Problems With Al Fakher/Your Af Technique

[ukhookah]

I don't have a problem with working with the shisha. Like I said. When the flavour is good, the shisha is great. When the flavour is stale, the shisha is bollocks.

[abzy]

i find the best way to smoke AF is pack it lightly if an egyptian lots of holes and 2 coco bricos. after 40 minz add a wind cover. smokes good every time

[Cp44]

I use the large clay bowls, pack it loosely, use two coco coals or 1 QL. Shiny side down when you put the foil on. Its full of flavor and huge clouds, some guys on here can vouch for that. When I'm usually on cam, 95% of time I'm smoking AF.

[Cudder]

With Al Fakher, I try to pack it somewhat loosely. I poke a lot of holes in the foil, and then heat up an instant light coal on the stove. Just put a single coal in the middle of the foil. What I have found, is that I need to just leave the hookah be for 10-15 minutes after putting the coal on. After the 15 minutes, there will be a ton of smoke on the first hit, and it will have a good taste if the tobacco is good. (Which as others have said, is hit or miss with al fakher). I also use an ice chamber to cool down the smoke, so at the very least, I won't get heat related harshness, and just as somewhat stale flavor if the tobacco is bad, which isn't the worst thing in the world.

[Hellaslow]

AF has taken a huge nose dive over the past couple of years... the more i buy it the more it gets worse...

oh BTW we around here call watermelon= coughOmelon no matter how nice it smokes it will make you cough... this only happens with AF watermelon...

[ukhookah]

Try nakhla mizo watermelon. Way better. I have received af watermelon as a gift, and the stuff taste like bubble gum wth?

[Chreees]

Yep, Nak Mizo Watermelon > AF Watermelon... I can't stand AF anymore.

[ih303]

I don't have a problem with AF. Just like every brand, some of their flavors are good and some are absolute garbage. Their Watermelon, Lemon, and Pineapple, for instance, are terrible. In fact, I don't understand why they even have those flavors as they don't taste anything like the flavor they're supposed to be. But that's how it's been as long as I've been smoking AF. There are just some flavors I steer clear of.

As far as how AF smokes, I think it's some of the thickest, most luxurious smoke available. It can be tricky to pack in an Egyptial bowl when it's super juicy and/or finely cut, I'll give you that. But I have never had any problems packing it as long as I use a phunnel.

All I'll say is I wouldn't recommend giving up on a brand because of a few bad flavors. My other favorite brands - Tangiers, Nakhla, & Romman - all have both good and bad flavors. You just have to figure out what you like and what to stear clear of.

[CKJazz]

Well after several more attempts, I'm going to chalk it up to it being the tub I got being a bad batch... cough-o-melon is right, it always had that harshness to it, and I never got really nice smoke.

So now the question is, knowing that I usually go for non fruit flavors, but am looking for a good fruit shisha for when I have company, what fruit flavor does AF have that is great?

[ih303]

[quote name='CKJazz' timestamp='1294073186' post='493223']
what fruit flavor does AF have that is great?
[/quote]

Here are some of my fruity faves:

Peach
Plum
Apricot
Orange
Grenadine
Grape

Some tried and tested AF mixes from my lounge. I included their names just for fun

Peach/Plum ("Purple Velvet")
Grenadine/Guava ("CJ Looks Like Jemaine")
Orange/Vanilla ("Orange Cream")
Peach/Vanilla ("Peaches and Cream")
Orange/Jasmine ("Orange Flower")
Grenadine/Mint ("Red Mist" - this is what I suggest to people who ask for SB Blue Mist)
Strawberry/Rose ("Red Rose")
Mint/Vanilla
Grape/Mint

Not all fruity, I know, but if you have any of those flavors sitting around, mix 'em up and see what you think.

[ukhookah]

I have to say if you hit the right orange, it can be one of the best! Same goes for berry although It causes to give me a headache. Although mint aint a fruit they do a very good sweet mint (as appose to a menthol mint)

[ukhookah]

I have to say if you hit the right orange, it can be one of the best! Same goes for berry although It causes to give me a headache. Although mint aint a fruit they do a very good sweet mint (as appose to a menthol mint)

[gunsboy]

I am still an AF smoker.

AF seems to be very sensitive to the setup but what other shisha isn't?!

I actually smoke only Double Apple and sometimes Grapes, maybe Lemon and Mint very rarely.

- I use Egyptian bowl.
- I double layer the foil with Shiny side down.
- I do not over pack the bowl, I keep alot of space for air in the shisha.
- Alot of small holes with a a couple of large ones.
- I start with two CocoNara coals, rotate them around and then add a third one when they get smaller and at the end use windcover to get every last bit of it.
- I keep de-ashing the bowl by blowing air in it when I de-ash coals, approx. every 15 minutes

This works for me at least 90% of the time. I get the odd bad session here or there.

[ukhookah]

Af Double apple is one of the very few flavours I find that has not suffered greatly with quality issue.