Al Fakher and Tangiers just arrived

[Buford]

My order of AF Golden black grape and Tangiers cinnamon from Hookahcompany  I mentioned in the "Blackcurrant tobacco" thread just arrived about an hour ago.  I haven't had a chance to smoke either yet, having just put both into storage containers and giving them time to "air out" and acclimate to local humidity.  However, here are my first thoughts:Al Fakher Golden black grape----------------------------------When I opened the package I was greeted by a plastic storage container and a gold-colored pouch of tobacco, as well as a faint blackcurrant-y smell.  The included storage container is a nice touch, as I usually use disposable food storage containers to hold my tobacco.  I proceeded to dump the contents of the pouch into the container and stir the tobacco around.  This stuff is very RED!  And also very wet compared to Nakhla.  The scent was more of a grape/blackcurrant mix after opening, but it is very powerful.  It's currently downstairs in my kitchen and I can smell it on the stairs, a smell similar to Twinings blackcurrant tea.  If this stuff smokes anything like the way it smells, I'll be one very happy camper.  The cut appears to be a little more fine than Nakhla, with which I am familiar.  There don't appear to be nearly as many stems either.I'll have to add to this once I actually smoke it.Tangiers cinnamon----------------------The package smell reminded me of Big Red chewing gum.  Upon opening, however, the scent wasn't quite the same, smelling much more like tobacco with a cinnamon smell mixed in (go figure, eh?).  It isn't quite as goopy as the Al Fakher, but still much more wet than Nakhla.  It is a rough, chunky cut and black as tar - it really reminds me of a wetter version of looseleaf chewing tobacco.  Kind of smells like it too... almost makes me want to stuff a wad into my cheek but I think I'll refrain from trying that.  There are a few leaf veins mixed in, but no Nakhla logs.  Due to the cut, it appears to take up much more volume than the Al Fakher in a storage container.  I'm definitely looking forward to giving this one a shot.  The smell isn't nearly as potent as the Al Fakher. Now comes the hard part... which do I try first?  I'm tempted to go with the Tangiers first since he says it can clear a pipe of old tastes, and that pipe has not been subjected to anything recently but Nakhla orange and double apple.  I'm probably going to have to try a couple or three bowls of each before I can write a fair review of either.

[Donkeema]

if the A.F GS GRAPE is anything like the standard grape then you will be more than just a happy camper. its a great flavour!

[Cicada]

i picked up some Golden Fakher Grape yesterday and smoked it -- its a great flavor -- very grape-y. i also smoked the golden fakher e. apple lastnight but was rather unimpressed..however, it could have been those new safa-lite coals i tried, that i think, give great amounts of heat since its such a large coal...but also have a very strong flavor and ruins the tobacco. :/

[Alqoshnia]

[quote name='Donkeema']if the A.F GS GRAPE is anything like the standard grape then you will be more than just a happy camper. its a great flavour![/quote]
TWO THUMBS UP!! I have to agree Ive tried the Al Fakher Grape and it was VERY nice.......maybe I should save it for a review post in a different thread but anywho.......yea I have really enjoyed AF grape for as long as it lasted (couple of days) but not the golden al fakher black grape which IM DIEING to get my hands on it as I really rely on local stores but I should try ordering online.
well I hope you enjoy the grape and if your looking for a very sweet tasting session just add 50/50 water and grape combination it did alot for me.

[Sonthert]

I hope you enjoy it. I always though cinnamon would be a great flavor and some people really like it. Good puffing, sir!

[HookahEnthusiast]

yea cinnamon would be a really interesting flavor to try..my new favorite ma'ssell (starbuzz) doesnt make a cinnamon i dont think so if i ever try it ill pick it up through tangiers..no offense to you eric..ive heard nothing but positive things about ur tobacco as well as urself i just havent gotten the opportunity to try it yet!

[xgracegalex]

what website did you order from? I think I am going to buy some AF golden black grape. I have been looking for a good grape and this one seems to be good by some of the comments.

[xgracegalex]

crap, nevermind. I now see from the hookah company..this forum should have an edit button on posts.

[Buford]

Okay, after smoking a few bowls of both, here are my takes on these two tobaccos.  Keep in mind that the only brand I have smoked previously is Nakhla.My usual setup involves a QT Mya, one 3 Kings 40mm coal, foil, and hot water from the tap in the base.Al Fakher GS black grape------------------------------Oh my god this stuff is pure awesome.  It fits the bill for exactly what I was looking for - that being a blackcurrant tobacco.  I'm not even sure why this stuff is billed as "grape" - I don't get much that I recognize as grape out of it.  However, it tastes exactly like blackcurrant, and I can say that with authority since I have a bottle of blackcurrant juice right here.  It's sweet and tasty, with a good amount of smoke.  I think I have just found my new favorite.  Very easily worth the $15 I paid for it.I don't get much of a buzz from it.  It tends to stain the base water a bit pink from the coloring.  The taste is strong enough that it overpowers whatever you smoked previously, so there is very little flavor clash at the beginning of the smoke.Tangiers cinnamon----------------------Now this stuff is different.  Different in a "knock you on your ass" Nakhla zaghloul sort of way.  Three puffs in and I'm dizzy from the buzz. Definitely what you want if you go for that sort of thing.  The taste is mild cinnamon like a chewing gum cinnamon flavor with a blackstrap molasses aftertaste.  The first few puffs will have some flavor clash if you've smoked a different variety previously, but it takes over shortly thereafter.  It seems to produce about as much smoke at the AFGS grape.  The stuff can go seemingly forever - I tend to use only one coal per session, but I was able to go through two 3 Kings 40mm coals and it still held the flavor at the end.  It's a good change from fruity flavors.  The base water becomes a bit brown from (I'm assuming) the molasses.I'd have to say that the quality of the Tangiers smoking experience is better than pretty much any Nakhla varieties I've tried, but I prefer the AFGS grape overall.  Granted, this may be a little biased in favor of the AF since blackcurrant flavor was what I was searching for and the AF hit it so dead-on that I'm in love with it.

[Brad]

Cinnamon always seems to have the most powerful buzz compared to his other flavors. Well, at least of what I've tried.

[Alqoshnia]

hey Buford, how come you chose to put HOT water instead of icey cold, is there a difference (better or worse) or you just tryin it out? And also how long did the sessions last before the flavor faded away for the AF and Tangiers? Sorry bout all the questions

[xgracegalex]

one of my friends said the main reason he likes hookah is because the smoke is cold. why would you make it hot?? Once I receive mine I will make sure my water is ice cold with lots of ice!

[Buford]

[quote name='Alqoshnia']hey Buford, how come you chose to put HOT water instead of icey cold, is there a difference (better or worse) or you just tryin it out? And also how long did the sessions last before the flavor faded away for the AF and Tangiers? Sorry bout all the questions[/quote] I have tried ice in the water, room temperature water, and hot water. The two extremes, icy water and hot water (as hot as it gets from the tap, estimated 120 or so degrees F) seem to both be better than room temperature water for bringing out flavor. I prefer to use hot water since it's more of a pain to deal with ice, and the two methods seem to produce very similar results.Interestingly enough, hot water doesn't really seem to make the smoke hot. I have exhaled smoke drawn from a hot water setup onto the back of my hand, and it still feels much colder than normal breath. The only time I have gotten warm smoke is when I was smoking outside and the sun was bearing down on the hose (which is black), heating the air inside it.The flavor on both lasted a good long time, but I wasn't watching the clock. The Tangiers lasted through two whole 3 Kings 40mm coals, using only one at a time. I haven't smoked the AF for that long, but the flavor was still there when I quit smoking.

[ZAP]

Phew.... I'm happy you liked the AF and you agree about the blackcurrant.  I would have felt guilty if you were disappointed since you went off my recommendation alone!