Acclimation? Really?

[ih303]

Guys, this is a serious topic. Let me start by delving into my hookah past a bit. When I first really got into smoking, it wasn't long before I realized Tangiers was the Mount Everest of smoking. I bought into all the stories and methods of acclimating and packing. It seemed like once you could get Tangiers to smoke right, you had achieved hookah nirvana. Fast forward to now...

I don't buy it. Noir? You like it or you don't. You smoke for a buzz or you don't. If you want flavor, sans buzz, go for Lucid. If you don't mind the taste of tobacco in your smoke and WANT a buzz, go noir.

I get asked all the time about my smoking style and I constantly tell peeps that I'm in it for the flavor. If it has a buzz, count me out. I have a bottle of vodka for that.

Ok, so </rant><topic>

A while back, Eric conducted a survey in which he selected several members of the forum, sent us all a half-kilo of baccy, as well as a questionnaire, and gave us very specific instructions on how we were to acclimate said baccy. I followed the instructions exactly and answered all his questions as best I could. Still, it seemed at that point that my Tangy wasn't smoking as it should. Enter paradigm shift.

My eyes were finally opened when the one known as TWOAPPLES visited my hookah lounge. I told him of my problem and then packed a bowl of Noir for him. When he smoked it, he told me it was as it should be.

MORAL: Noir is Noir. It is how it is. My issue with acclimation is = I have done it. I have tried every method of acclimation posted on this forum. Still, in my experience, Noir will never taste like Lucid. It will never taste like any washed baccy. Unless there is some heavy front-loaded-flavor such as some sort of floral or some sort of mint, it will always have that tobacco undertone.

Here's where peeps will have a problem. I think acclimation is a myth! Sure you can leave out your tobacco, and it will dry, resulting in a softer flavor. But thinking that the flavor profile will change significantly due to exposure to local air seems ludacris.

Please share your thoughts.

[mustang67n]

I don't acclimate anything.. I've tried it, it seems to mellow the tobacco flavor slightly, but in the end with a correct pack, it works great for me without acclimation.

I've only smoked a few flavors of lucid, mostly noir, but I do notice a definite difference in the taste and I prefer the noir. The sweeter flavors become less sweet with the extra tobacco tones and I don't like the super sweet flavors.

In the end, I agree that acclimation is kind of pointless, however I do like the buzz and flavor of noir over lucid.

I also live in vegas and from what everyone seems to tell me, my humidity is similar to that of SD so maybe that's why I see little difference.

[Chreees]

Well I found Bigfoot 'cause there's times when the weather here is bad and Noir just won't work for me. I notice this normally when the seasons are changing. I tend to avoid Noir especially during these times. But overall, I'm a Lucid kind of guy because I do not like the tobacco undertones typically associated with Noir. So I smoke for flavor, but I also don't mind a buzz.

Just my .

[Pavo21]

The reason for aclication is because it is cooked in a TOTALLY different climate then other states so when its chilling in the air its either drying or soaking up moister so...they have found a "quicker" way to acclimate it which is just smashing the tobacco in the packaging together lots of time.

But idk i livei n socal so i've never had to do it really.

[Chreees]

Keep in mind that other brands also benefit from acclimation as well. But the reason for Tangiers needing it more often is it is oil-based, meaning it is more susceptible to the humidity and moisture in the air than other tobaccos that are not produced in this fashion.

[mushrat]

ya, I have to acclimate my nour. It does make quite a difference here in the North Carolina Climate. Some of the need my be lessened if you live in a place or atleats open you Nour in a place with a similar humidity as where to was packed. Remember, the acclimation process was for letting the tobacco get acquainted with a DIFFERENT humidity level than what it was packed at.

My .02

[Bawhee]

I have had very little experience with tangiers, but I can tell you that the one time I got it brought to europe at the end of winter it needed to be acclimated, cause the bowl I packed just for shits with it unacclimated was shit. It also smelled weird, nothing like orange soda, more like sweet and sour sauce with a kind of salty tone to it... I guess thats the bbq/soy sauce thing, though in my experience thats not how either of those two things smell. Anyways, after acclimation it smelled and smoked fine.

[Skoozle]

I have never had to acclimate a pack of Tangiers that I opened. I did buy some opened new lime in the trades section that I ended up throwing away but thats a different story.

I also dont notice the tobacco tones in noir or get any more of a buzz from noir than any other hookah tobacco. If I haven't had any nicotine for a few days, I will occasionally get a little head rush after the first few puffs. Other than that, it's all CO poisoning.

I don't doubt that Tangiers can be in humidity shock, but I let it rest at home for a while between shipping and opening and I will flip the pack over a few times before I open it. Noir, Lucid and Birquq have all smelled fine out of the package and smoked fine when I have smoked right after opening. I do still try to open it a few days before I smoke just in case.

[twoapplesplease]

yeah the acclimation thing is funny...don't even try to smoke noir in the upper mid-west in summer....I've smoked tangiers from virginia to alaska and every where in the middle..and I can assure you smoking un-acclimated tangiers is like smoking a burning shoe thats been dipped in ass sauce.( not that I have smoked a ass dipped shoe lol )..and I've smoked tangiers from virginia to alaska and everywhere in the middle

I like tangiers because it is different then the rest of the bunch, but I personally don't care for many of the flavors produced ( I like non-fruit ) there are 5 flavors I really like enuff to buy...
And I don't like the fact the tobacco quality depends on where I live and the weather...And lucid does'nt appeal to me and yes I've tried it...it lacks tobacco flavor
.

[Coyote]

Acclimation is not a myth. I definitely have to acclimate. Not every single time but there difference in smoke between acclimated noir and NOT acclimated noir is striking.

I almost can't even believe that this is being debated.

[mattarios2]

[quote name='Coyote' timestamp='1357910324' post='568232']
Acclimation is not a myth. I definitely have to acclimate. Not every single time but there difference in smoke between acclimated noir and NOT acclimated noir is striking.

I almost can't even believe that this is being debated.
[/quote]

Agreed

[mustang67n]

it's an interesting conversation. I feel like i have less experience with acclimated/non acclimated noir because I've never had to acclimate it. it always works well for me right out of the bag with full flavor, and not even uber strong tobaccco tones.

[mattarios2]

yeah, I can say in the past when I had quite a bit of Tang on hand, more than half the flavors I had absolutely needed acclimation.

[ryno]

I live in northern Indiana and usually don't have to acclimate unless its around the time the seasons are changing. Or when we have Indiana weather like this week. Mid 50s and rainy for two days in the middle of it being in the 20s and dry.

[Chreees]

Acclimation exists, you guys. I'm super serial.

[img]http://southparkstudios.mtvnimages.com/shared/characters/adults/al-gore.jpg[/img]

[Coleman]

^^^
Yes one million times yes

[Pavo21]

lol chris i love your picture chris, and no myth, fact

[Arcane]

ih303, I think you're misunderstanding the purpose of acclimation. It's not supposed to change the flavor profile or mask a tobacco undertone or anything of that sort. It is to, for the lack of a better term, correct the moisture imbalance when the tobacco + flavor is exposed to a sudden change in humidity. I'm sure there's a more in depth explanation that that...but, that's probably a discuss to be had with someone familiar with the chemical composition of the flavorings and their reaction to moisture.

Additonally, I agree with you that Noir is Noir. The tobacco undertone is usually present and it's the way it should be. If you're trying to go about getting rid of the tobacco undertone or change the flavor via acclimation, you'd probably have a better chance trying to acclimate an apple to make it take like a grapefruit. Edited January 13, 2013 by Arcane

[Bawhee]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1358052267' post='568391']
If you're trying to go about getting rid of the tobacco undertone or change the flavor via acclimation, you'd probably have a better chance trying to acclimate an apple to make it take like a grapefruit.
[/quote]
Totally off topic but a friend of mine left an open can of beer in the fridge with some tobacco (I dont know why he keeps it in the fridge, dont ask). beer tasted like double apple AF... it was gross as shit.

[tranoid no ki]

I have to acclimate. I live on the south shore of LI on the water, and every single bowl of tang ive smoked would have smoked like sshit if i didnt. Case in point, its winter and I still need to acclimate.

[Skoozle]

[quote name='Bawhee' timestamp='1358092614' post='568432']
[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1358052267' post='568391']
If you're trying to go about getting rid of the tobacco undertone or change the flavor via acclimation, you'd probably have a better chance trying to acclimate an apple to make it take like a grapefruit.
[/quote]
Totally off topic but a friend of mine left an open can of beer in the fridge with some tobacco [b](I dont know why he keeps it in the fridge[/b], dont ask). beer tasted like double apple AF... it was gross as shit.
[/quote]

I think the bigger question is why didn't he finish his beer?