would have said read the sheet...no I wouldn't have. When drawing gas through a fixed bed of solids there's a function known as the void fraction. It is the percentage of the total volume that is "empty" the larger the void fraction is, the lower the pressure drop, ie, the easier it is to draw through. Larger pieces vs. smaller pieces. When absorbing flavor and glycerine, larger pieces will "dry out" slower, prolonging the flavor and smokability. Thank you Bubba. I'm sorry Mrs. Bubba didn't like it. People have very different senses of taste, I've come to believe. Some people find Kashmir Peach obnoixous and overpowering. Some people find it mild and smooth. Some people find my vanilla obnoisous (like me) but most people find it very light and mellow. To make a long story short, she was tasting something you weren't or visa versa or you both have different tastes. I'm glad you liked it and I hope you'll find something that you can both enjoy together, maybe after making little bubbles.

[pavlakos_politakos]

haha.....little bubbles....

[MR Bubble]

You're as bad as I am.
MR Bubble
Oh, sorry to report, but I need another night with this Tangiers apple. Maybe my coal science isn't up to snuff for it, but I had a problem tasting any significant amount of apple. But we will try again.
MR Bubble

[mushrat]

Bubble: it went out on the 3rd...
hmm..wonder who i sent it to?

[Sonthert]

Apple...apple. Kashmir Apple should have a fairly obvious apple flavor to it. 

[MR Bubble]

Bump, Bump, Bump!
Being as Friday happens to be my Saturday, this is a good time to smoke a little Tangiers. Well, any time is good, but I was able to remember it last night and set out a opened bag of the apple. The first go around I was less than impressed (sorry "T") as it had little flavor of an apple. In fact, the only thing it had with an apple (or apple massell) is the name "apple." But being as I'm 40 now, I guess it would behoove me to start playing the role of "Kindly Old Gent," and have more forgiving qualities. So, I'm sitting here smoking Tangiers apple again. This time, I'm met with more success. First thing I need to stress is that Tangiers seems to have a fondness for Nakhla. I know he respects them and has NOT manufactured another Nakhla, but retained the qualities that make Nakhla appealing to the Nakhla fans. NOTE however, that this is only an ASSUMPTION AND I MAY GLADLY BE CORRECTED IF IT IS NOT THE CASE. The qualities that set Nakhla apart seem to be its "rustic, no- kool-aid taste, impressionistic flavor." That is what Tangiers apple seems to have delivered. Smoking it does not give you the sensation that you fell off the catwalk into the apple vat at the Jolly Rancher factory. It is a flavor that seems to be a mild interpretation of apple. When drawing, you can taste the flavor of apple if the smoke stream is aimed directly across the tongue. It is enjoyable to me because I value smoking first and realistic flavor second.However, there is enough apple this time around to identify it as such and enjoy the mildness of the flavor. That's the best I can describe it. It is not for a Metro smoker, but for those who like smoking and just want a flavored tint to the smoke.
So why is this good and other's bad who have this "washed out" quality? First, the taste of the apple is more realistic. When I close my eyes, I get as much of an apple feeling as a taste. Here, I'll help: Closing my eyes, I can see a bushel basket of apples sitting on the floor with diffused light coming from a window behind it. I know, a still life photo cliché', but Gump happens. Second, this is the best tasting tobacco from an American shisha manufacturer I've had. Others (like HH, Sultan, and fumary have a taste that hangs in the back of my throat like a lucky strike. Sorry, but I like my cigarettes filtered, so I don't smoke lucky strike of Pall Mall, so it stands to reason the others disgust me. Tangiers Tobacco doesn't do that to me. Those are the reasons I value this apple above other apples who have similar mild flavor qualities. Make sense? I hope because I can't splain any better than that.
Flavor: - It's apple, and it fits me quite well. I could stand just a touch, maybe a smidgen more apple goodness. What apple is there is a mighty fine apple and I could use a hint more to make it perfect. It's a lot like Nakhla, but a version with most of the licorice removed.
Smoke-Density: - He's good at making smoke! Nice and thick, but as the Kashmir peach is, not quite as "silky" looking as maybe, AF.
Buzz Factor: - He's good at making buzzes too. A rather sloppy buzz that's a little tougher than Nakhla, and sure to upset the metro smokers. But only a little upset, as it's so much fun.
Nose-Hitability: - The absence of a hight carpet-tack rating is compensated for by having a mild "cooling" feeling going in the pneumatic plumbing behind the nose. On the exhale, I get a sense of apple with a slightly sweet taste to the back of my throat.
General feeling of wellness: - I feel like I'm half baked.
Shisha-Nazi Factor: - I'm not even going to bother. I'm not in the mood for the "Elvis lip-snarl."
Final faults: A mildy sweet, mildly appley flavor that surrounds a rather decent, rustic, but mild tobacco flavor. It is like Nakhla being put in the corner and told to behave. Now, I need a nap to try and come down.
"Take that brother, may it serve you well."-- The Beatles: Revolution #9.
MR Bubble

[dizzing]

yeah, all tangiers tobacco seems to have a cooling effect.  i was mystified by this, until i realized how little coal was actually being used.  of course it's cooling, there's like 1/3 the heat of nakhla.  instead of warm smoke, the vapors are cool and refreshing.  it's the shiznit 

[MR Bubble]

Good point.  Mine might have bee warmer than others though. I forgot to describe the setup.
Hookah- 30" Egyptian solid shaft.
Bowl- Standard Egyptian bowl that comes with these machines.
Covering- Foil with a bunch o' tiny holes going in circles until I got the airflow about how I like it.
Coal- Normal Three Kings disc. I broke it into quarters (4 pieces when finished.) I used 3 of the four pieces (3/4 a coal) There was a hint of flavor (or sensation) that suggested it was just at the edge of burning. Not quite there, but right on the verge. Works well for me. After about 15 or twenty minutes, I re coaled. I did this by pulling off the bowl, dumping the coals on the ashtray and giving the bowl a couple of swats against the heel of my palm while the bowl's upside down. This breaks the tobacco up a little. I then turn it rightside up and pat the bottom of the bowl down on my hand a couple times to re settle the massell puck. Stick it back on the pipe and add 3 more pieces of quarter cut coal. Good for another 10 or 15 minutes.
With many details,
MR Bubble