Hookie The Hookah Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hi just some quick background on me. I used to live in northern Virginia which has a wide variety of hookah bars, some better than others, and have been smoking hookah for probably four years now. I recently moved to Richmond VA which has, as far as I've noticed, a considerably smaller "hookah bar scene." On to the post...I've had in my time of smoking the very consistent and very frustrating issue of hookah bar greed (presumably stemming from the owner thereof). That is, a very tense environment where more money is asked of the customer than they are typically interested in spending despite the desire to buy something. I have two stories to illustrate this, one from NOVA and one from Richmond.First, I was out trying to buy coals from a hookah bar very near to a house that I intended to smoke in. When I got there I found that they had a credit card minimum that was higher than the cost of coals. My initial reaction was to buy just another roll of coals which I announced to the owner, then I decided that I could save some money by just ordering two coffees. Upon telling the owner this, his face had an immediate look of total dissatisfaction, and he did not look at or speak to either me or my friend for the rest of the time we were in there. This was over a two dollar difference in purchase. Two dollars.The next story, or continuing issue really, is that there are two hookah bars very close to where I live here. And they basically have a monopoly over shisha sales. They both sell shisha at absolutely absurb prices. We're talking 20 dollars for 250g of Nakhla. 30 for 250g of AF and they're about to start selling starbuzz at what I'm sure will be an equally rediculous price. Because of the priciness all I can really afford when I'm buying on a whim is half a box of Naklha.Now I know there are a lot of Nakhla lovers around here so I need some advice. Frankly, I think the stuff is crap. You get weak clouds unless you apply too much heat, at which point it becomes too intense on the throat and body, and it tastes only vaguely like the advertised flavor to boot. Basically, I need some advice on improving my Naklha experience. I've heard of adding honey, does this do anything? I dunno, I'm really at a loss for ideas here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattarios2 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 You don't need to add honey/glycerine but if you want massive clouds it makes things easier.You can get big clouds from nak without adding anything, just gotta know what you are doing.The key is to pack the shit out of it. You want to pack a lot in the bowl, more than you think, but still allowing good airflow through the bowl, once you get down the amount of shisha needed in the bowl, you will take back what you said about nakhla ... hopefully lol. Then add small pieces of coal, if you are using ql or naturals crack em in half put one half and pull on it for a while. If no good clouds, add another piece, and continue and continue till you have good clouds and no harshness, if no matter what you are doing it is harsh, you are packing improperly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinamon Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 i highly recommend purchasing tobacco from hookahjohn.com and mnhookah.comthey are my "go to" vendors.also, to get better clouds and slightly better flavour to nakhla, add a little bit of vegetable glycerin to it and mix it up. let it sit for a few hours as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookie The Hookah Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Cool, I'll try that now. The reason I was inspired to post this was really because today, I smoked a head of Nahkla and straight-up thought I was going to die from the intensity of it. I can assume it was packed sketchily cuz my gf (who is not much of a smoker) graciously packed it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1v3th3ad Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I would highly recommend NEVER buying your shisha from either places...you are just paying for convenience...its like paying 2.50 or so for gatorade at 711 when I can get it for 1.00 at the local grocery store...shop online+ you can broaden your horizons on shishas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuburbanSmoker Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 lol the buzz is quite nice. and ya buy online. you always get the joy of opening up a package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColibriDon Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'm a huge nakhla fan/avid smoker and you can get huge clouds out of it. You just have to pack it tighter and keep the coals monitored. Nakhla is difficult to burn and because of this you can keep the coals more towards the center of the bowl than you normally would. Also, buy from online vendors, hookahcompany.com, hookahjohn.com, and if you really want a great Nakhla experience, pick up a kilo can of Double Apple from hookah-shisha.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooka_bears Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Yeah unless you live in the chicago area, buy online. 20 for nak and 30 for AF is ridiculous. I can get 250g of nak for $5 and AF for 12. Take your business elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcane Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 hookahjohn.com!! my favorite vendor ever!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinite Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Maybe I can solve one of your problems:http://consumerist.com/consumer/your-right...w-id-333160.phpIt is against Visa's/MC's contract to require a minimum. Complain using the Mastercard online form and call Visa. It will stop immediately. I've done it twice, and it was cleared up within a month. I think they threaten to disallow use of their cards at the store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indian_villager Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Buy your stuff online it will save you so much. I firmly stand by Hookahcompany.com John at Hookahjohn.com is a stand up guy as well. As for the weak smoke goes buy yourself an authentic tangiers phunnel bowl (you will the tempted by the cheaper chinese knock off when you see the prices but the knock offs suck at holding heat so they will eat your coals and more than destroy the benefits of the $2 price difference). Learn to pack naklah like tangiers in a phunnel bowl and you will get thuderclouds of explosive flavor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4d1ct3d Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 What about using nakhla in a regular egyptian bowl? Does the "packing it hard" method still aplly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjako Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 QUOTE (Zinite @ Mar 30 2009, 07:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Maybe I can solve one of your problems:http://consumerist.com/consumer/your-right...w-id-333160.phpIt is against Visa's/MC's contract to require a minimum. Complain using the Mastercard online form and call Visa. It will stop immediately. I've done it twice, and it was cleared up within a month. I think they threaten to disallow use of their cards at the store.LOL nice, a shitty smoke shop local here charges .50 for purchases under five bucks with visa or mastercard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjako Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 You should sell shisha outta yer garage. With the requisite permits etc.Then you'd have 2-6 months of pure ownage until the hookah lounges adjust their prices Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbs Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Lazy Dayz Hookah Lounge in Newport News (about an hour maybe from Richmond) has slightly above average prices last time I checked, not absurd like you listed.. but they are tolerable if I'm in a bind.You're looking for Nakhla? Have no fear! There's a tobacco shop on Rt 17 about 5 miles away from Lazy Dayz that I mentioned earlier that sells Nakhla for $5-$7.. they have a lot of regular flavors, I did not notice any Sherezade or Mizo lines in there however.. and they sell coals as well, but no spectacular brand in particular. There's a few Middle Eastern guys in there every time I go and they're real nice, I plan on asking them whether they plan on upping their hookah/shisha stock anytime. EDIT: They did have sherezade cinnamon, I forgot but only in 50g packs.. and sherezade earl grey.I forgot the name of the place off of 17, but I can try and search up an address for you. Also have you checked out Aladdin's in Richmond? My friend lives right across the street, I never actually went but she has and said it was a pretty decent establishment.. I can't recall any prices or if they sell stuff though.Aside from all of that, there isn't shit for Hookah/Shisha in Hampton Roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookie The Hookah Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 I too live quite close to aladdins and they're even sketchier. I went in around when I moved here to see what was up with it and asked the guy about their prices. Same deal as the other place, the only difference is they claim it's homemade (when in reality it's nakhla taken out of the box and the initial silver bag (I asked to look at it when they claimed it was homemade)) and charge about a dollar extra over the competing place about a block away.I'm not looking for nahkla. I'm looking for somewhere that is local (I do like to support my local businesses and interacting with people that are typically from a totally different culture than mine is always a plus) that sells AF or Al waha or something similar for a price that isn't blatant greediness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbs Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Oh, well sadly the only place I would even consider buying shisha is Lazy Dayz.. and that's when I'm in a bind, because they still have a $3-$6 markup on various products.There might be some cool shop somewhere out of plain sight that I haven't discovered, but until then I buy my stuff online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookie The Hookah Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Do they have anything other than nahkla? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbs Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Lazy Dayz sells AF, Layalina, Tangiers, and Starbuzz and mainly just instant light coals like 3 kings, and hookahs/bowls and whatnot. The service there is good, I can't recall 100% the prices but something like 13-14 for AF, 16'ish for Tangiers, Starbuzz is overpriced out the ass though since the college kids around the area are attracted to pretty packaging.The tobacco shop I was speaking of mainly has Nakhla, and a couple off-beat no name brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang_steve Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 QUOTE (4d1ct3d @ Mar 31 2009, 12:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>What about using nakhla in a regular egyptian bowl? Does the "packing it hard" method still aplly?Yes...pack the ever living hell out of it...Nak tends to be dry, so you'll still get decent pull even with it packed to hell and back. Sometimes I just take a chip from a 250g brick, drop it in the bowl, and smush to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilded777 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hey there... sorry to hear about the raping going on at the hookah lounges; but its not much different from what I hear around here (though I do not go to them -- $25/hr seems a little outrageous to me for a hookah).As far as Nakhla, I posted an alternative method to packing a standard Egyptian bowl in the wiki. I use this method with Nakhla (admitedly, I just started smoking the brand, but I have had three bowls now, all packed this way, and each one was near perfection); but I would say that heat management (as others have already said) is also key.We need a wiki article on heat management, various tips, etc.I know it really has been the MOST important thing I have learned in my short time here. Well, other than that Tangiers rocks, and Nakhla is awesome, and... and...well you get the point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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