Is There Some Sort Of Connection Between Af And Layalina.

[S3cretz]

Is there some sort of connection between AF and Layalina.
Probably not. But there are similarities in their branding.
And the whole golden Af and Golden Layalina Thing.

I geuss not but hey It doesnt hurt to ask.

[Dereksd]

I've never heard of any but now that you bring it up I notice what you are talking about but I still have a gut feeling of no

[Chreees]

I don't think so, but they do have a lot of similarities... Both have Golden lines, and both are swimming in dye.

[Bawhee]

they could just be copying each others style, competition and all that?

[Fusion]

I've noticed the similarities too, but really it's probably just them competing within the niche they hold in the market. Personally I think AF is leagues above Layalina

[Epoch]

I think Havana is made by former employees of AF. Not sure if Layalina is in the same boat.

[joytron]

[quote name='Fusion ' timestamp='1318017391' post='526984']
I've noticed the similarities too, but really it's probably just them competing within the niche they hold in the market. Personally I think AF is leagues above Layalina
[/quote]

[Sonthert]

I don't believe so. Layalina is an imported. "generic" from what I understand and is branded Layalina. Al Fakher is a proprietary company that manufactures their own products for the line Al Fakher. Adding "golden" is pretty standard. Golden Layalina is directed at addressing more of the Starbuzz market, adding a product that is positioned at the price point of Al Fakher or a smidge higher...which also explains the golden connection. Al Fakher owns that price range in the U.S..Tangiers pretends they are a contender in that price range, but we know the truth.

There are three types of hookah tobacco:

A. Proprietary brands of tobacco that make their own tobaccos and nothing else. Some of them may manufacture additional lines like a Type B manufacturer as below. Its usually packaged in its final form at the manufacturing plant, but can be packaged under license here in the United States.
B. Tobacco that is manufactured for specific lines for different companies, boutique-type packagings, where the flavors and specifications are altered to the customer's wishes.
C. Generic tobaccos that are are purchased in their final form in buckets or bins, and then packaged by various companies. These brands already come over flavored, in their final form. they may be packaged here or in the Middle East. Usually the customers don't have any input as what's manufactured or in what flavors.
D. Tobacco that starts out as plain, unflavored tobaccos where they are imported over here and are flavored, glycerine added, potentially, etc.

Layalina is a Class C
Al Fakher is Class A
Romman is Class B (?)
Al Amir is Class C
Starbuzz is Class, A, C and D (?) Starbuzz's older stuff is all imported from the Middle East in its final form. They had some input or provided flavors to be manufactured in. As an example, Apricot or Apple were probably imported. Fuzzy Navel and Blue Mist are Class A from Starbuzz.
Nakhla is Class A. Some repackaging is done in various countries, including the United States, but Nakhla is more in tune with selling it in factory-measured packages. Weights from packages that were weighed outside the factory are infamous for being off.
Tangiers is Class A
Hookah Hookah is probably class D.
Fumari is Class B I believe.
Social smoke is Class A, but there are people that claim that they are Class D.
Most American "manufacturers" of Hookah Tobacco are Class C or D. Most imported brands are Class A or B. A good test is to see if they sell the brand in Great Britain or Germany. If it is sold overseas, it is likely to be Class A or Class B. If it is only sold inside North America, it is likely class D, maybe Class C.

Quality generally goes down as the letter goes further away from Class A, although there are awful Class A manufacturers, some excellent class B manufacturers. Variability from batch to batch generally also goes up as you go further down towards Class D. Some Class C manufacturers are very reliable and make tons and tons of the same tobacco year after year.

[S3cretz]

Thanks Eric.