Some Deep South Flavor

[speed.trials]

So over the weekend I decided to try to smoke my hookah and Al Fakher mango tobacco (which is quite nice), however I had one small problem: no coals. I did a little research and found out the best alternative was to use natural hardwood charcoals. This made sense; they always used legitimate wood coals when I was in the Middle East.

I went to the grocery store and all I could find was organic, mesquite-flavored hardwood charcoal. It was $1.99 so I figured what the hell and bought them. Later on I saw a head shop and went in, but all they had were some incredibly bad non-quicklite hookah coals, but I got them just to be safe. I started with the real hookah coals, lighting them over my stove, then added on the mesquite charcoals, letting the non-QLs do the work of lighting them. To say that the mesquite gave some extra flavor is an understatement. It was BBQ central. In addition, I used cola instead of water (in retrospect, a bad idea) and the results were smokey, cokey hits.

So my questions are the following:

1) If you're out of coals, is there a solution other than ordering/buying more hookah-specific coals? Or can you go to grocery store and buy a brand of natural, hardwood lump charcoal that actually works. In addition, what is the best way to light them (I have an electric stove).

2) Should I just stick with water, or do alternative liquids work?

Thanks.

[SimplexCoda]

I have had good experiences and bad experiences using the exact same brand of natural wood coals. I would say that you can go to the store and buy them and have them work. I would try finding a spa and bbq store first though and buy something like apple wood or something other than mequite or hickory.

To light them i would use fire, like use your bbq grill. You could prolly use your stove but it will take a really long time and with wood coals you want to make sure they are absolutly as lit as they can be.

For liquid in the base, i would just stick with water. I have tried other things and overall they arent worth it, if anything i use water a bag or 2 of tea, but never anything more than that.

[DJ_HOSSEIX]

i love the hardwood coals, you get a huge bag for about 3 bucks and they're awesum.

From your pic im guessing you are lebanese so you might know what im talking about. When i use these types of coals i always take out the manghal (it is the grill which is like a pit that you make kabobs on) dump the coals on that, light them up and then fan them until they are bright red.

It gives a very enjoyable smoke but it takes effort lol

[MechAnt]

From what I can tell, you lit the mesquite coal with the already going hookah coals?

If so, that's exactly why you got insane BBQ flavor. You need to have them lit completely and thoroughly with a light ash over them before even thinking of putting them on.

If you follow these instructions exactly, you should get an excellent smoke from them.

[NickReppinThe909]

best of the west nats FTMFW !!!!! if you have a sams club near you pick some up