Premium Vs Value Shisha

[Zeaken]

I am just getting into hookah smoking. There are a large number of brands out there for shisha smoking of the tobacco variety. These brands greatly change in price from something like starbuzz to layalina. Often the more expensive brands throw around terms like premium and suggest they are far superior in terms of quality.

Is there a night and day difference between the "value" brands and "premium" brands or is it more of a refined difference a beginner such as myself wouldn't notice/ could not appreciate?

I am also aware some of the more expensive brands like starbuzz and tangiers are domestically grown which accounts for some of the premium i am sure.

[Skoozle]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"]Start off with the value brands. Go to your local shop and get a few different 50g packs. I suggest Nakhla and Al Fakher, both are good and very inexpensive. About $2.50 for a 50g pack where I get mine. With these, you can see the difference between wet and dry shisha. These are pretty easy to get right so you can develop your packing and heat management skills. Learn how to smoke hookah before you spend a bunch of money trying premium shisha. You can spend $100/g on shisha but have a bad session if you don't pack it right or get the heat wrong.

Here is a poll to give you an idea of which shishas are good.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/36367-top-6-brands/"]http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/36367-top-6-brands/[/url]







[/size][/font]

[Codename067]

Just because a brand is expensive, it does NOT necessarily make it "Premium"...Don't buy into this...

Starbuzz has some decent flavors, but it is not even on the list of my top 3 favorite brand.

Start with AF, Nakhla Mizo, and explore other flavors too.

[RingsMaster]

[quote name='Codename067' date='01 March 2010 - 01:52 PM' timestamp='1267473120' post='454546']
Just because a brand is expensive, it does NOT necessarily make it "Premium"...Don't buy into this...

Starbuzz has some decent flavors, but it is not even on the list of my top 3 favorite brand.

Start with AF, Nakhla Mizo, and explore other flavors too.
[/quote]

amen i would recommend starting with AF, nak mizo and layalina, all good shishas that arent very expensive and are in my top 5 brands for sure

[ryno]

For me, premium just means more expensive.

[Chreees]

[quote name='ryno' date='01 March 2010 - 02:14 PM' timestamp='1267474492' post='454554']
For me, premium just means more expensive.
[/quote]

Agreed.

[PSU Smoker]

Yep, id agree with every1 above.

250g of AF only costs a buck or two less than Tangiers and half this forum swears by Tangiers =)

[Universal Magnetic]

My stash is comprised of Mainly AF and Nakhla/Nakhla Mizo, with a little bit of Tangiers Lucid, JM, and Starbuzz.

premium doesn't mean better, just more expensive. my favorite all time brand is probably one of the cheapest.

[Zeaken]

Thanks for the input. Currently i am working on a AF grape mint (which seems to be either loved or hated, nothing between). I think i will expand and buy some more AF, nak, and tangiers. I wish i could step into trying tangiers without buying 250g but that doesnt seem to be an option so i hope it ends favorably.

[Mr.Frosty]

I agree with what everybody said before me. More expesnive shisha does not always mean better flavor/bigger clouds. But most cheaper brands do not offer cocktail and exotic flavors, so if you're into that you will have to invest a lil more. Everybody has got a different sense of taste, so just try to find out what is right for you (my favs are guava flavors <3)...

[Venger]

I can get Nak for 4.99 - 7.99 250g and AF 8-10 for 250g and both have so many flavors I haven't tried. I plan on sticking to these for now.
The only thing that has temped me so far is if blue flower is really lavender.
Ray

[jeremyk]

I'd say go with nak because they have some quality consistance flavor that smoke great and nak can take a lot of heat which for a beginner who may not be very good at heat management is great. Also if you shop around you can find nak on the cheap

[Capt. Morgan]

As has already been stated premium does not mean better. I mainly smoke Tangiers, but AF, Nahkla, and Layalina are good brands that are reasonably priced. Just avoid Hookah-Hookah and Hookah Freak they are pretty much garbage.

[chinamon]

[quote name='Codename067' date='01 March 2010 - 07:52 PM' timestamp='1267473120' post='454546']
Just because a brand is expensive, it does NOT necessarily make it "Premium"...Don't buy into this...
[/quote]

+1
the only thing "premium" about those brands is the price tag.... and the fancy packaging.

[A13lackFish]

I personally do not believe that premium brands are only fancy packaging, typically they tend to hold alot more flavor (for example SS, SB, or Tang will hold alot more then Roman Tob. Will), typically seem to last longer in terms of "freshness" though tobacco i.m.o never really spoils it just tends to sit and age better over time depending on quality. And in general depending on the brand be it a premium or value brand some companies have more reputability then others (same goes for hookahs.... (Its like debating between a Kahlil Mamoon or a Chinese no name hookah there is a gap between quality but both will still work, it all depending on what your willing to spend)

[Arcane]

[quote name='A13lackFish' date='01 March 2010 - 07:50 PM' timestamp='1267509015' post='454719']
I personally do not believe that premium brands are only fancy packaging, typically they tend to hold alot more flavor (for example [b]SS, SB, or Tang will hold alot more then Roman Tob. Will[/b]), typically seem to last longer in terms of "freshness" though tobacco i.m.o never really spoils it just tends to sit and age better over time depending on quality. And in general depending on the brand be it a premium or value brand some companies have more reputability then others (same goes for hookahs.... (Its like debating between a Kahlil Mamoon or a Chinese no name hookah there is a gap between quality but both will still work, it all depending on what your willing to spend)
[/quote]
seems like your logic is flawed from the start....Romman tobacco is considered premium shisha, self-referenced and by price tag. Romman costs more than Tangiers and just as much as SS and SB. Also, the oldest tobacco I've smoked that I'd say hasn't lost a step was Nakhla Double Apple. This has lasted longer than any SB, AF, or Fusion in my stock. It's also lasted longer than my Tangiers (although, I think that could be due to certain flavor's shelf life.

In my opinion, cost is pretty much related to cost to the maufacturer and the markup/profit they want in return. It has little to do with the actual quality of the tobacco.

[Venger]

[quote name='Arcane' date='02 March 2010 - 01:42 AM' timestamp='1267512134' post='454743']
[quote name='A13lackFish' date='01 March 2010 - 07:50 PM' timestamp='1267509015' post='454719']
I personally do not believe that premium brands are only fancy packaging, typically they tend to hold alot more flavor (for example [b]SS, SB, or Tang will hold alot more then Roman Tob. Will[/b]), typically seem to last longer in terms of "freshness" though tobacco i.m.o never really spoils it just tends to sit and age better over time depending on quality. And in general depending on the brand be it a premium or value brand some companies have more reputability then others (same goes for hookahs.... (Its like debating between a Kahlil Mamoon or a Chinese no name hookah there is a gap between quality but both will still work, it all depending on what your willing to spend)
[/quote]
seems like your logic is flawed from the start....Romman tobacco is considered premium shisha, self-referenced and by price tag. Romman costs more than Tangiers and just as much as SS and SB. Also, the oldest tobacco I've smoked that I'd say hasn't lost a step was Nakhla Double Apple. This has lasted longer than any SB, AF, or Fusion in my stock. It's also lasted longer than my Tangiers (although, I think that could be due to certain flavor's shelf life.

In my opinion, cost is pretty much related to cost to the maufacturer and the markup/profit they want in return. It has little to do with the actual quality of the tobacco.
[/quote]
i agree. cost does not imply quality. Something made outside the usa is going to cost less. That does not infer a lack of quality. Nak and AF are just as good if not better for buzz or flavor as the other brands.
Ray

[antouwan]

[quote name='ryno' date='01 March 2010 - 02:14 PM' timestamp='1267474492' post='454554']
For me, premium just means [s]more expensive.[/s] overpriced.
[/quote]

fixed.

[antouwan]

[quote name='Venger' date='02 March 2010 - 10:20 AM' timestamp='1267546819' post='454807']
[quote name='Arcane' date='02 March 2010 - 01:42 AM' timestamp='1267512134' post='454743']
[quote name='A13lackFish' date='01 March 2010 - 07:50 PM' timestamp='1267509015' post='454719']
I personally do not believe that premium brands are only fancy packaging, typically they tend to hold alot more flavor (for example [b]SS, SB, or Tang will hold alot more then Roman Tob. Will[/b]), typically seem to last longer in terms of "freshness" though tobacco i.m.o never really spoils it just tends to sit and age better over time depending on quality. And in general depending on the brand be it a premium or value brand some companies have more reputability then others (same goes for hookahs.... (Its like debating between a Kahlil Mamoon or a Chinese no name hookah there is a gap between quality but both will still work, it all depending on what your willing to spend)
[/quote]
seems like your logic is flawed from the start....Romman tobacco is considered premium shisha, self-referenced and by price tag. Romman costs more than Tangiers and just as much as SS and SB. Also, the oldest tobacco I've smoked that I'd say hasn't lost a step was Nakhla Double Apple. This has lasted longer than any SB, AF, or Fusion in my stock. It's also lasted longer than my Tangiers (although, I think that could be due to certain flavor's shelf life.

In my opinion, cost is pretty much related to cost to the maufacturer and the markup/profit they want in return. It has little to do with the actual quality of the tobacco.
[/quote]
i agree. cost does not imply quality. Something made outside the usa is going to cost less. That does not infer a lack of quality. Nak and AF are just as good if not better for buzz or flavor as the other brands.
Ray
[/quote]

i would also say that pricing has to do with how much money the producers want to make. Nakhla and AF have distribution globally and perform very well. the more expensive brands here like SB aren't even heard of most places overseas, if at all. the operations are cheaper to maintain in the mid east AND they have to sell at a MUCH lower margin. here, companies like SB and fumari et al have to jack the prices up for limited distribution and more expensive operating costs.