Tangiers Harshness Problem

[pokerbay]

Hi. I have read some reviews about Tangiers and how sometimes the flavour smokes very harshly. Well that is the problem i encountered with my first time smoking Tangiers. I let it acclimatize for 6 hours on foil while spreading it out a little. I know there is nothing wrong with my pipe because with Al Fakher it produces clouds and clouds of smoke. I dont think there was anything wrong with the way i packed it either because i was managing to get quite a bit of smoke from 2 coals and got a very strong buzz with my first two puffs! however it was very harsh. The flavour is in an air tight container, should i let it out again? Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Voski]

[quote name='pokerbay' date='18 April 2010 - 02:40 PM' timestamp='1271626856' post='464163']
Hi. I have read some reviews about Tangiers and how sometimes the flavour smokes very harshly. Well that is the problem i encountered with my first time smoking Tangiers. I let it acclimatize for 6 hours on foil while spreading it out a little. I know there is nothing wrong with my pipe because with Al Fakher it produces clouds and clouds of smoke. I dont think there was anything wrong with the way i packed it either because i was managing to get quite a bit of smoke from 2 coals and got a very strong buzz with my first two puffs! however it was very harsh. The flavour is in an air tight container, should i let it out again? Any suggestions would be helpful.
[/quote]

Try using less heat or try packing it again. One could say that you sort of need to get used to Tangiers.

[twoapplesplease]

try also using your smallest bowl....compared to AF ,tangiers is a much more robust smoke...the small bowl will help you get use to its robustness

[pokerbay]

the small bowl could be an option, however if it is that harsh than it is not flavored tobacco but just tobacco. I had packed peach but did not taste it at least. so maybe it still needs a bit more air? i tried just one coal but there was very little smoke with that.

[Arcane]

[quote name='Voski' date='18 April 2010 - 11:57 AM' timestamp='1271627836' post='464164']
[quote name='pokerbay' date='18 April 2010 - 02:40 PM' timestamp='1271626856' post='464163']
Hi. I have read some reviews about Tangiers and how sometimes the flavour smokes very harshly. Well that is the problem i encountered with my first time smoking Tangiers. I let it acclimatize for 6 hours on foil while spreading it out a little. I know there is nothing wrong with my pipe because with Al Fakher it produces clouds and clouds of smoke. I dont think there was anything wrong with the way i packed it either because i was managing to get quite a bit of smoke from 2 coals and got a very strong buzz with my first two puffs! however it was very harsh. The flavour is in an air tight container, should i let it out again? Any suggestions would be helpful.
[/quote]

Try using less heat or try packing it again. One could say that you sort of need to get used to Tangiers.
[/quote]
whoa....welcome back voski.

as for the OP, it's either too much heat or maybe not enough tobacco. check out some youtube videos regarding proper tangiers packing. you kinda have to treat tangiers differently than other tobacco...

also, get out of the mindset that you know what you're doing with tangiers...

[ezxen]

generally in my experience more tobacco and a tighter pack helps me when i get problems and so far 20 bowls no harshness

[KeepItSimple]

I had this same problem. You just have to know how to pack it. You've got to pack it tight, and after that you figure out the heat management like Jay said. You have to pack it tight so that your always using the same amount of tobacco, because if its as tight as it will go everytime, then their isnt a variable in the amount of tobacco used, it becomes a constant. That way once you get your heat management down u never have to change it.

Also, when you put the foil over the phunnel press down hard with the palm of you hand until there is a space between the tobacco and the rim of the bowl about 2 quarters (50 cent pieces) thick. Then stretch the foil tight over the bowl. Thats how Eric taught me to do it, and so far every bowl has not had the least bit of harshness. Not even a bite from the tobacco used, it's as smooth as any other brand I've ever packed. And better yet, the flavor is spot on.

Last thing I learned was put the coals towards the center of the bowl, that will give you clouds and make it smoke right.

Also this may be a dumb question, but I'm assuming your using a phunnel right?

[pokerbay]

[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='18 April 2010 - 10:15 PM' timestamp='1271654113' post='464219']
I had this same problem. You just have to know how to pack it. You've got to pack it tight, and after that you figure out the heat management like Jay said. You have to pack it tight so that your always using the same amount of tobacco, because if its as tight as it will go everytime, then their isnt a variable in the amount of tobacco used, it becomes a constant. That way once you get your heat management down u never have to change it.

Also, when you put the foil over the phunnel press down hard with the palm of you hand until there is a space between the tobacco and the rim of the bowl about 2 quarters (50 cent pieces) thick. Then stretch the foil tight over the bowl. Thats how Eric taught me to do it, and so far every bowl has not had the least bit of harshness. Not even a bite from the tobacco used, it's as smooth as any other brand I've ever packed. And better yet, the flavor is spot on.

Last thing I learned was put the coals towards the center of the bowl, that will give you clouds and make it smoke right.

Also this may be a dumb question, but I'm assuming your using a phunnel right?
[/quote]



very helpful post. i packed it pretty tight but il try again. i am using a phunnel. maybe i should try a normal bowl. how much of a difference does that make? also how many coals do u start with? i just wanted to see what all the fuss about tangiers was. iv been smoking Al-Fakher all my life and it smokes really well. i get my flavour from Dubai and the date of production is always the same week as i smoke it so maybe im just spoilt. il give tangiers another shot tomorrow. thanx

[KeepItSimple]

The fuss will be apparent when u get the packing and heat down haha . Thats what I said, and then I found out what the fuss was about for sure. I use 2 easy lites (not quick lights, I use the ones with the silver foil around the coal), on the Alien, and three of those or maybe 2 depending on the small phunnel. Also smell your shisha, if it smells anything like tobacco or bbq or soy sauce, i mean anything at all, then it isn't acclimated right. I mean unless you have Pear or Blue Gum Ball it should smell exactly like the flavor.

[Sonthert]

First, I would avoid spreading out to acclimate it. Just throw it into the tub you will be storing it in.

Second, there are two harshness issues. One is thin and harsh smoke. That is usually caused by underpacking. The second is smoking well for 15-20 minutes and then getting harsh. This is caused most commonly by using too much charcoal. It could be both, which you will find out when you reduce the amount of charcoal.

[SweetNut]

I just pack it tight... almost to the brim of the bowl.... start with cutting 2 CH Naturals in half... light 3 of the halfs... put them in a triangle pattern on the edge of the bowl.... works everytime.

[Deutsch am Herzen]

[quote name='SweetNut' date='19 April 2010 - 04:34 PM' timestamp='1271720070' post='464331']
I just pack it tight... almost to the brim of the bowl.... start with cutting 2 CH Naturals in half... light 3 of the halfs... put them in a triangle pattern on the edge of the bowl.... works everytime.
[/quote]


+1

yup, 3 half pieces seems to be the magic number. never gives me any problems

[Webbles]

I had major heat issues with tangiers. It wasnt until picked up a box of Golden Canaries, the same coal that Eric uses at his lounge, and mimic'd exactly what he did. Thru that "crutch" i was able to figure out how much heat was really necessary for tangiers.

I HIGHLY suggest ya pick up a box and follow these rough guidelines:

Mini Bowl: 2 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Small Bowl: 3 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Medium Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Placed on edges of the bowl
Large Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Center on the ring of the phunnel

[pokerbay]

So i tried the peach flavor again but i had let it out for a good 10 hrs. The problem persisted, even though i packed it tighter and fuller. The smoke was light but the flavor was less harsh. In my opinion there was a problem with the flavor itself. I have unpacked the guava flavor and automatically i can smell the guava, a strong smell. With the peach i could smell less peach and more tobacco. I have officially given up on the peach and will try the guava tonight. Thank you everybody for your helpful comments!

[xWEBSTERx]

No one likes a quitter! Practice makes perfect!

I still have yet to get Orange soda to smoke just right, although its not harsh.. But im not going to stop trying..

[indian_villager]

[quote name='pokerbay' date='22 April 2010 - 04:17 PM' timestamp='1271967423' post='464946']
So i tried the peach flavor again but i had let it out for a good 10 hrs. The problem persisted, even though i packed it tighter and fuller. The smoke was light but the flavor was less harsh. In my opinion there was a problem with the flavor itself. I have unpacked the guava flavor and automatically i can smell the guava, a strong smell. With the peach i could smell less peach and more tobacco. I have officially given up on the peach and will try the guava tonight. Thank you everybody for your helpful comments!
[/quote]

Do you have some form of AC or anything running while you are acclimating it?
If you are having really bad trouble with it I may have to make a video.

[Voliminal]

[quote name='Webbles' timestamp='1271781276' post='464407']
I had major heat issues with tangiers. It wasnt until picked up a box of Golden Canaries, the same coal that Eric uses at his lounge, and mimic'd exactly what he did. Thru that "crutch" i was able to figure out how much heat was really necessary for tangiers.

I HIGHLY suggest ya pick up a box and follow these rough guidelines:

Mini Bowl: 2 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Small Bowl: 3 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Medium Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Placed on edges of the bowl
Large Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Center on the ring of the phunnel
[/quote]

I have a question here, Eric showed in the the video, that he pokes holes all over the foil (in a phunnel bowl) even in the middle where the hole of the phunnel ise. So If you put coals over the hole, I think it wouldn't be a good idea.

I can only think that might work, with the foil only poked in a circle shape, not even a hole in the middle.

[Arcane]

[quote name='Voliminal' timestamp='1286289343' post='483998']
[quote name='Webbles' timestamp='1271781276' post='464407']
I had major heat issues with tangiers. It wasnt until picked up a box of Golden Canaries, the same coal that Eric uses at his lounge, and mimic'd exactly what he did. Thru that "crutch" i was able to figure out how much heat was really necessary for tangiers.

I HIGHLY suggest ya pick up a box and follow these rough guidelines:

Mini Bowl: 2 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Small Bowl: 3 Golden Canaries - Center on ring of the phunnel
Medium Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Placed on edges of the bowl
Large Bowl: 4 Golden Canaries - Center on the ring of the phunnel
[/quote]

I have a question here, Eric showed in the the video, that he pokes holes all over the foil (in a phunnel bowl) even in the middle where the hole of the phunnel ise. So If you put coals over the hole, I think it wouldn't be a good idea.

I can only think that might work, with the foil only poked in a circle shape, not even a hole in the middle.
[/quote]
i never understood Eric's reasoning for the coals over the center phunnel with holes poked, but he knows a shit ton more about hookah and tobacco than everyone I know (except maybe Walt).

There's also the fact that he created Tangiers Tobacco, soooooo....yeah, I'd say he knows what he's doing. Edited October 5, 2010 by Arcane

[Chreees]

Yeah, I never question what Eric does. Would I put coals directly over the hole? No. But I also don't question him when he does it.

[dizzbizz]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1286307896' post='484022']
There's also the fact that he created Tangiers Tobacco, soooooo....yeah, I'd say he knows what he's doing.
[/quote]
+1
I could have sworn I read somewhere that poking holes over the center hole lightens the buzz and that he does this at work cause he doesn't want a big buzz. I could be talking out of my ass but I swear I read that somewhere on here. Either way Eric made the shit, I'm sure he knows how to smoke it.

[Voliminal]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' timestamp='1286308575' post='484024']
Yeah, I never question what Eric does. Would I put coals directly over the hole? No. But I also don't question him when he does it.
[/quote]

Damn I'm confused xD

Well, yeah he made it and he's the man, but we should ask him, cuz as Incubus sais, he wouldn't do it, since eric does it, if he give us a good reason, and I try it (when I get phunnel xD) and see that it works, then we might all be happy