All Of A Sudden, The Taste Is Gone

[azraq]

Hi everybody,

I've been a regular nargile smoker for many years and thought I knew it all, but this forum is an eye-opener! Thanks everyone!

Recently my smoking sessions have been rather tasteless. I've tried various Nakhla and Al Fakhr tobaccos (Nakhla Bahraini Apple, Double Apple, Sweet melon; Al Fakhr Golden Grape, Cherry, mint/da mix), all stuff that's been very flavourful before; most recently I cracked a brand new jar of Nakhla double apple with an expiry date of 2013 (which to my mind should have a very strong taste). I get big clouds of smoke but only a slight hint of flavour where before the flavours were quite strong.

I thought at first it was my nargile (which was at the end of its life anyway) so I replaced it. With my new setup, the seals are all perfect, I'm using a fairly new washable hose, and I've tried several egyptian bowls and a phunnel bowl, packing regularly and overpacking. I've tried Charcos coconut and Starlight coconut coals, as well as Three Kings self-lighting coals. I'm quite familiar with heat management so that's not an issue.

All this and while I get a smooth smoke with big clouds, no taste! Any ideas?

The weather here in Ontario, Canada has changed quite a bit in the past few weeks, and I smoke outside where nighttime temperatures have been hovering around 20-30 deg F. Is the cold weather an issue? It hasn't been before, but until this year I've smoked in more sheltered outdoor places.

All the tobaccos I have were shipped from a warm climate several thousand miles away. Do Nakhla and al-Fakhr tobaccos need to be acclimatized? Not something I'm very familiar with....

I think I can generally smell/taste things like normal, but maybe i have a strange cold/virus or something?

Please help me enjoy my nargile again!

[S3cretz]

Sounds like you changed the way you pack your baccy recently swithced coals? changed hole patterns perhaps. all theese things can have an influence. Also do you eat drink anything while smoking?

I suggest packing a bowl and not thinking about it just doing it and smoking. When you over-think packing you screw up its just a rule of life. Edited October 30, 2011 by S3cretz

[Yakima ali Samba]

I have had a similar problem and I think it is how I have been storing the shisha.

I get a new box of Nak peach. The first few bowls are normal spectaular Nak. After that, I have spend the remainder of the box chasing that same affect. It smells great, the clouds are there but no taste. So, I try packing more dense, more light, switch to different bowls, more holes in the foils, less holes, switch rigs. Clean everything with lemon juice and baking soda. Still nothing improves. So, I open a new box of Nak - strawberry this time. The same thing. Great at first.... I'm using rubbermaid with screw-on lids, I have had them for a while and I going to trash them for something new.

[Pavo21]

i have had the same issue before but i dontcare if there isn't any flavor really just its a perk lol, but i didn't smoke for about a day or two and bam it came back it comes and goes, could also depend on the drink your drinking or if you are eating food.

[TheyCallMeDave]

When I still lived with my parents and would smoke on the porch in Winter, this was a huge issue for me. All of me sessions had very little flavor, which I attributed to the extremely cold weather. It was anywhere from 15-25 while smoking, and wasn't enjoyable in the slightest. From experience, I can say this was a big problem for me, and it might be for you as well.

[azraq]

Thanks for the responses.

Tonight it's about 40 deg F., warmer than it has been for the past few weeks. I'll give it a go and see what happens

Yakima ali Samba, I like to use Mason jars for storage.

[Yakima ali Samba]

[quote name='azraq' timestamp='1320109874' post='529651']

Yakima ali Samba, I like to use Mason jars for storage.
[/quote]

Thanks - I'm gonna get some!