Popping My Cherry Tomorrow

[jayson]

My Tangiers cherry! My package is on the FedEx truck and is due to arrive with my new phunnel, because my dumbass broke the old one, along with 250g of Tangiers Guava.

So you all are throwing around such strange terms like acclimation. Please, enlighten me as to what to do once this package arrives on my door step so that I don't screw up.

PS, can I use Mattarios' Nakhla tutorial with Tangiers?

Thanks!

[Stuie]

Spread the tobacco and break it up in the container you are going to store it in. Let it sit open in the air till it smells right.

Then pack it like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACfPMVGV2V0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHyeNUoBZTM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-WqKeBlMWA

[jayson]

Alright guys, we had to reschedule this smoke sesh for tonight. That being said, this was fairly last minute and I did not acclimate the Tangiers. Just got back and here are my thoughts:

I first packed it according to John's tutorial that you posted. I did the "foil test" and added more tobacco. It was packed pretty tight. I then proceeded to poke holes using the fork, but only through the foil and not into the tobacco itself.

Second, I used two of John's CH coals to light it up. Initial thoughts: great buzz, great flavor and great smoke. After about 5 minutes though, the smoke became way too harsh and I removed the coals after noticing that the tobacco itself was burning.

I put the coals back on after about 5 minutes and again had the same issue. Chalking it up to beginner's non-luck, I scrapped the bowl and started fresh. This time, I emulated Mattarios' packing tutorial for Nakhla. I used the same amount of coal on this bowl and had better luck. Unfortunately, the clouds just weren't there and neither was the buzz. We all called it quits after about 30 minutes of battling wispy clouds and no buzz.

The only thing I can think of is all of the dire warnings: I didn't acclimate the tobacco. Is this the reason for my problems? Edited November 6, 2009 by jayson

[NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD]

smell the shisha, if it smells like the flavor its done, if it smells like soy sauce its not

[dizzbizz]

If it tasted fine it should be acclimated. Maybe too much heat? I used ShishaCo natural coals and two whole ones is too much. but i cut them in half to make 4 halves and its perfect. Dunno why.

[Chiefin]

Use 3 coals. This will fix the problem, I promise.

[r1v3th3ad]

Use 3 coals. This will fix the problem, I promise.

he's already burning it...in tangiers instructions it says to use low heat on it, lower heat than you would use with other shishas.

I'd recommend going with a lighter pack, as in not as tight. Maybe split your coals...what size phunnel you using?

[Hookie The Hookah]

Alright guys, we had to reschedule this smoke sesh for tonight. That being said, this was fairly last minute and I did not acclimate the Tangiers. Just got back and here are my thoughts:

I first packed it according to John's tutorial that you posted. I did the "foil test" and added more tobacco. It was packed pretty tight. I then proceeded to poke holes using the fork, but only through the foil and not into the tobacco itself.

Second, I used two of John's CH coals to light it up. Initial thoughts: great buzz, great flavor and great smoke. After about 5 minutes though, the smoke became way too harsh and I removed the coals after noticing that the tobacco itself was burning.

I put the coals back on after about 5 minutes and again had the same issue. Chalking it up to beginner's non-luck, I scrapped the bowl and started fresh. This time, I emulated Mattarios' packing tutorial for Nakhla. I used the same amount of coal on this bowl and had better luck. Unfortunately, the clouds just weren't there and neither was the buzz. We all called it quits after about 30 minutes of battling wispy clouds and no buzz.

The only thing I can think of is all of the dire warnings: I didn't acclimate the tobacco. Is this the reason for my problems?

Not sure why you would be using the Nakhla tutorial. You were totally on the right track with the first bowl. Repeat what you did there and pay attention to coals. Start low and work up until you have a decent cloud situation going on. If it starts getting AT ALL harsh move the coals away from the center of the bowl. You live in California so I'm willing to bet acclimation is not something you'll need to worry about.

Also to everyone else in this thread: look

great buzz, great flavor and great smoke

He got it to work, he just burned it. Problem very quickly solvable... Edited November 6, 2009 by Hookie The Hookah

[alexander]

I would say that your problem is too much heat, 2 of John's coals on a small phunnel is definitely too much for Tangiers. Break your coals in half, and start out with two halves, and add the third one if the smoke/flavour isn't up to par. A windcover is a necessity for me to get a good session with Tangiers as well, as sometimes 3 halves is too much, and 2 is too little. Whenever this occurs, I take one of the halves off, throw on the windcover, and its perfect.

[jayson]

I'd recommend going with a lighter pack, as in not as tight. Maybe split your coals...what size phunnel you using?

Small phunnel- coals were split by the way into half pieces.

[jayson]

Not sure why you would be using the Nakhla tutorial. You were totally on the right track with the first bowl.

Something just didn't seem right- packing the Tangiers in fairly tight and only poking holes with the fork through the foil. I've been smoking Nak for about 2 weeks now and have been getting excellent bowls, flavor and clouds with the Nak tutorial, so I figured I would give it a shot... most importantly poking the holes down into the shisha for ventilation.

In any case, it sounds like I need to pack it like the youtube video and only use 1 of John's coals, broken in half plus my wind cover?

[Hookie The Hookah]

Not sure why you would be using the Nakhla tutorial. You were totally on the right track with the first bowl.

Something just didn't seem right- packing the Tangiers in fairly tight and only poking holes with the fork through the foil. I've been smoking Nak for about 2 weeks now and have been getting excellent bowls, flavor and clouds with the Nak tutorial, so I figured I would give it a shot... most importantly poking the holes down into the shisha for ventilation.

In any case, it sounds like I need to pack it like the youtube video and only use 1 of John's coals, broken in half plus my wind cover?

Don't worry about fork-poking, you can do your holes however you see fit. Just try to keep the coals towards the edge of the bowl. The windcover idea will probably work too...

[jayson]

Don't worry about fork-poking, you can do your holes however you see fit. Just try to keep the coals towards the edge of the bowl. The windcover idea will probably work too...

But do I need to poke down into the shisha? Or just pierce the foil?

[inino]

most will say all the way down, i find it doesnt matter. It took me a while to get tangiers right, but now i love it. just make sure to acclimate, i usually go for 8-10 hours and I dont live too far from san diego.

[jeremyk]

put the holes all the way down through the tobacco so it can breath a little bit more that tip helped my sessions alot