The Dude Abides Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Man, I've been smoking hookah for few years now and have used nothing but natural coals (lemon wood and olive tree), and even the two hookah bars I've frequented have only used natural coals. I've always had an enjoyable experience, that is until I was forced to buy some Golden Charcoal two weekends ago (I forgot to bring natural coals with me on spring break). Sure they light easily and are efficient, but DAMN there was a MASSIVE difference in smoke-quality between the Golden coals and my usual natural bulk coals. Needless to say, the difference was not a good one. Honest to god, it lowered the quality of smoke with Al Fakher grape (and various other good brands/flavors) by 40-50%. Absolutely horrendous experience, and no this does not have to do with "heat management" as I know what I'm doing. The next day I tried it again with another hookah and got the same results, the two main results being: a) sharp chemical taste that nearly overpowers flavor of ma'assel, and throat singed beyond all comprehension (still somewhat sore). Haven't been able to use my hookah since then as I am waiting for a new shipment of bulk nattys. I seriously, SERIOUSLY reccommend sticking with natural coal. The fact that they ash more is A-OK with me. Sure beats the hell out of a truly awful hookah experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookahEnthusiast Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 the majority of my smoking has been done with the golden quicklites. i've never smoked using any form of natural coal (yes sad i know) but golden coals have always been the most convenient for me and seemed to have worked fine...but after reading the above post from the dude...i really need to try some natural coals to see if there really is such a drastic difference in my smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushrat Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 im going to ask the obvious just because it has to be done.... you DID let the goldens get white and ashy ALL over before trying to smoke with them right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted March 22, 2006 Author Share Posted March 22, 2006 ^^^Oh yes. Yes sir of course I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpico Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I don't know. I had been using lemon wood up until this spring break...when I too forgot them and my local smoke shop only carried sultan quick lites.Honestly, they smell horrible when you're lighting them up, but after that it's not so bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c4r80n Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I've used 3 kings, and now I use golden quick lights. I get my Nour finger coals in tomorrow because I was wondering if I was missing on some flavor potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravencadwell Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 so far I've used Golden coals and lemonwood coals. Lemonwood coals were just too much hassle and the taste of the coals overpowered the tobacco flavor just too much for me. The golden coals didn't have that funny taste that some brands of quick light coals do and they burn longer. I guess it's just a personal preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenWizard Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 3 Kings or Japanese here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsmoke Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Just try Swiftlite charcoal or three kings. this two brands are the best quicklighting charcoal available and i smoke all my hookahs with this charcoals. I dont know the golden charcoal. maybe its a bad brand ? I smoked with natural coals too and yes its right the tobacco has a better flavour and smokes better but i think it makes not a very big difference to the quicklighting charcoal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBurns Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Correct me if I'm wrong but just because the coals are in gold foil doesn't necessarily mean they are THE golden charcoals. Could've been a cheap off-brand. Personally I prefer 3kings of the quicklites I've used, but like a few others I've never tried the naturals. Just seems like a lot of hassle and extra hardware to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookahCaterpillar Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I have always used 3 kings, Ive tried the japanese little square ones they burn off in a matter of 10-15 minutes i end up going through 3-4 coals in one bowl and they are not cheap. I always use the finger coals and there a pain to light and by the time you do get it lit it burns off very fast in my experience. Also you barely nudge the hookah and your finger coal goes rolling right off of the bowl. Ive used sahara smoke brand quicklite and never again!! They fill up your entire room with stinky stinky smoke it was like the swat team busted in and threw tear gas we all evacuated haha. To each there own but i have experimented with many many coals and i find myself going back to 3 kings quicklite every time. If i were to use a natural coal it would probably be the finger coals though they are really cheap you buy a 1 kilo bag for like 10 dollars at my local shop, the 3 kings cost me 20 bux for a box of 100 40mm coals and 15 bux for a box of 100 smaller 3 kings coals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oggie505 Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 i use both 3kings and golden quick light and liek them fine. The natural coals seem like too much trouble, i am a lazy person... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Haze Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I use 3 kings, and never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashraj84 Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 What's supposed to be better? Golden of 3 Kings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenWizard Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Never tried Goldens but you can't go wrong with the Kings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlabel Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 I just got a box of 40mm 3Kings from SocialSmoke. Can you believe they're made in Holland, but i can't seem to find any european supplier that sells them.Anyway, I put the coal on the stove for about 5 mins till it was red hot - not ashed all over though. How long do you wait till this happens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 Japanese coals are disappearing...give me Jap coals or I jump, I swear it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c4r80n Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 psst...tangiers...i know where you can find some japanese golden brand coals....www.thehookah.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeema Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 all about GOLDEN RIVER in the UK!great quicklights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravencadwell Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 These are the brand of Golden Coals I use. They're not cheap, but they last a while [url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/category.html?UCIDs=354900"]http://www.hookah-shisha.com/category.html...ml?UCIDs=354900[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I believe that all coals have a flavor signature. We get used to one and when we change we are appaled because things taste different. My opinion, anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitefanatic Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 "Aw hell" <spits out baccy juice> "all ya'll gotta do is toss a big ol' flamin' cow pie on top o' dat thing there and start puffin' man!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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