Beginners Question Tobacco Is Not Getting Hot

[George123]

I fill the bowl but after the coal has burnt out only a fifth or less of the tobacco is black. The tobacco on top, in the centre is black but the rest hasn't changed colour and isn't used up at all as far as I can tell. If I just put a small amount of tobacco in it doesn't turn black/produce smoke/burn. Only the tobacco that is jammed right up next to the tin foil that the coal sits on, gets hot enough. What am I doing wrong? thanks

[GreatPigHookah]

I fill the bowl but after the coal has burnt out only a fifth or less of the tobacco is black. The tobacco on top, in the centre is black but the rest hasn't changed colour and isn't used up at all as far as I can tell. If I just put a small amount of tobacco in it doesn't turn black/produce smoke/burn. Only the tobacco that is jammed right up next to the tin foil that the coal sits on, gets hot enough. What am I doing wrong? thanks

More info would help. What brand coals are you using, what brand tobacco, what type of bowl (phunnel, egyptian, modern, etc).

You are supposed to move the coals around every so often to more evenly heat the bowl. You should probably be using more than one coal, the amount you use will depend on the type of bowl, brand of shisha, and type of coal you're using.

[Tikhman]

The first question is, are you getting good smoke and flavor? If you are getting both, don't worry about it. It just means that you aren't smoking long enough to use all of the tobacco in the bowl.

[Sonthert]

It sounds like you just put one set of charcoal on and then stop smoking, right?

As the charcoal burn down, put more on. Most of the time charcoal won't burn as long as a bowl will be good, so keep adding new hot charcoal every 20-30 minutes. Some people will smoke the same bowl for an hour or two...or 12, depending on the tobacco.

[Tom1]

or 12, depending on the tobacco.

[arhutch]

ya, more info would help....

but it does sound like you stop smoking after the coals are out. add more heat and keep adding coals as they go out.

[MrMoodz]

or 12, depending on the tobacco.

That made my afternoon.

[a_shimoon]

Sounds to me like there is a leak in your setup somewhere.

The top is burning because it is directly exposed to the coals. But, with a leak, the really hot air which vaporizes the tobacco doesn't reach the bottom.

Make sure that you are covering your bowls with plenty of foil and that you press it down on the sides to make sure no leaks. Make sure all other leak points are checked (top of stem where bowl sits, between stem and base, between stem and hose, hose, etc).

I'm sure if you seal things up properly, as well as breaking the coal up into smaller pieces (spread over the whole bowl), and make the tobacco not touch the top, you should be able to get some wicked smoke going.

[NarghileNights]

if you manage to burn every leaf in the bowl, it is going to taste horrible.

the results you are seeing are normal - just throw coal on until it tastes terrible!

[An1m]

if you manage to burn every leaf in the bowl, it is going to taste horrible.

the results you are seeing are normal - just throw coal on until it tastes terrible!

Then take off the tin foil and put all of your coals + 3 more directly on the tobacco. C'mon guys stop kidding with him just because he's new! He came here for help, not to be flamed!

But srsly, just practice heat management, it all comes with time and practice. Check how densely you're packing your tobacco and experiment with different densitys. Dryer, unwashed tobaccos tend to need to be packed in tighter (brands like Nakhla or Tangiers) and require more heat to give great clouds with huge taste. If you're smoking a washed tobacco pack the bowl lighter and use a little less coal.

Start your coals off on the edge of the bowl then move them around the edges then finally into the center. Usually you'd start by hanging the coals off the edge of the bowl, but a better way to achieve this effect, without wasting coals, is to just break them (before or after you light them) and use smaller pieces on the outside. Usually halves but sometimes thirds if that will get the job done better.

[Sonthert]

if you manage to burn every leaf in the bowl, it is going to taste horrible.

the results you are seeing are normal - just throw coal on until it tastes terrible!

Then take off the tin foil and put all of your coals + 3 more directly on the tobacco. C'mon guys stop kidding with him just because he's new! He came here for help, not to be flamed!

But srsly, just practice heat management, it all comes with time and practice. Check how densely you're packing your tobacco and experiment with different densitys. Dryer, unwashed tobaccos tend to need to be packed in tighter (brands like Nakhla or Tangiers) and require more heat to give great clouds with huge taste. If you're smoking a washed tobacco pack the bowl lighter and use a little less coal.

Start your coals off on the edge of the bowl then move them around the edges then finally into the center. Usually you'd start by hanging the coals off the edge of the bowl, but a better way to achieve this effect, without wasting coals, is to just break them (before or after you light them) and use smaller pieces on the outside. Usually halves but sometimes thirds if that will get the job done better.

I answered him seriously. I was trying to be helpful.