Another Noob Who Just Can't Get Tangiers To Work

[Sara T]

[quote name='flydigital55' timestamp='1301972321' post='504238']
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.



[/quote]

I was under the impression that lucid didn't have to be packed as densely as noir? I might become desperate enough to post a vid of myself packing the bowl, but this is the video I tried to mimic when packing and poking holes in the foil: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK0ChQGwe8g"]how to pack tangiers lucid in a phunnel[/url] So if you see something inherently wrong with what this guy is doing, then I'm doing the same thing. I used a toothpick instead of his pokey pen, and CN coals instead of Coconara.

I guess the bottom line is that I need to know if my tobacco is acclimated (remember I'm using tangiers lucid now), my bowl is packed properly, and I'm applying the right amount of heat. Sheesh.

Is this really honestly going to be as tasty as the other high-end brands when I get this right? I'd be so happy if I found a high-quality, non-dyed, reasonably-priced, delicious, puffy-cloud makin' american tobacco.

I have starlight and CN coconut coals at my disposal. I heard mention of a cooler-burning coal, but I see plenty of people having success with coconut coals.

I really appreciate your help, guys.

[cotsi95]

I wouldnt use 2 layers of foil and I also prefer to use more holes. He says that the more holes that hotter the bowl will be that is false, the more holes you have the cooler the bowl will be. Also 3 cocos for a small is too much heat imo. I use golden canaries which are a lower temp burning coal but I will let others chime in on how many cocos they use.

[Sara T]

Correction - I'm using CH coconut coals from hookahjohn.

[flydigital55]

[quote name='Sara T' timestamp='1301977230' post='504249']
I was under the impression that lucid didn't have to be packed as densely as noir?
[/quote]
Most say it doesn't matter how you pack it, others say you should pack it like noir, others say to pack it really loose. So its all subjective. If what you're doing isn't working, try something else. Find out what works for you. For me, lucid is a bit light on flavor "kick" and I just prefer the unwashed stuff. But I have some lucids for smoking with others who aren't use to noir, and I pack it all just the same, and it all works good and taste is wonderful.

[quote name='Sara T' timestamp='1301977230' post='504249']
I guess the bottom line is that I need to know if my tobacco is acclimated (remember I'm using tangiers lucid now),
[/quote]
If it smells like its supposed to, i.e. what its called, or if you don't smell BBQ/Soy then its acclimated. "acclimation" is what is meant when the humidity of the tobacco needs to adjust to the ambient air. Tangiers is super air tight packaging so when its shipped it doesn't start adjusting until after you open it up. Other brands get to acclimate in transit. Tang is also richer in supporting/accompanying tobacco flavor components (either line). So when its not "acclimated" the humidity of the tobacco differs significantly from the ambient air, and moisture from the tobacco (including the tobacco richness) is released. How this happens depends on drier or wetter climate than inland San Diego (approx 40% avg annual humidity I am guessing). Anyway, to put it simply, it doesn't take that long to reach humidity stabilization. The ones in humid climates have it rougher, they might need a few days on some flavors. But elsewhere a single 4/20 period should do the trick. And all this is for NOIR. With lucid its even simpler. I think you are acclimated fine, time to move on to the other stuff.


[quote name='Sara T' timestamp='1301977230' post='504249']
Is this really honestly going to be as tasty as the other high-end brands when I get this right? I'd be so happy if I found a high-quality, non-dyed, reasonably-priced, delicious, puffy-cloud makin' american tobacco.
[/quote]
Yes... it IS worth the trouble, I promise! It took me about 500g of Tangiers before I could enjoy a good 1+ hour session without problems. Hard to be patient with it I know but not only do you need to learn it, but your body needs to get used to it as well. Yes, even with lucid.

As for the coals, it would probably be easiest for you to use the CH's on their sides stonehenge style for lower heat. The japanese coals make it a no brainer for heat management, but they are costly and burn out real quick.

What works for me:
I like to use 3 CH or Coco Mazaya's on a small or alien phunnel. I keep them real far out on the edge (as far as possible without falling) and keep smoking until the smoke starts getting real good (10-15 minutes), then I drop a coal and keep with two until it starts thinning out then back with 3 (45 minutes in), then on with the windcover at about 1 hour in. All this without moving the coals around the bowl, just ashing and flipping them every 15 minutes or so.

Managing heat is constant. That means every 5 minutes or so unless the smoke is perfect and stable. It takes time to learn with phunnels and tang. Such a long lag time after making a change. But then you'll get used to it and predict the changes. I.e. if I move a single coal in about 1/16th of an inch towards the center, I'm going to raise the temp good enough to get a mediocre smoke turned into huge clouds. But it takes 3 minutes after I've moved that coal to stabilize at the new temp, and a good 4 full pulls before I see any change at all. So if I want more smoke, I move one in 1/16 at a time, give it 4 pulls, and if its increasing, I keep smoking expecting it to stabilize after a while. If it keeps increasing after 10 pulls I know its too much, pull it back out again. If all that isn't enough, each time you need to ash and flip the coals the heat goes up significantly, so you need to pull them out again. Sounds tough, but really in no time it is all second nature.

I don't mean to sound like I know everything about Tang, I don't.... I'm learning, but I am happy with it now. I just hope to help you out as I was just recently in your boat and all this is fresh for me. Some of the old pros have lots of info to share but they have seen this same thread at least 1000 times before and probably getting a little tired of typing. So maybe this helps... hope it does.

[Sara T]

This is really good info and actually inspires me to keep at it. I'll definitely focus more on heat management with the techniques you described. And I should be getting my wind cover in the mail in a day or two.

[Allstar]

You will get it. This is one that becomes an art form. Just like finding that sweet spot of water in the vase of your pipe. Yes there are very many high/low end shisha out there that tastes just as good. Some people like the buzz from tangiers some like their break away from the standard flavors. We are not saying you have to like it the most, just odds are you will when you get it. Enjoy.

[Epoch]

My two cents for your setup - vortex bowl, coconut coals, and Lucid Tang.

- Pack the tobacco pretty tight in the bowl all the way up to the rim: stuff it.
- Poke plenty of holes in the foil. The more, the merrier in my book.
- Three coals, hanging off the edges of the bowl. Too much heat for original Tang, but it works fine for Lucid.

That's how I do it.

[Allstar]

If you are still having issues packing check this out.

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40507-how-to-pack-a-vortex/

[Sara T]

I had a little better luck last night with a (dense) fully-packed small phunnel and careful heat management. I was able to get the cream taste on exhale, but not really any cinnamon. Basically very weak flavor but at least it wasn't bad flavor.

Next time I feel lucky, I'll try with the vortex using Allstar's vid.