How Best To Use Shisha

[Undisputed P4P]

i've got a small shisha at home but when i use it i don't get alot of the flavour coming through. just want to know if your meant to:

• fill the bowl fully with the flavour or fill it 3/4 of the way, i normally pack it in totally but get very little flavour. am i doing something wrong.
• does the size of shisha affect the flavour
• if the flavour is sticky does it mean it is out of date.

as i said above i only have a small shisha, so would it be better to get a bigger one. will that improve the taste that comes through.

[Arcane]

i'd skip getting a new hookah right now and learn the basics of packing a bowl and heat management.

most tobaccos tend to smoke better when packed fairly dense...some more than others. if you're using a somewhat standard egyptian or mod bowl, i'd suggest loosely packing the tobacco 1/4in over the rim (maybe a little less) and then foil over tight. the foil should "compress" the tobacco on its own and it should give you the right density.

as far as heat management, that's a whole lot of trial and error...

here's some tips:

Add More Heat:
-thin smoke, light flavor

Remove Heat:
-burned taste
-lots of smoke, little flavor
-the hookah is on fire

[NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD]

what brand shisha are you using, how are you packing it, what kind of coals are you using, how many are you using,what type of bowl are you using..all these needs to be answered so we can better help you bro

[foibled again]

Check for air leaks in your shisha. You can check the stem tube by covering one end with your palm and blowing through the other. Check the purge and hose ports buy covering the shank end with your finger and blowing through the other end. Also, make sure there is a ball bearing in your purge valve and that it is sealing properly.

Sticky tobacco is ok. Most are made with glycerin and molasses or honey. The tobacco doesn't really go bad, just dries out over years kinda.

[Undisputed P4P]

what brand shisha are you using, how are you packing it, what kind of coals are you using, how many are you using,what type of bowl are you using..all these needs to be answered so we can better help you bro

don't know the brand, bought a cheap 1 on holiday. using the coals that you light up your self with a lighter, normally use 1 coal. the bowl is the normal one that you get with it, pretty small.

i went to a shisha cafe a couple of days ago and in there you can taste the flavour properly but at home i get very little taste.

[Undisputed P4P]

i'd skip getting a new hookah right now and learn the basics of packing a bowl and heat management.

most tobaccos tend to smoke better when packed fairly dense...some more than others. if you're using a somewhat standard egyptian or mod bowl, i'd suggest loosely packing the tobacco 1/4in over the rim (maybe a little less) and then foil over tight. the foil should "compress" the tobacco on its own and it should give you the right density.

as far as heat management, that's a whole lot of trial and error...

here's some tips:

Add More Heat:
-thin smoke, light flavor

Remove Heat:
-burned taste
-lots of smoke, little flavor
-the hookah is on fire

.

thanks, your info helped.

i think its got alot to do with that it's a poor quality hookah, when i get a bit more experience, and money then i will buy a bigger better quality 1.

if it's a cheap hookah would it affect the amount of taste you get or is it always the same?

[foibled again]

The shisha will affect how it smokes, not the smoke itself if that makes any sense to you. That's more determined by the tobacco, packing, and heat management.

A poor quality shisha can be made to smoke decently and sometimes pretty good even, unless it has an air leak or two.

[RingsMaster]

i'd skip getting a new hookah right now and learn the basics of packing a bowl and heat management.

most tobaccos tend to smoke better when packed fairly dense...some more than others. if you're using a somewhat standard egyptian or mod bowl, i'd suggest loosely packing the tobacco 1/4in over the rim (maybe a little less) and then foil over tight. the foil should "compress" the tobacco on its own and it should give you the right density.

as far as heat management, that's a whole lot of trial and error...

here's some tips:

Add More Heat:
-thin smoke, light flavor

Remove Heat:
-burned taste
-lots of smoke, little flavor
-the hookah is on fire

.

thanks, your info helped.

i think its got alot to do with that it's a poor quality hookah, when i get a bit more experience, and money then i will buy a bigger better quality 1.

if it's a cheap hookah would it affect the amount of taste you get or is it always the same?

i find its all about the packing and heat management, pack your bowl loosly to the rim, i dont go far over the rim if over it at all. try breaking your coal in half and put them on opposite sides of the bowl. this might help a little bit, let us know how this works and come back to us with results and we can go from there

[NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD]

are you sure the brand you were smoking at the cafe is the same brand has yours? cause you know theres a huge differences between brands..not all are created equal

[fineout]

if your bowl is very small, like they are with some small hookahs (what you call a shisha) then it is very easy to overheat the bowl and that can turn it into a terrible session. If you're using quicklights at least get some good ones like 3kings or HookahJohn CH quick lights. Also try to break them up into halves or thirds and try using 2 of the thirds and keep them on the sides of the bowl not in the middle.

[Jacob Shock]

what brand shisha are you using, how are you packing it, what kind of coals are you using, how many are you using,what type of bowl are you using..all these needs to be answered so we can better help you bro

don't know the brand, bought a cheap 1 on holiday. using the coals that you light up your self with a lighter, normally use 1 coal. the bowl is the normal one that you get with it, pretty small.

i went to a shisha cafe a couple of days ago and in there you can taste the flavour properly but at home i get very little taste.

thats a problem right there. quicklight coals ruin the flavor. get some nats

[joytron]

Clean it!

[Charley]

what brand shisha are you using, how are you packing it, what kind of coals are you using, how many are you using,what type of bowl are you using..all these needs to be answered so we can better help you bro

don't know the brand, bought a cheap 1 on holiday. using the coals that you light up your self with a lighter, normally use 1 coal. the bowl is the normal one that you get with it, pretty small.

i went to a shisha cafe a couple of days ago and in there you can taste the flavor properly but at home i get very little taste.

most of us on here are referring to the Mu'ussel (the tobacco) itself when we say say shisha simply because that's how most ppl refer to it in the USA and Canada(and that seems to be where the majority of us are). I know its a bit of intentional ignorance on our part, and I hope you can forgive us for it but when someone ask about shisha on here they usually mean the Mu'ussel.

from what you told us it sound like you are most likely using an Egyptian bowl (round shallow lots of holes in the bottom) if so try to pack it full make sure your foil is tight over it and if you have one use a toothpick to put the holes in it. now when you have that part done turn the bowl and place your mouth on the neck of it and blow (this will do 2 things 1. it will unblock the holes in the bottom of the bowl and 2 it will let you know if you have enough holes. blowing through it should be almost as easy as blowing air out without it there.)

now assemble the hookah (water 1-1/2 inches above the stem in the base.) then place your hand directly over the bowl and pull through the hose (this will tell you if you have any air leaks you should get almost no air at all flowing through the hookah with your hand there.)

now as for coals I do suggest getting some natural coals.
but we will work with what you have
take the quicklight coal and break it in half then break a second one in half as well start with one half of one coal on one side of the bowl and one half on the other side near the edge if the smoke is still thin and flavorless after a minute or two lite one more half and place on the 3rd side of the bowl and you should be set you may need all 4 halves but I doubt it (also make sure your quick lite is lit all the way otherwise it will drastically affect the taste of the smoke and will most likely give you a headache or even a stomachache )

[foibled again]

most of us on here are referring to the Mu'ussel (the tobacco) itself when we say say shisha simply because that's how most ppl refer to it in the USA and Canada(and that seems to be where the majority of us are). I know its a bit of intentional ignorance on our part, and I hope you can forgive us for it but when someone ask about shisha on here they usually mean the Mu'ussel.

FWIW, the only reason I posted in this thread is because he correctly used the word. I don't understand how any community can consider itself informed if it can't even use the proper terminology.

[Arcane]

most of us on here are referring to the Mu'ussel (the tobacco) itself when we say say shisha simply because that's how most ppl refer to it in the USA and Canada(and that seems to be where the majority of us are). I know its a bit of intentional ignorance on our part, and I hope you can forgive us for it but when someone ask about shisha on here they usually mean the Mu'ussel.

FWIW, the only reason I posted in this thread is because he correctly used the word. I don't understand how any community can consider itself informed if it can't even use the proper terminology.

it's because i'm awesome....

[Codename067]

Practice makes perfect.

Trial and Error will get you very far.

Even though there are general packing rules, people tend to have different ways or methods of packing.

What might work for me might not exactly work for you, and what might work for you might not work for someone else, and so on.

Now to answer your questions:

1. Pack the bowl all the way up, then slightly push it down so it sits juuuuuust below the rim of the bowl.
2. Hookah size has absolutely no effect on the flavor. Only a dirty hookah will effect the taste.
3. Stickiness does not necessarily mean that tobacco is outdated. It could simple be dry/not moist or juicy enough.

[nars2k]

Like Codename said, trial and error. I tend to just sprinkle the flavor and make sure its barely at the rim of the bowl.

[Undisputed P4P]

Like Codename said, trial and error. I tend to just sprinkle the flavor and make sure its barely at the rim of the bowl.

your info helped, i think i understand how i'm meant to use it correctly now. i thought it was known as shisha everywhere, but now I see that people in america call it hookah, which isn't a problem because my old man uses one.

i'll probably try using the shisha on the weekend but i don't want to make it a habit, just something that i can enjoy every couple of weeks.

i use the quick light coles because their simple and easy to use, and are available at the shop.

i'll get back to you on if your info worked, but thanks.

the best flavour to use with a shisha is watermelon and berry.