Thinking Of Taking A Risk.

[Jacob Shock]

ok guys i see john is selling al fahker soft black buy the kilo. i really want to try this flavor, but im scared of getting a bad batch. really scared. its 40 bucks.

has anybody heard of a bad batch of soft black?

[antouwan]

ok guys i see john is selling al fahker soft black buy the kilo. i really want to try this flavor, but im scared of getting a bad batch. really scared. its 40 bucks.

has anybody heard of a bad batch of soft black?

it hasn't been out long enough to have 'bad batches' because this is the first batch. . .at least in north america. if it comes in something smaller, like a 250g i would get that. if it isn't available in anything less than kilos just makes sure you meet most of the criteria of some one who would like this flavor - more into the tobacco taste of the hookah flavors.

[hookah hippie]

never actually had it is it any good

[Jacob Shock]

never had it

[Stuie]

I know John is seriously digging it, but I still am not 100% sure what it tastes like.

[Hippo_Master]

soft black is the single most amazing flavor by AF, and it's MUCH better than Naklha Zag. the flavor is light fig and dark chocolate and light black molasses flavor. If you don't like pipe tobacco I would avoid this flavor, but I think it is definitely worth a try. This tobacco is in the old style Al Fakher cut, and for you that haven't been around long enough to see the difference, the cut is like Tangiers.

It won't taste like anything you have smoked so far in your sessions. Edited November 19, 2009 by Hippo_Master

[twoapplesplease]

hippio master how juicy would you say the af black is?Is it supposed to be smoked with foil or without?Sounds good to me but I don't like that its still a washed tobacco I was thinking of getting the AF soft black and try mixing in some zag or khan to give it a little kick.

[ih303]

hippio master how juicy would you say the af black is?Is it supposed to be smoked with foil or without?Sounds good to me but I don't like that its still a washed tobacco I was thinking of getting the AF soft black and try mixing in some zag or khan to give it a little kick.

I talked to John the other day, and he said to smoke it just like Zag.

For those of you who have never experienced NK Zaghoul, it's just straight, unflavored tobacco. It's packed losely just over the top of the bowl and smoked without foil.

I compare it to smoking a cigar. Don't expect clouds like you get with regular shisha, and expect it to ghost in whatever it touches forever. We have a dedicated Zag pipe at the lounge.

[boludo]

ok guys i see john is selling al fahker soft black buy the kilo. i really want to try this flavor, but im scared of getting a bad batch. really scared. its 40 bucks.

has anybody heard of a bad batch of soft black?

That is a lot of tobacco for an flavor you are not sure if you will like. I will try to find a couple friends that also want to try it and see if you can split the order... just my 2 cents

[MrMoodz]

To me it tastes similar to Nakhla Zaghloul and you don't have to pre-treat it with anything. With Zagh I always do a little glycerine and honey or glycerine and molasses. If you like Nakhla Zaghloul then you will like this flavor.

[Hippo_Master]

I don't know why anyone would smoke this without foil. They only used to do it int he middle east because they didn't use foil while smoking, like they do often times nowadays with the new brands and such. this isn't tombac here, it's not meant to be burned directly - that's why there's molasses on it. The reason Zag is so dry is because it dries out. Fresh, like you can get directly from Egypt for like 1.50, is very wet.

Af Soft Black just hit the states and John is the first person to ever distribute it to the public. He has connections, and this is why he is the only one. The tobacco is extremely juicy and you would completely ruin in by smoking it the way del says to. This should smoke exactly similar to every other tobacco you normally smoke, only you might feel the buzz. it's in no way a Tangiers buzz, nor a Desi buzz - more like nakhla if you don't have a tolerance.

Moassel should not be smoked like tombac. This is not the 1800's. We only add stuff to Zag in order to get it smoking like normal nakhla. Even Desi should smoke relatively well (cloud-wise) if you add enough glycerine and honey.

[mattarios2]

I don't know why anyone would smoke this without foil. They only used to do it int he middle east because they didn't use foil while smoking, like they do often times nowadays with the new brands and such. this isn't tombac here, it's not meant to be burned directly - that's why there's molasses on it. The reason Zag is so dry is because it dries out. Fresh, like you can get directly from Egypt for like 1.50, is very wet.

Af Soft Black just hit the states and John is the first person to ever distribute it to the public. He has connections, and this is why he is the only one. The tobacco is extremely juicy and you would completely ruin in by smoking it the way del says to. This should smoke exactly similar to every other tobacco you normally smoke, only you might feel the buzz. it's in no way a Tangiers buzz, nor a Desi buzz - more like nakhla if you don't have a tolerance.

Moassel should not be smoked like tombac. This is not the 1800's. We only add stuff to Zag in order to get it smoking like normal nakhla. Even Desi should smoke relatively well (cloud-wise) if you add enough glycerine and honey.

John said it is .05% so I assume it has the same buzz free smoke like the rest of AF ... no?

[Hippo_Master]

I don't know why anyone would smoke this without foil. They only used to do it int he middle east because they didn't use foil while smoking, like they do often times nowadays with the new brands and such. this isn't tombac here, it's not meant to be burned directly - that's why there's molasses on it. The reason Zag is so dry is because it dries out. Fresh, like you can get directly from Egypt for like 1.50, is very wet.

Af Soft Black just hit the states and John is the first person to ever distribute it to the public. He has connections, and this is why he is the only one. The tobacco is extremely juicy and you would completely ruin in by smoking it the way del says to. This should smoke exactly similar to every other tobacco you normally smoke, only you might feel the buzz. it's in no way a Tangiers buzz, nor a Desi buzz - more like nakhla if you don't have a tolerance.

Moassel should not be smoked like tombac. This is not the 1800's. We only add stuff to Zag in order to get it smoking like normal nakhla. Even Desi should smoke relatively well (cloud-wise) if you add enough glycerine and honey.

John said it is .05% so I assume it has the same buzz free smoke like the rest of AF ... no?

Naturally it depends on the person, as it won't buzz me or probably most of the people here, but yes it's just the same as the rest of AF. I believe that the tobacco may not be washed like basic AF so the nicotine deliverance is heavier. Who know though, it may just be because i don't ever smoke AF.


I also mentioned del made the post ih303 made, and i'm retarded, I tought I taw delsolsi's name. . Sorry man! Honest mistake.

ih303: Zag isn't just straight tobacco. Zag used to be a perfected recipe created by a guy in the early 1900's, but I'm sure it deosn't taste the same as nakhla is mass produced. Moassel isn't straight tobacco, it's a mix of molasses, tobacco, and flavorings (which could be spices, fruits, or artifcial). Edited November 19, 2009 by Hippo_Master

[mattarios2]

yah until ALL of their line goes back to the old school cut/old school flavoring ... i refuse to smoke it.

[Hippo_Master]

yah until ALL of their line goes back to the old school cut/old school flavoring ... i refuse to smoke it.

I'm with you on that. Most definitely.

[Stuie]

yah until ALL of their line goes back to the old school cut/old school flavoring ... i refuse to smoke it.

I'm with you on that. Most definitely.

I agree but i do occasionally pick up a 50g pack you know to finish out an order to get certain discounts and stuff.

[Jacob Shock]

im gonna buy some eventully. just hope john has some in a month.

hippos master description was making me excited.

[Jacob Shock]

soft black is the single most amazing flavor by AF, and it's MUCH better than Naklha Zag. the flavor is light fig and dark chocolate and light black molasses flavor. If you don't like pipe tobacco I would avoid this flavor, but I think it is definitely worth a try. This tobacco is in the old style Al Fakher cut, and for you that haven't been around long enough to see the difference, the cut is like Tangiers.

It won't taste like anything you have smoked so far in your sessions.

Desi murli?

[Hippo_Master]

soft black is the single most amazing flavor by AF, and it's MUCH better than Naklha Zag. the flavor is light fig and dark chocolate and light black molasses flavor. If you don't like pipe tobacco I would avoid this flavor, but I think it is definitely worth a try. This tobacco is in the old style Al Fakher cut, and for you that haven't been around long enough to see the difference, the cut is like Tangiers.

It won't taste like anything you have smoked so far in your sessions.

Desi murli?

Nope. Desi is darker and spicier.

[Jacob Shock]

soft black is the single most amazing flavor by AF, and it's MUCH better than Naklha Zag. the flavor is light fig and dark chocolate and light black molasses flavor. If you don't like pipe tobacco I would avoid this flavor, but I think it is definitely worth a try. This tobacco is in the old style Al Fakher cut, and for you that haven't been around long enough to see the difference, the cut is like Tangiers.

It won't taste like anything you have smoked so far in your sessions.

Desi murli?

Nope. Desi is darker and spicier.

Thank god. desi was a little to much. if soft black is like a liter version of desi i will be pleased.

[ih303]

ih303: Zag isn't just straight tobacco. Zag used to be a perfected recipe created by a guy in the early 1900's, but I'm sure it deosn't taste the same as nakhla is mass produced. Moassel isn't straight tobacco, it's a mix of molasses, tobacco, and flavorings (which could be spices, fruits, or artifcial).

Yeah, I figured it had something in it. I was just pointing out that it's not like other kinds of shisha in regards to flavor and consistency.

I've got to say though, man. I think Zaghloul is exactly the same here as it is in the Middle East (i.e. not dried out). We have guys from Saudi come into the lounge all the time to smoke Zag and they were the ones who taught me how to pack/serve it. I commented on how dry it was and they said that's how it's supposed to be. They said it's not supposed to be like regular shisha and to not expect the clouds. They also said the only way to smoke it is without foil. From what I've heard, it's super popular in Egypt and that's how they serve it there.

I'm not saying that Arab's know everything, but when you hear the same thing verified over and over from different sources, you tend to start believing it.


BTW... I tried Soft Black last night and didn't like it at all. It's not juicy per se, but it's too juicy to smoke with just coals directly on the baccy. Zag is smooth and full of taste. Soft Black had a decent flavor, but it was way harsher than Zag with the same heat and flavorless with less heat. I did get more smoke off of Soft Black, but I attribute that to the moisture level in it. I'm not sure if it would work with foil and John told me he smoked it just like Zag - without foil.

One recommendation. Use some sort of coal that ashes a lot like CH nats. I tried it with some goldens last night and when I went to flip them the baccy just stuck to the coal and jacked up my bowl. Again, I blame the juicy nature of Soft Black. Since the nats ash more, you won't have to worry about it sticking as bad.

One last comment. I'm sure you could add glycerine and foil to this and smoke it like any other shisha. But I appreciate the tradition and ritual of certain hookah practices. It's kind of like when you go to a chinese restaurant, the fork may be the superior eating utensil, but you use chopsticks because of the tradition - that's the way it was meant to be eaten. While I embrace plenty of modern hookah developments, the ritual of smoking Zag, as I've been shown it, is something I will not touch. Edited November 20, 2009 by ih303

[Link]

Seems like a huge risk to go for a kilo of something new. I wouldn't do it. Plus, isn't he also offering the mint for the same price? Seen a lot of great reviews for AF mint, but also some negative. Seems more common though, have you tried it? Edited November 20, 2009 by Link

[NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD]

huge risk there man, if you dont like it then its gona be hard to get rid of a whole kilo, plus the price..you can get alot of things for the price of that kilo..if you really wanted to try it i say find someone who has already bought it and see if they will sell you a sample..about 50-100g's

[Sonthert]

Zaghloul is smoked without foil to maximize the heat on the tobacco.

Makes me want to release unflavored Tangiers now.

[Jacob Shock]

Zaghloul is smoked without foil to maximize the heat on the tobacco.

Makes me want to release unflavored Tangiers now.

That sounds great eric!

i would give it a hint of a tobacco like flavir though. like for instance a hint of dark chocalte and fig.

not to the level of being unflavord, but more like a mild alteration.

ever smoked AF pipe, like that but less extreme.