Help! Tangiers Tropical Punch!

[knotgreen]

Hey, Everyone,

So I purchased a 250g pack of Tangiers Tropical Punch and Orange Soda. Decided to try the Tropical Punch first, so I let it sit out for 3 hours, stirring regularly, then sealed it up for a good 24 hours. The shisha has, from the get go, smelled fantastic.

So I packed the tobacco tightly in my Pico bowl, and packed it to about the height of the spire. I tried my best to insure that no tobacco would touch the foil. I poked 3 rings of holes with a safety pin and have been using coconara coals.

My issue is this: I'm either getting really harsh smoke with some flavor, or really thin smoke with no flavor. Last night I split a coconara into 4 pieces and put them around the rim of the bowl. I was still getting the tickle in my throat that I get when I'm accidentally burning the shisha. I've tried putting just two halves on opposite sides of the bowl, and am having the same issue.

I'm wondering... Is this flavor not as rich as it smells? Am I doing something wrong here?

I have 250g of the stuff, so I'll be trying again soon. Maybe next time I'll take some pictures. Thanks for any and all feedback!

[Skoozle]

[quote name='knotgreen' timestamp='1354460126' post='563589']
Hey, Everyone,

So I purchased a 250g pack of Tangiers Tropical Punch and Orange Soda. Decided to try the Tropical Punch first, so I let it sit out for 3 hours, stirring regularly, then sealed it up for a good 24 hours. The shisha has, from the get go, smelled fantastic.

[color=#ff0000]If it smells good, you probably don't have any acclimation problems.[/color]

So I packed the tobacco tightly in my Pico bowl,

[color=#ff0000]Tightly is subjective, you can tightly pack Tangiers and still under pack it depending on what you consider tight. also, you could be over packing it.[/color]

and packed it to about the height of the spire.

[color=#ff0000]The spire height differs on Tangiers Bowls, so up to the height of the spire may be too high or too low.[/color]

I tried my best to insure that no tobacco would touch the foil.

[color=#ff0000]would or wouldn't? It's ok if the tobacco touches the foil while smoking, but you want a small air gap when you pack.[/color]

I poked 3 rings of holes with a safety pin

[color=#ff0000]A safety pin is likely too small. You want bigger holes and you want to have as many holes in the foil as you can fit without ripping it.[/color]

and have been using coconara coals.

[color=#ff0000]Coconaras are a high heat coal and the pico is a small bowl. Kind of like a Corvette engine in a Smart car, You're going to lose control with out some serious skill.[/color]


My issue is this: I'm either getting really harsh smoke with some flavor,

[color=#ff0000]sounds like an under pack[/color]

or really thin smoke with no flavor.

[color=#ff0000]Sounds like an over pack[/color]

Last night I split a coconara into 4 pieces and put them around the rim of the bowl. I was still getting the tickle in my throat that I get when I'm accidentally burning the shisha. I've tried putting just two halves on opposite sides of the bowl, and am having the same issue.

I'm wondering... Is this flavor not as rich as it smells? Am I doing something wrong here?

I have 250g of the stuff, so I'll be trying again soon. Maybe next time I'll take some pictures. Thanks for any and all feedback!
[/quote]


My responses are in red above. There are a lot of variables with Tangiers so It's impossible to point out one particular thing you are doing wrong to cause the problems you are describing.

Do you have any other coals? Do you have a digital scale? Do you have another bowl? Are you sure your hookah is not leaking? How much experience do you have setting up and smoking a hookah?

We'll get you sorted out, but it's going to take some more information and some trial and error.

[king_lunchb0x]

What wrong with the tobacco touching the foil? Try putting a bit more into the bowl I think touching the foil it fine ( there is just to to much heat to mu'assal ratio... And I'm assuming it it noir, for me some noir flavors had to be opened for 2 days worth 4/20 sessions (4 open,20 sealed) because the humidity here is a bitch. Look at the bright side, you are using a pico....I went through a few bags figuring all this out with my small phunnel. Trial and error

[Chreees]

I think you're probably under packing by mistake. But yeah, take pics/video next time you set up; that'll help us help you. Do not fret, as Ashley said, we'll get you sorted out!


Tapatalk'd via iPhone

[ezxen]

[quote name='Chreees' timestamp='1354466313' post='563596']
I think you're probably under packing by mistake. But yeah, take pics/video next time you set up; that'll help us help you. Do not fret, as Ashley said, we'll get you sorted out!


Tapatalk'd via iPhone
[/quote]

Seems to be an underpack . Every time its underpacked mine seems to smoke just like that.

My suggestion more tobacco . for a pico i also suggest light packing it above the rim then pushing down if it seems alright then do a foil test( take your sheet of foil place it over the bowl and press down with your palm . From here you can tell if you have to much are to little

[DrSmokes]

I've found that packing up to the outer ring and angling it down to the spire has worked great for me. Definitely want bigger holes, and probably more. I use 4 rings of slightly bigger than toothpick size holes. I use 2 coco flats stonehedge and will utilize a wind cover to manage the heat after a bit.

[knotgreen]

Hey folks, thanks so much for the help! I've included here an image gallery of a smoke session I just prepared for/ am currently enjoying:

[url="http://imgur.com/a/QtEBL"]http://imgur.com/a/QtEBL[/url]

I tried adding more tobacco than I typically do. The major changes in approach include: a firmer pack, and much larger/ more holes in my foil.

I can say that I got much thicker smoke, the taste has improved, but it is still a little harsh. My girlfriend finds that she's coughing more, and that it tastes more like tobacco than flavor.

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]To answer some of Skoozle's questions: [b]Do you have any other coals?[/b] Just quick lights; [b]Do you have a digital scale?[/b] No; [b]Do you have another bowl?[/b] No, just another Pico; [b]Are you sure your hookah is not leaking?[/b] Yes, I'm certain. [b]How much experience do you have setting up and smoking a hookah? [/b]Quite a bit! I've had one for years, though am new to Tangiers and the Phunnel bowls. Before trying Tangiers, I'd been smoking AF out of the phunnel and have had wonderful success. The flavor was stronger, bowls lasted longer, but smoke was always a little bit thin. [/font][/color]


Seriously, thank you everyone for the feedback! We have Orange Soda as well, but I'm hesitant to crack that one open until we get this right.

Thanks!!! Edited December 2, 2012 by knotgreen

[DrSmokes]

Is it Noir or Lucid?

I think Coyote posted somewhere about packing specific to the Pico. She said something along the lines of:
Have a few layers of tobacco:
First layer is firmly packed to the bottom (not much tobacco)
Middle layer, packed firmly but not as much as the first layer
Top layer to make sure it is even with the top of the bowl, pack it slightly lighter than the middle layer

Big holes. Might want to split your QL into 2 and have each hanging off opposite ends of the bowl.

[Coyote]

Sometimes its not as simple as overpack or underpack. Sometimes people pack too densely but not high enough, sometimes its too fluffy and too high... lots of possibilities.

Seems like you figured it out pretty quickly if you are gettings nice clouds and great flavour now.

As far as the 3 layer pack technique for the pico... usually what I do is start building the bowl in 3 layers. The first layer is slanted from the outside rim and down to cover the bottom of the bowl. The second layer will follow suit, and the third layer will be the layer closest to the spire. All steps after are the same; palm test, surface check, foil, holes, retighten, add heat.

I really need to make some videos...

[â€On]

[quote name='Coyote' timestamp='1354629725' post='563828']
Sometimes its not as simple as overpack or underpack. Sometimes people pack too densely but not high enough, sometimes its too fluffy and too high... lots of possibilities.

Seems like you figured it out pretty quickly if you are gettings nice clouds and great flavour now.

As far as the 3 layer pack technique for the pico... usually what I do is start building the bowl in 3 layers. The first layer is slanted from the outside rim and down to cover the bottom of the bowl. The second layer will follow suit, and the third layer will be the layer closest to the spire. All steps after are the same; palm test, surface check, foil, holes, retighten, add heat.

[b]I really need to make some videos...[/b]
[/quote]

Please do. Every technique of yours that I have tried has worked out fantastic for me.

[ih303]

The biggest misconception with Noir is the flavor expectation. Noir almost always has more earthy, tobacco-like undertones to it - especially the fruity and/or lighter flavors. If you don't like that, there's always Lucid, and mint & floral varieties hide the tobacco taste quite well.

One other thought, I use 3 whole Coco's every time I load my small phunnel with Noir without issue. However, some flavors have a bit more heat sensitivity than others. I've found a good way to deal with this is to use heavy duty foil and double layer it. It helps mediate the heat better. Also, my baccy always touches the foil, and I pack / poke holes the same way as I do every other brand. Just pay attention to how wet/dry the baccy is and pack accordingly - "the jucier, the loosier"

Hope this helps.

[dzigner]

[quote name='Coyote' timestamp='1354629725' post='563828']
Sometimes its not as simple as overpack or underpack. Sometimes people pack too densely but not high enough, sometimes its too fluffy and too high... lots of possibilities.

Seems like you figured it out pretty quickly if you are gettings nice clouds and great flavour now.

As far as the 3 layer pack technique for the pico... usually what I do is start building the bowl in 3 layers. The first layer is slanted from the outside rim and down to cover the bottom of the bowl. The second layer will follow suit, and the third layer will be the layer closest to the spire. All steps after are the same; palm test, surface check, foil, holes, retighten, add heat.

[b]I really need to make some videos...[/b]
[/quote]

*insert picture of black leather couch* lol but seriously you do.

[knotgreen]

very helpful, thanks everyone.