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Al Fakher Quality?


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Recently, as in the last few months, I simply cannot get Al Fakher to smoke very well. Always end up with thin, harsh smoke, regardless of the bowl I use and no matter how I pack it.

Thing is, in the last few months each time I've gone to this hookah lounge that has always served Al Fakher, its just not the same. I used to be able to take long, deep inhales on the pipe there and blow out massive billows of flavorfull thick smoke (even better with my setup at home) and now its a little harsh and not as sweet.

Has anyone else notice anything like I'm describing?
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i have this same problem lately with the last batch of AF i bought. my packing technique and heat management isn't too great with AF, cause i've been smoking primarily tangiers and nakhla for the last 6 months or so. i get kinda harsh smoke and not great clouds. any help out there? i haven't experimented with heat management much, so i'm willing to try new ideas, i've just been too lazy to experiment. i'm using my og tri/razan hose with natural coals and a standard kinda smallish egyptian bowl
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seems as of late i have had the same problem im waiting a few months for fresh stock to hit local shelf. about two years ago 08-09 mint i think was the best AF ive ever smoked . the 10-11 batches ive had were sub par. had peach from 08-09 batch back in july(2010) and aside from being a bit dry(glycerin fixed that) it was knock me on my ass good with smoke tick and flavor full
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I just bought some AF mint and melon. I packed the mint into a small phunnel and it was amazing as always. However, the melon smells funny. It doesn't smell like pure crap but it definitely doesn't smell like melon. This happened with a cocktail AF that I bought a while back also. The smell is pretty distinct and very off putting. Just wondering if anyone has had this problem.
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There are very few times that I can't get AF to smoke properly, but the ones that give me problem don't smell normal so I put it to bad batches. I am not an experienced smoker but with my limited knowledge, I say that you're bound to get a few bad batches of AF here and there, and even though it doesn't reflect very well on their quality control, it still smokes pretty good for most part!

How are you packing it? And where are you placing your coals? it can't be that every batch you've got of em lately is bad imo? I smoke only AF btw as that is the only good tobacco I can get locally and I've got no more than 4 batches that didn't smoke right.
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Ive never had an issue with AF DA or mint but i heard their AF grape and mint isnt what it use to be.
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No, the mint is actually as great as it ever was....just love me a bowl of AF mint + it's a great mixer. Their grape on the other hand is something I can't stand......I don't know how it used to be, but I definitely hate what it is now.

[Edit] Read it wrong, but their grape+mint is worse [/Edit] Edited by vendetta_revived
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[quote name='IainUM' timestamp='1306478419' post='510801']
i have this same problem lately with the last batch of AF i bought. my packing technique and heat management isn't too great with AF, cause i've been smoking primarily tangiers and nakhla for the last 6 months or so. i get kinda harsh smoke and not great clouds. any help out there? i haven't experimented with heat management much, so i'm willing to try new ideas, i've just been too lazy to experiment. i'm using my og tri/razan hose with natural coals and a standard kinda smallish egyptian bowl
[/quote]

Same. I've never gotten AF to work right for me.
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How are you packing it?

AF has always worked for me, thick clouds and good taste, nothing like tangiers but still not bad. I smoke it about once a week or so. bought some more a few weeks ago and it's fine. If the smoke is harsh you're using too much heat, PERIOD. Try backing off the heat a tad and try different packing methods.
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[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1306524436' post='510861']
How are you packing it?

AF has always worked for me, thick clouds and good taste, nothing like tangiers but still not bad. I smoke it about once a week or so. bought some more a few weeks ago and it's fine.[b] If the smoke is harsh you're using too much heat, PERIOD[/b]. Try backing off the heat a tad and try different packing methods.
[/quote]

yes, i know, im not retarded. i havent taken the time to deal with it while smoking and it isn't really that harsh, just a little bit, so i smoke through it, as i stated in my first post in the section.
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Thanks for the replies. I'm using a crown micro phunnel, a tangiers small phunnel, and a smallish Egyptian. I'm sprinkling it in filling It to the top. At this point, I'm nearly positive that this batch is funky or something because even at the hookah lounge the smoke is thinner and harsher than it used to be and I can't take nearly as much smoke in without It being unpleasant.

As far as heat goes, I've been experimenting with as little as 1 half coco on the small tang phunnel & egyptian, and 2 coco's cut into quarters on the micro phunnel.

This strawberry isn't smelling too hot either, tbh.
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[quote name='kajon' timestamp='1306506083' post='510827']
I just bought some AF mint and melon. I packed the mint into a small phunnel and it was amazing as always. However, the melon smells funny. It doesn't smell like pure crap but it definitely doesn't smell like melon. This happened with a cocktail AF that I bought a while back also. The smell is pretty distinct and very off putting. Just wondering if anyone has had this problem.
[/quote]


i myself recently got various flavours of AF mint, melon, watermellon, and cocktail... like you said the mint was amazing, the cocktail smelt good but while smoking it tasted bad, and actually made me a bit sick, havent tried the melon or watermelon yet, plan on later on today also side not when i opened the pack of the cocktail shisha it looked like maybe half the shisha was dried out, like there was a hole in the bag or something, didnt think much of cause it was only a 50g trial of the stuff lol
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[quote name='IainUM' timestamp='1306538292' post='510892']<br />[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1306524436' post='510861']<br />
How are you packing it?<br />
<br />
AF has always worked for me, thick clouds and good taste, nothing like tangiers but still not bad. I smoke it about once a week or so. bought some more a few weeks ago and it's fine.<b> If the smoke is harsh you're using too much heat, PERIOD</b>. Try backing off the heat a tad and try different packing methods.<br />
[/quote]<br />
<br />
yes, i know, im not retarded. i havent taken the time to deal with it while smoking and it isn't really that harsh, just a little bit, so i smoke through it, as i stated in my first post in the section.<br />[/quote]<br /><br /><br />

Yeah that totally wasn't directed at anyone in particular bud.
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