I Think I Am Hookah-retarded...help!

[Synesthesia]

Ok, so I am posting this thread after searching the forum pretty extensively (as well as a 2 hour google session....)

I cannot, for the life of me, get the smoke from my hookah to taste like much of anything. I have tried absolutely everything, from filling the bowl lightly or heavily with shisha, using a ring of foil on top of the shisha, double foil, small holes in the foil, big holes, many holes, few holes, more coals, less coals, moving the coal around the rim, liquid other than water in the base, ice in the base, cleaning thoroughly after every session, ect, ect. You name it I've tried it!

For the record, I am using a disco pumpkin (from hookah-shisha.com - along with the standard stuff that comes with it - hose, bowl, ect.), golden quick lite coals, and I have some al waha shisha (grape, strawberry, honey, vanilla, after 9, and banana split. romman chocolate, and cinnamon. and a pack of jewels mixed berry that i got as a free sample. i have tried all of these straight up as well as various combinations. And every damn time I smoke, there is barely much noticable flavor. I've been to 2 different hookah lounges so I know what a good hookah smoke can taste like, and my hookah just isn't cutting it! The smoke SMELLS really good, but just kinda tastes like sweet smoke with a barely noticable tinge of whatever flavor I'm smoking. Actually, the jewels mixed berry had some flavor to it, too bad it was sort of gross lol.

I did order a bunch of different flavored shisha shots from hookah-hookah and they are on their way now, but I mean from what I've read, many of the flavors I already have can deliver a great smoke...so I dunno.

The only other thing I can think of is acclimation. I let a few of the flavors sit out for an hour or two before smoking, but it didn't seem to do much. Besides, from what I've read, it really only makes a big difference in unwashed tobacco shisha like tangiers.

Could it perhaps be my hookah that is the problem? I know its not the best hookah by far, but I didn't think it would produce such crappy smoke (that's why I keep thinking I'm doing something wrong.)

Can anyone think of a way to improve the quality of the flavor of the smoke, aside from buying another hookah? I'm almost on the verge of not trying anymore lol

[Johnny_D]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I am no expert with the pumpkin, but I would suggest that it is just too small.

Also try stirring the tobacco before packing and also acclimate it for a little time.

Something else to consider is expectation. You should be getting subtle hints of flavour rather than it being like eating the flavour

Cheers,

JD

[Johnny_D]

Just too add...

Al waha is not a tobacco I have ever had any luck with, have a try of nahkla

Now I know that I am nahkla's man bitch. BUT. It is very easy and uncomplicated to use..... a bit like me

JD

[SuburbanSmoker]

Well there are a few things to consider.
first off pumpkins are very hit and miss, and in my personal experience a gigantic pain in the butt. The first thing to check is the cleanliness of your hookah, hose, and bowl. If your using a standard egyptian bowl fill it to the top, one layer of foil, poke a decent amount of holes and light it up. if the flavor is really weak try using look warm water. If you still have very little flavor try using a type of juice or milk in the base. *note if you do use something besides water in the abse make sure you clean out your hookah thoroughly after the sesh.

Hearing that you have had very flavourful smoke sessions, im assuming you dont have a health problem that would hinder this. Hope some of this helps.

[chromecarz00]

Short answer: Al-waha is not a good brand for getting an amazing smoke.
The rest will follow.

[Zinite]

Make sure your hookah is very clean. Rinse everything but the hose with hot water and lemon juice. Never rinse the hose with water, it will ruin it.

[ColibriDon]

Aside from Al-Waha just not being great (I haven't smoked it so I am just repeating what others have said), try stirring up your tobacco really well. Stir it up real nice and make sure it's nice and moist. The juices should be mixed in very nicely.

I have the same weak flavor whenever I forget to stir up my Fumari after all the juices sink to the bottom.

The holes in a single sheet of foil with 2-3 coals (depending on the size of the bowl) and some well stirred shisha should get you some nice smoke.

Good luck.

[SixPackSunday]

yup, your a hootard.

jk. try some different brands with natural coals

props to you for searching like crazy for the answer first though. seriously.

[Johnny_D]

yup, your a hootard.

jk. try some different brands with natural coals

props to you for searching like crazy for the answer first though. seriously.

I thought the same accutally, nice one,

JD

[jfaltous]

Either that or get someone local to help show you how to pack a bowl... an experienced hookah-er should be able to get those going.

[Synesthesia]

Thanks for the all the suggestions guys! First I'll give the shisha I have now a nice stir and let it sit for a few hours before smoking and see if it makes a difference. Also, I've heard some mixed stuff on the hookah-hookah shisha brand, but at least that will give me something else to compare when they come in the mail (I was hoping for today but nooooo ). I'll try to get some Nakhla as well. I'm not too sure about the natural coals, I mean I would LOVE to try them but I'll probably burn the house down (I'm sort of clumsly...) You gotta be able to get semi-decent results using quick-lites, right?


Oh yeah and, I've seen what happens to people who fail to check the forum first before asking a question (not in this forum, but elsewhere) and I think it will be a cold day in hell before I ever do such a thing! hehehe

[Johnny_D]

Well good luck, I hope you stick around

You can easily get good results from quick lights

JD

[Hobbs]

Thanks for the all the suggestions guys! First I'll give the shisha I have now a nice stir and let it sit for a few hours before smoking and see if it makes a difference. Also, I've heard some mixed stuff on the hookah-hookah shisha brand, but at least that will give me something else to compare when they come in the mail (I was hoping for today but nooooo ). I'll try to get some Nakhla as well. I'm not too sure about the natural coals, I mean I would LOVE to try them but I'll probably burn the house down (I'm sort of clumsly...) You gotta be able to get semi-decent results using quick-lites, right?


Oh yeah and, I've seen what happens to people who fail to check the forum first before asking a question (not in this forum, but elsewhere) and I think it will be a cold day in hell before I ever do such a thing! hehehe

You can definitely get good results off of quick lights, just make sure you let them fully ignite and burn off their accelerants and you'll be good to go... I usually wait for them to turn grey and ash over, knock it off and then set em on my bowl.

Also when you're acclimating, a half hour to an hour in the same area you plan on smoking really ought to be fine. Usually acclimating 5+ hours is for Tangiers.

[ilikemyusername]

i dunno man, is your pumpkin air tight? thats the first thing i would check.
second, i've had quite a few AW flavors and so far i've found flavor in all of them.
third quick light coals can really subtract flavor, at least in my experience. i used to use them but then i switched over to naturals. i still use QL coals but only when i'm at the bookstore.
short of that, how long have you had your shisha? OH!
YOU'RE NOT KEEPING IT IN THE FRIDGE ARE YOU?

[SixPackSunday]

are you single?

lets get together, we can watch a movie at my house.


and to be serous again, what al waha flavors? its a hit and miss with them for me, but if we know what flavor we can let you know.

and what ql's? some brands drastically take away from the taste of the shisha.

[Neil's butt boy.]

pumpckins are to small I would go with a QT mya or econo mya I have 1 of each and they smoke grate



ps good to see a nother member from Rhode Island

[TizaNabi]

Do you have a cold or allergies, that for sure cuts down on taste.

[Synesthesia]

ok! to answer all questions:
I've had my shisha for over a year now HOWEVER it still tastes the same as when I bought it back then - like nothin'...
and no I'm not storing it in the fridge lol

how do you know if a hookah is air tight? there IS a good amount of smoke coming out, it just doesnt taste yummy. maybe comparing it to the smokes i've had in hookah bars isnt the right thing to do, but everytime i've gone the smoke tastes much stronger and sweeter...and thats not what im getting at home at all

al waha flavors are grape, strawberry, honey, vanilla, after 9, and banana split (although I just used the last of grape the other night). and I have romman chocolate and cinnamon (for what its worth, i get a little bit more taste out of these) like i said, i just placed an order for 20 various shots of hookah-hookah shisha, AND today i also bought 5 flavors of nakhla (double apple, mixed fruit, sweet melon, mint, and mango) as well as strawberry and grape al fakher...so, i'll have have alot to compare to the al waha

the quick lites are 33 mm goldens...but i just ordered some 3 kings since im running out....im beginning to think that the coals could possibly be the issue, but who knows

also, i have no cold or allergies that would stop me from tasting properly. in fact, on my birthday i went to a hookah bar but had a bad cold, but fortunately it didnt stop me from tasting the great flavors they had there.

and....sorry SixPackSunday, im engaged

Dreamer_1969 - yay for RI!! how do the mya's smoke? are they much bigger than the pumpkin?

I do plan on buying a new hookah, but right now I'm a bit low on cash so its gotta wait. maybe when i get my tax return. has anyone gotten a custom hookah at hookahhookah.com? i was thinking of doing that

[Neil's butt boy.]

the mya 's smoke as good as a bigger hookah & the QT is 10 inches tall with no bowl on it the econo is a bit taller

[Cybersist]

I started out with a Disco Pumpkin, as a matter of fact it makes a nice desk ornament these days. From experience with these, Pumpkins are horrible to smoke with any intent of being serious. The glass that is used for the base has the ability to capture any flavor that has passed through it and combine it with new hookah smell. It is virtually impossible to remove for some reason, and I've tried muriatic acid. The seals also aren't that tight due to the concentration of sticking LEDs in the stem. And I won't even to begin mentioning the torrent of rust they collect (This goes for the hose as well). The bowls that come with Pumpkins are actually decent; I still use mine from time to time.

As for Al Wala, I've only had chocomint, and it was tolerable at best.... but that's chocomint.

I would suggest getting a small hookah, such as a Mya Acrylic (pretty cheap, and I think H-S has them in clearance), until you are comfortable with shelling money out for a larger hookah.

I wish the best of luck to you in your quest for a successful hookah session at your own discretion, it is really rewarding!

[Synesthesia]

The glass that is used for the base has the ability to capture any flavor that has passed through it and combine it with new hookah smell. It is virtually impossible to remove for some reason, and I've tried muriatic acid.

YES! i thought i was just crazy but my hookah has this god awful smell to it that i just cant wash off, but i thought that just came with the territory. ive tried baking soda, lemon juice, ect. and nothing works. maybe thats whats messing with the flavors?

well, i bought Dreamer_1969's Mya Econo last night, so we'll see if it is, in fact, my pumpkin thats making the smoke suck!

[Cybersist]

The glass that is used for the base has the ability to capture any flavor that has passed through it and combine it with new hookah smell. It is virtually impossible to remove for some reason, and I've tried muriatic acid.

YES! i thought i was just crazy but my hookah has this god awful smell to it that i just cant wash off, but i thought that just came with the territory. ive tried baking soda, lemon juice, ect. and nothing works. maybe thats whats messing with the flavors?

well, i bought Dreamer_1969's Mya Econo last night, so we'll see if it is, in fact, my pumpkin thats making the smoke suck!

Easily, any foreign flavors can and will have an effect on the taste of your smoke. I don't know how to get rid of this smell or taste, either. If Muriatic does work, I don't know what would.

Congrats on the hookah buy!

[redjako]

My friends got a 8" pumpkin hookah, freaking minature.

I've been able to pull gobs of smoke on the sucker, and minimal flavor (the bowls so small, cooks so fast).


WATER LEVEL is very key in these suckers i think, more so then most larger hookahs.

Good luck.

[Synesthesia]

My friends got a 8" pumpkin hookah, freaking minature.

I've been able to pull gobs of smoke on the sucker, and minimal flavor (the bowls so small, cooks so fast).


WATER LEVEL is very key in these suckers i think, more so then most larger hookahs.

Good luck.

yah, mines about 8" tall also (without the bowl). damn...well, i guess this little pumpkin just isnt right for me, it seems like no matter what i try it still sucks. i'll try my hand at something a little more forviging (my MYA!!! thats on the way! ). i think ive tried the water at every possible level and the smoke still doesnt taste like much! (plus that new hookah/rubbery smell isnt helping at all, im sure).

do you think i should grab another type of bowl so the shisha doesnt cook as fast, or allow the flavor drip out? (bigger, phunnel, ect?)

[redjako]

My friends got a 8" pumpkin hookah, freaking minature.

I've been able to pull gobs of smoke on the sucker, and minimal flavor (the bowls so small, cooks so fast).


WATER LEVEL is very key in these suckers i think, more so then most larger hookahs.

Good luck.

yah, mines about 8" tall also (without the bowl). damn...well, i guess this little pumpkin just isnt right for me, it seems like no matter what i try it still sucks. i'll try my hand at something a little more forviging (my MYA!!! thats on the way! ). i think ive tried the water at every possible level and the smoke still doesnt taste like much! (plus that new hookah/rubbery smell isnt helping at all, im sure).

do you think i should grab another type of bowl so the shisha doesnt cook as fast, or allow the flavor drip out? (bigger, phunnel, ect?)

You could try a phunnel...my friends pumpkin bowl is inserted into the hookah, not placed on it like all other hookahs, so if yours will allow a larger bowl, go for it. You may just have a gunk hookah...

If you can post up a bunch of pictures, that will help immensely. Smoking and non-smoking.