Hassouni Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Evening all, Some may remember me posting some purchases I got in Lebanon, namely two really wide, shallow bowls, allegedly for mu'assal, and a really weird looking one for ajami and zaghloul, etc, seen here: [img]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs157.snc3/18479_569126793551_37003198_33664570_68316_n.jpg[/img] Having first tried the traditional bowl with some unflavored Salloum....all I can say is, GOD DAMN It's like smoking a cigar but WAY more intense. My friend and I couldn't last more than 15 minutes without deciding to call it quits and moving onto something fruit flavored. Pics of said manliness: [img]http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs137.snc3/18479_570375351431_37003198_33725872_4680446_n.jpg[/img] That's just a bigass lump of slightly moistened tobacco. It smells like a cheap cigar [img]http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs137.snc3/18479_570375356421_37003198_33725873_1168618_n.jpg[/img] With some natural Red Kastle bulk charcoal thrown on. Difficult balancing act! We switched to CCNs which worked much better. In the end, taking delicate puffs, we got about the same amount of smoke as a cigar, though it took several minutes to produce any real volume. I guess a deep drag would produce big clouds, but we didn't dare. Overall, I'd say it's something to do as a novelty, if you get tired of all your fruit flavored stuff, or if you have a hardcore cigar smoker who claims he doesn't like hookahs. Definitely not something I'd do every day. Question for anybody who's smoked out of a bowl like that....how do you keep everything from falling off? The only solution I see is to pile it on, compact it, then flatten a bit at the top for coals, but that was easier said than done As for the other bowl, some people here seemed skeptical when I first posted about it, but it works really well! There's so much more surface area, so there's a lot more of the bowl you can move the coals around on, most of the mu'assal gets cooked (vs having at least half at the bottom still pretty much in its raw state at the end of a session). My al Fakher got a bit heat sensitive, but I bet something like Nakhla would be awesome in it - still haven't tried anything besides AF in it yet though. I noticed in Lebanon they sold bowls like that with the Egyptian configuration too...Looks like John has something similar on his site, http://www.hookahjohn.com/product.sc?productId=210&categoryId=12, I'd be curious to hear other peoples' impressions if anybody has one of those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sine Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I've always been curious... with Tombiek and the like, are you typically supposed to drag like you do with normal shisha, or just "puff" like you would with a cigar or pipe? The idea of inhaling something like that kinda frightens me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 People here say, and people in the Middle East seem to confirm, that puffing is the order of the day. I mean I'm not a hardcore smoker (not a daily nargile smoker, never smoke cigs, rarely smoke cigars), and the thought of taking a huge drag was terrifying, like i said, it was way more intense than even a big full real cigar. Interestingly, a lot of non-nargile smokers often don't like mu'assal but do really like the flavorless stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Shock Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 (edited) I inhale long deep and hard. do whatever works for you. oh and i pack it fairly tight and hame a level surface. it has always smoked better for me this way. better smoke, easy heat manegment. Edited January 19, 2010 by Jacob Shock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretender85 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 [quote name='Jacob Shock' date='18 January 2010 - 11:08 PM' timestamp='1263881296' post='446331'] [b]I inhale long deep and hard. do whatever works for you.[/b] oh and i pack it fairly tight and hame a level surface. it has always smoked better for me this way. better smoke, easy heat manegment. [/quote] I do hope someone puts that in a sig somewhere...rofl But yeah, haven't tried zaghoul or any of those unflavored ones yet, tempted to give them 1 try though one of these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seefoodlover Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 i wish there were a hose that i could take a long puff with resistance, like a cigar. it's really annoying to puff on a regular hookah hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 I'd say a Mya hose with that kind of tobacco is pretty damn close. In fact I think I did use my Mya hose for that, and that was one of the reasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatonethere Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 No offense to anyone who likes old school shisha (as described in the thread title)and hookah method, but that sounds like instant lung cancer to me. I'm a fan of the foil method, and flavoured tobacco myself, but if this is your thing, then more power to you. It does sound like inhaling a fat cigar in one breath from the begining all the way down to the end though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Hahahaha yeah dude, that's why this will only be a VERY occasional thing, probably only to be done with my pipe and cigar-smoking friend. I vastly prefer regular mu'assal too. But it was nice to try it out, figure out how to do it, just for the record Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srawas89 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...you inhale it you lose a lung lol. But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. Edited January 21, 2010 by srawas89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 [quote name='srawas89' date='20 January 2010 - 07:26 PM' timestamp='1264037178' post='446709'] yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...[b]you inhale it you lose a lung lol.[/b] But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. [/quote] But then how does Jacob Shock still have his lungs?! He says he inhales "long deep and hard." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Shock Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 [quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='20 January 2010 - 07:15 PM' timestamp='1264040105' post='446719'] [quote name='srawas89' date='20 January 2010 - 07:26 PM' timestamp='1264037178' post='446709'] yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...[b]you inhale it you lose a lung lol.[/b] But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. [/quote] But then how does Jacob Shock still have his lungs?! He says he inhales "long deep and hard." [/quote] Exactly. i never lost a lung. it is a harsh smoke. not only is it full bodied, its also harsh. i started taking small hits and gradually moved on to "long, Deep, and Hard" you shouldnt loose a lung smoking the stuff if you get used to it. it really grows on some people. you also need to learn to have contol as you smoke. for me it easy. the flavor is so full i dont ever chain the shit out of it. if i am chainig it i take smaller hits. personally "this is just my opinion" i think if your puffing on it you are doing it wrong. you cant apreciate its full flavor that way. just try puffing on a shisha, youll see what i mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) [quote name='srawas89' date='20 January 2010 - 07:26 PM' timestamp='1264037178' post='446709'] yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...[b]you inhale it you lose a lung lol.[/b] But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. [/quote] I got the bowls from this argileh shack outside Souk el Ahad, next to the Beirut River sort of between Ashrafiye and Burj Hammoud, based on Hookah John's recommendations. He said there was a "huge Syrian run hookah complex" there...I found a huge complex, selling all sorts of glassware and pottery stuff, though the nargile shack itself wasn't that big. Not sure if I found the place John meant. In any case I got all the stuff in the first pic for $10 (though the damn base has already cracked!) [quote name='Jacob Shock' date='20 January 2010 - 10:14 PM' timestamp='1264043672' post='446728'] Exactly. i never lost a lung. it is a harsh smoke. not only is it full bodied, its also harsh. i started taking small hits and gradually moved on to "long, Deep, and Hard" you shouldnt loose a lung smoking the stuff if you get used to it. it really grows on some people. you also need to learn to have contol as you smoke. for me it easy. the flavor is so full i dont ever chain the shit out of it. if i am chainig it i take smaller hits. personally "this is just my opinion" i think if your puffing on it you are doing it wrong. you cant apreciate its full flavor that way. just try puffing on a shisha, youll see what i mean. [/quote] I think by puffing we mean hitting like you'd hit a cigar, slowly and drawn out, right chaps? I mean not like short little puff-puff-puffs, but not taking a huge inhalation of air straight into the lungs like mu'assal either. At least that's my understanding Edited January 21, 2010 by Hassouni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srawas89 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 [quote name='Hassouni' date='20 January 2010 - 10:29 PM' timestamp='1264044578' post='446730'] [quote name='srawas89' date='20 January 2010 - 07:26 PM' timestamp='1264037178' post='446709'] yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...[b]you inhale it you lose a lung lol.[/b] But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. [/quote] I got the bowls from this argileh shack outside Souk el Ahad, next to the Beirut River sort of between Ashrafiye and Burj Hammoud, based on Hookah John's recommendations. He said there was a "huge Syrian run hookah complex" there...I found a huge complex, selling all sorts of glassware and pottery stuff, though the nargile shack itself wasn't that big. Not sure if I found the place John meant. In any case I got all the stuff in the first pic for $10 (though the damn base has already cracked!) [quote name='Jacob Shock' date='20 January 2010 - 10:14 PM' timestamp='1264043672' post='446728'] Exactly. i never lost a lung. it is a harsh smoke. not only is it full bodied, its also harsh. i started taking small hits and gradually moved on to "long, Deep, and Hard" you shouldnt loose a lung smoking the stuff if you get used to it. it really grows on some people. you also need to learn to have contol as you smoke. for me it easy. the flavor is so full i dont ever chain the shit out of it. if i am chainig it i take smaller hits. personally "this is just my opinion" i think if your puffing on it you are doing it wrong. you cant apreciate its full flavor that way. just try puffing on a shisha, youll see what i mean. [/quote] I think by puffing we mean hitting like you'd hit a cigar, slowly and drawn out, right chaps? I mean not like short little puff-puff-puffs, but not taking a huge inhalation of air straight into the lungs like mu'assal either. At least that's my understanding [/quote] O ok, I am somewhat familiar with the area you are talking about....Gives me one more reason just to go back. Anyway I do agree with what you mean by puffing it is like puffing a cigar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Shock Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 [quote name='Hassouni' date='20 January 2010 - 08:29 PM' timestamp='1264044578' post='446730'] [quote name='srawas89' date='20 January 2010 - 07:26 PM' timestamp='1264037178' post='446709'] yea for zaghloul and tombeik you can not inhale the smoke. It is like a cigar...[b]you inhale it you lose a lung lol.[/b] But yea it is quite strong and but its nice and there is a diff kind of flavor to it, its more a bold rich flavor that you get with good straight tobacco like a cigar. I enjoy smoking it from time to time but my lungs punish me the following day haha. By the way were did you get them in Libnan? I was there over my university's Christmas break... didn't want to come back to the states lol. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to bring back a hookah...o well. [/quote] I got the bowls from this argileh shack outside Souk el Ahad, next to the Beirut River sort of between Ashrafiye and Burj Hammoud, based on Hookah John's recommendations. He said there was a "huge Syrian run hookah complex" there...I found a huge complex, selling all sorts of glassware and pottery stuff, though the nargile shack itself wasn't that big. Not sure if I found the place John meant. In any case I got all the stuff in the first pic for $10 (though the damn base has already cracked!) [quote name='Jacob Shock' date='20 January 2010 - 10:14 PM' timestamp='1264043672' post='446728'] Exactly. i never lost a lung. it is a harsh smoke. not only is it full bodied, its also harsh. i started taking small hits and gradually moved on to "long, Deep, and Hard" you shouldnt loose a lung smoking the stuff if you get used to it. it really grows on some people. you also need to learn to have contol as you smoke. for me it easy. the flavor is so full i dont ever chain the shit out of it. if i am chainig it i take smaller hits. personally "this is just my opinion" i think if your puffing on it you are doing it wrong. you cant apreciate its full flavor that way. just try puffing on a shisha, youll see what i mean. [/quote] I think by puffing we mean hitting like you'd hit a cigar, slowly and drawn out, right chaps? I mean not like short little puff-puff-puffs, but not taking a huge inhalation of air straight into the lungs like mu'assal either. At least that's my understanding [/quote] Id hit a ciagar the same way id hit a cigarette. here is my take. if you take it in your lungs, your not puffing on it. its in your lungs. at that point its not a matter of how big a hit you take, but rather how much volume you inhale. if you take hits like me your probably gonna take less hits overall. but smaller hits youl probably take 5 ot 6 back to back right? in the end you get will probably had the the same amount of smoke in your lungs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 Well the idea of a cigar, and as I take it, 'ajami, zaghloul, etc, is not really to get it into your lungs. But if that's what you do and you like it, all power to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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