Another Noob Who Just Can't Get Tangiers To Work

[Sara T]

I'm fairly new to all things hookah, but I surely don't consider myself a nincompoop. I've searched and searched (several forums) and watched video upon video (including the one with Eric) about how to acclimate/pack Tangiers.

I was easily seduced by all the glowing reviews of Maraschino Cherry. I ordered 250g of the noir, I think? Not lucid.

I live in central Florida btw - it's in the 70s here, with fairly low humidity by florida standards. I opened the package, put it in a large container, and broke it up with my fingers. It didn't really smell like soy or bbq to me - just lots and lots of cherry and something else - maybe like rubbing alcohol? So I leave it out for maybe 6 hours, stirring every hour or so.

I have a vortex bowl, not a phunnel - I've seen plenty of youtube videos that claim this is no problem. I started with 3 coco coals...and boy is this stuff harsh. I'd never experienced a shisha buzz before. Is it supposed to make me feel like I stood up real fast-like and got light-headed? Because that's what it felt like. Not what I'd call pleasant or relaxing. Removed a coal - same thing. I'm pretty sure I was over-heating the tobacco, but I'm also pretty sure it wasn't properly acclimated yet. I gave up and packed a bowl of something else.

So over the course of a week or more, I leave the container open, stir occasionally, close it up for awhile, open, repeat, etc etc. The container has surely been open for at least 24 hours total. The cherry smell is still there, but no longer permeates through the house. I still get a faint "something else" smell from it - still that rubbing alcohol-like smell. And it's still quite moist.

I packed another vortex bowl-full yesterday (packed tight - like I said, I watched the Eric youtube video), poked a ton of holes, and set 2 coco coals on top. I let them sit there for a few mins, and after the few mins, I rotated them frequently trying to prevent combustion. The taste was a little better, certainly not as harsh. But I'm really not getting much flavor. As is, it's my least favorite smoke so far. I'm used to smoking brands like fantasia and social smoke.

Am I doing something obviously wrong? Should I be getting strong flavors like the brands I'm used to smoking? I really want to like this stuff!

Is the "something else" smell normal? Keep in mind, I haven't smoked more than 3 or 4 brands of tobacco.

How would you describe a shisha buzz? Is the swimmy/dizzy thing what I should expect?

Thanks guys!

[Beardius]

i've only had a few tang's from the lucid line, but i havent had much trouble after the first 2 bowls i've packed.
i make sure to check my draw through the bottom of the bowl after i poke holes to make sure i havent clogged the holes up when i pack tangiers.

also i've only smoked lucid so the noir im sure would buzz me up pretty good, and yes a buzz would be exactly what you had.

i cant really help much but say maybe you should try lucid instead of noir line tangiers.

if the clouds are thick and white, but your shisha is too strong or heavy, it might be from overheating.
i usually only use 2 coco's when i do tangiers.

also i really like tangiers out of a standard egyptian rather than a vortex bowl.
and a phunnel bowl works the best.

i dont think a vortex has the right airflow to me for tangiers, but thats just me

[r1v3th3ad]

A big problem with flavor is that you left it open over 24hrs...leaving it exposed that long can dry out the shisha and steal flavor from it too

Eric recommends the 4/20 acclimation method, you leave it exposed to the air for 4 hours, occasionally stirring, then seal it for 20 hours. After that, if it doesn't smell right then repeat.


edit: I've noticed a chemical smell from the flavor too, it sticks, but never noticed it in the flavor when smoking with proper acclimation

[NitetimeReign]

I can say this..living in IN its hard to get anything to acclimate cause our weather sucks and changes to much. So I took my chances with tang noir, and since I couldn't get it to acclimate i hated the stuff. Well after much convo with the guys/gals on here to try lucid..I can honestly say tang is actually all I want to smoke now. But IN weather FL weather big difference, so I hope you get it working, if not go lucid. And for me when I do get a buzz it is the swimming head feeling. Hope all works out for you.

[ezxen]

Close the container for a day then reopen it to see if smells stroganoff again .a then acclimate an hour be fire smoking, what I did.

[Sara T]

Huh. I hadn't heard the 4/20 method. Or maybe I had just didn't know what it meant? This IS a shifty-weather time in FL. It can be in the 40s at night and 80 during the day.

Since I'm not a fan of the buzz, I think I'll definitely try something from the Lucid line next time I place an order (I'll get a tangiers phunnel, too). I'm not ready to give up on Tangiers just yet!

I may, however, give up on my current, possibly frakked batch of M. Cherry.

Ah dammit - maybe one more try leaving it open for an hour before smoking.

[Regal]

Heyo,

I'd have to agree with the 4/20 method. Eric mentioned that to me and after I tried it out it was the best acclimation I was able to get with his tobacco.

A correctly packed bowl is key for a good smoke. Although packing hookah bowls isn't rocket science, packing a tangier's bowl correctly isn't easy. There is a reason there is a video with the owner making sure people know how to prepare it. What I find is very important when it comes to packing tangiers is that the tobacco sits evenly. Because each leaf of tobacco you have isn't the same size they won't always stack up on each other evenly; so what you need to make sure is that the tobacco is sitting evenly.

Also, what you could do is put a little less tobacco into the bowl if you'd like to tone down the strength of the smoke.

Finally, I don't like using coconaras with tangiers because they burn at such a high temperature. Eric uses Fumari coals and I'd have to say those are the best I've ever smoked his tobacco with.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck with everything.

Jonathan

[Arcane]

Not to sound like a creeper, but would it be possible to post up a video of your packing technique? With the vortex, you shouldn't pack it as tight a tangiers phunnel. The bowl itself is ill-designed. The depth to surface area ratio is far from optimal. It's hard to explain without showing you, but you want to pack it full but not tight. Also, place the coals so that they sit on the lip of the bowl. the idea is to provide enough heat transfer to the bowl, so the bowl can heat the tobacco sooner.


I will also add that I do not subscribe to the 4/20 method. This method was theoretically based off of conditions in Eric's lounge. However, the containers used at the lounge do little to seal out the air. So, leaving it exposed for a couple days shouldn't be too big of an issue. This is just from observation and assumption, but it seems credible. My acclimation method seems to great and rarely results in weak batches of tobacco. I open the package, dump it in a container and stir it up. Then I leave it open until it smells good, stirring occassionally. Once it smells appropriate, I pack a bowl or seal it up and put it away. My containers are actually airtight/watertight so when I re-open the package, I do get a bit of humidity shock and have to re-acclimate for an hour or 2. Edited March 19, 2011 by Arcane

[king_lunchb0x]

4/20 method works fine for me. although I do live a Ca. But people say here they have left open for hours on end with not problems so next time i guess maybe pick up lucid or see how the 4/20 method treats you. I would go with Arcanes packing method and maybe try splitting the coals in half before lighting to make easier heat management

[ryno]

2 Cocos seems like way too much heat for me on a Vortex. I would start out with one coal split in half and work up from there. Remember, Tangiers is a very low heat tobacco. I only use around 3 halves of a coco on a small phunnel.

[Allstar]

Yes that is the buzz that people refer to. At first it is annoying but after a while you will get past it. I love the M.Cherry but the flavor isn't really strong in the OG line, it is much stronger in the Lucid line. Just my two cents.

[Sara T]

Well you guys have definitely convinced me to try to lucid line.

I'll drink a few beers during my hookah session for a buzz. ha

[Allstar]

Best of luck. I smoke the OG about 98% of my sessions.

[Akira81386]

The 4/20 method works wonders, but most of the time if it smells right it's ready to smoke. By biggest tips on smoking Tangiers is packing it a little tighter then you usually would with other tobacco and experimenting with heat management. I split my coco's in half and use two halves on my bowl. When you get it right you will know because you will get intense flavor and great clouds. I smoke cigarettes and cigar all the time and I even dip but Tangiers gives me a bigger buzz than anything. I've been smoking hookah for the better part of 4 years and it still gives me a huge buzz, so it's not just you

[king_lunchb0x]

well smoke tang enough u wont notice a buzz at all

[r1v3th3ad]

[quote name='king_lunchb0x' timestamp='1300763971' post='502348']
well smoke tang enough u wont notice a buzz at all
[/quote]

wadatah

[Allstar]

I am sorry to say I am at that point. Barely any buzz. Maybe if I am just getting back in town, for about a day.

[mushrat]

ryno it the real problem. Too much heat.

Even 2 caols is too much. Try breaking your coals in half and trying 3 halves.

Tangiers isn't going to look, taste, or smell like any other tobacco. So don't try to think of it in terms of any other tobacco.

[ilikemyusername]

I'm from tampa too but have relocated to bradenton, the beaches here are much nicer, compared to gandy anyway. I have had almost nothing but problems with tangiers. I've had a few really good bowls of it, when they're good they're good. I personally don't find it to be difficult to pack, 3 cocos might be a bit much though, I usually use 2. Horchata to me tastted like cough, one of the peaches I had was really good. I've had some flavors that never acclimated, I mean NEVER. I'm working on apple right now. I had one bowl that was great and the next was unacclimated. It's not you, it's the tampa bay! seriously though, the west coast of florida is wierd. Like I said though, when it's good it's really freakin good!

[IainUM]

just move to south florida, duh. i have yet to acclimate any tangiers other than some koke i got from another member

[Sara T]

[quote name='Sara T' timestamp='1300493200' post='502048']
Huh. I hadn't heard the 4/20 method. Or maybe I had just didn't know what it meant? This IS a shifty-weather time in FL. It can be in the 40s at night and 80 during the day.

Since I'm not a fan of the buzz, I think I'll definitely try something from the Lucid line next time I place an order (I'll get a tangiers phunnel, too). I'm not ready to give up on Tangiers just yet!

I may, however, give up on my current, possibly frakked batch of M. Cherry.

Ah dammit - maybe one more try leaving it open for an hour before smoking.
[/quote]

Update: A few days ago I received my order (from hookahjohn) of lucid horchata and lucid mimon, as well as a small tangiers phunnel and an oyster fork for good measure. Neither flavors had a soy or bbq scent when I unbagged them. Horchata smells wonderful and mimon smells pretty strong (and a little like lemon pledge, if I do say so, but that's ok I like strong citrus flavors).

I went ahead and spread out a bowls-worth of horchata on some tin foil to make sure it was acclimated before smoking. I just packed a bowl using the how-to video on youtube by jake/hookahev. It tastes pretty good, though I wish it was a little stronger. Is this success? I dunno. I wish it tasted like it smelled. So either it's still not smoking quite right, or it's just a weak (IMO) flavor. For reference, I would say the social smoke flavors are very strong, as well as nahkla DA.

Uh oh - I think i just scorched the top a little because now it has a bit of a burnt taste. Hold on a sec, I'm gonna go scrape some off the top....

Ok, scraped some and replaced the top layer. No burny taste anymore, but I'm not really getting any cinnamon. Hmph. I'm gonna be sitting here studying for awhile. I'll continue to puff and let you know how it turns out it the end. I'll probably pack a bowl of mimon in the next couple days.

I also got my first hookah-related injury a couple days ago! Woo! Touched my knuckle to the underside of the ashtray right under some goals I set there when I was moving my hookah. Insta-blister. And yet I live to tell.

Sooo...not real impressed at the moment, though I can't emphasize how good this smells.

[mushrat]

its all a matter of air flow and heat.

we can set up a time for a tc tangiers clinic if you want sometime soon.

[nun]

vortex, toyt packed tangier original, 2 pieces of exotica. yep, thats how i do it.

[cotsi95]

[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1301941338' post='504150']
its all a matter of air flow and heat.

we can set up a time for a tc tangiers clinic if you want sometime soon.
[/quote]

This really is the only way to know for sure what is going on. I am also willing to show you how I load. I acclimate the entire 250 of tang at once. It seems to work better then a bowl at a time.

[flydigital55]

[quote name='Sara T' timestamp='1301940949' post='504149']

Update: A few days ago I received my order (from hookahjohn) of lucid horchata and lucid mimon, as well as a small tangiers phunnel and an oyster fork for good measure. Neither flavors had a soy or bbq scent when I unbagged them. Horchata smells wonderful and mimon smells pretty strong (and a little like lemon pledge, if I do say so, but that's ok I like strong citrus flavors).

I went ahead and spread out a bowls-worth of horchata on some tin foil to make sure it was acclimated before smoking. I just packed a bowl using the how-to video on youtube by jake/hookahev. It tastes pretty good, though I wish it was a little stronger. Is this success? I dunno. I wish it tasted like it smelled. So either it's still not smoking quite right, or it's just a weak (IMO) flavor. For reference, I would say the social smoke flavors are very strong, as well as nahkla DA.

Uh oh - I think i just scorched the top a little because now it has a bit of a burnt taste. Hold on a sec, I'm gonna go scrape some off the top....

Ok, scraped some and replaced the top layer. No burny taste anymore, but I'm not really getting any cinnamon. Hmph. I'm gonna be sitting here studying for awhile. I'll continue to puff and let you know how it turns out it the end. I'll probably pack a bowl of mimon in the next couple days.

I also got my first hookah-related injury a couple days ago! Woo! Touched my knuckle to the underside of the ashtray right under some goals I set there when I was moving my hookah. Insta-blister. And yet I live to tell.

Sooo...not real impressed at the moment, though I can't emphasize how good this smells.

[/quote]

Hi Sara,

I think you may be underpacking. Its ok to have tinfoil up against the tobacco with tang, unlike other brands. You especially want it touching near the rim of the bowl. My rule of thumb now is to make sure that the foil is perfectly level, touching the tobacco all around the bowl, by the time the coals go on (the tobacco springs back a little after packing). The foil should not sag at all, and there should be no "hill". You should be able to put a brick coal on its side without it falling.

The reason for stuffing the bowl like this is to allow heat to carry through the tobacco down into the juices, providing better flavor and a better overall smoke.

Last month I was a total newb at tang and had similar trouble but now am in tang heaven. Hang in there, keep trying, great advice here... its worth all the hassle once you start getting it right.

If you underpack the taste will lack. Or really die off quick.