Just Sharing Some Knowledge

[Pavo21]

I am of the opinion that poking fewer, smaller holes in the foil exacerbates the acclimation problem. People who have recurrent problems frequently are using too much coal, and compensating (Unconsciously mostly, consciously occasionally) for the overuse of coal (mostly coconut coals) by restricting airflow through the bowl. Also, you will also find that there is an increased incidence of people who put say four coals on the edge of the bowl, rather than three coals in the center. That is, people with recurrent acclimation problems will often "edge" more coals, which would also tends to compensate for using too much coal. People who center fewer coals have fewer acclimation problems.

I used to offer to replace "non-acclimatable tobacco", if people sent it to me and I determined that it was defective. In every case, the tobacco smoked fine right out of the package they sent it in. So how can this be the case? People think the tobacco is out of acclimation, they acclimate it to death and keep saying its not acclimating, when it is only their "perception" that the tobacco isn't acclimated. They don't know what properly acclimated tobacco really is perhaps. They are using poor charcoal management, or not enough holes/airflow through the foil, so when they smoke it, they are making the problem "real" because it smokes poorly.

Fact: Tangiers has no more acclimation problems than any other brand. We talk about how to compensate for it, so we get nailed because the other brands aren't aware of, or won't admit that there are acclimation problems with their brand. We used to have acclimation problems with Nahkla back in the day. Tobacco used to vary when I'd smoke at Fumari, different brands. Many kinds. Back in the day, I used to see acclimation problems with Al Waha and Abu Hitham Tobacco. When I was doing R&D on Tangiers, and a severe weather shift would cause acclimation problems, every other brand that I had sitting around would have acclimation problems too. In fact, the acclimation problems with other brands were generally MORE severe than they were with Tangiers.

So, it would not be a stretching conclusion to determine that somebody who has "recurring" acclimation problems with only Tangiers is doing something waaaayyyyy off.
+1 on the open acclimation (near a window). Some people keep acclimating tobacco open, for days at a time. So, the flavor evaporates and deteriorates and the molasses smell of the base tobacco gets more prominent so they leave it open even longer, and finally the tobacco, having lost most of its rich aromas is down to smelling like "BBQ sauce" and it will never acclimate.

Why is it that "Birquq doesn't have acclimation problems"? Because it doesn't have molasses, so it lacks that molasses smell, so people don't notice that the tobacco is out acclimation...if it is. Its the molasses smell that is strong and constant, so when out of acclimation, the smell of the tobacco is more molasses and less what its supposed to smell like. No molasses, no molasses smell. The sweetener in Birquq is largely without aroma, hence "No acclimation problems". It also tends to support what I'm saying about people who have recurring acclimation problems however.

You know somebody with recurring acclimation problems? They're not bad people. They just have to get their heads going in the right direction:
1. Some amount of "BBQ sauce" or "Burnt" smell is normal (molasses is a key ingredient in most BBQ sauces and wheat bread). Some people are more sensitive to it. Assure them its OK.
2. Get their charcoal management skills improved.
3. More airflow through the foil, less charcoal.
4. No open acclimation. STRICTLTY follow 4/20 acclimation. Acclimate in a tub for four hours around when they smoke, seal it for 20 hours. Acclimate it ONLY when necessary. I still keep hearing from people they acclimate every package of Tangiers they buy. Don't do it ! Don't acclimate longer than two days...and only 4 hours out of every 24 hours.  
5. Encourage them to try to smoke it when they have their charcoal management skills and foil preparation down, even if they don't think its ready to smoke.

A week doesn't go by that I meet somebody who has recurring problems and when I poke around, I find that they insist on disregarding one or more pieces of information I have just outlined. They will open acclimate, they will use too many coals on foil with "pin-sized holes", whatever. I get them coming into the lounge and getting several lessons on packing a bowl. They then go off, come back and say its still not working. You usually find they're still using a push pin to poke the holes and frequently using coconut coals.

NOTE: Stonehenging coconut coals is NOT an acceptable substitute for breaking them in half before lighting. If you are still using this procedure, you are decreasing the longevity of your tobacco flavor by 33-50% and you are using more charcoal than you need to!

Some people get decent results using aberrant procedures. Try to get them to get a "Working model" of how to prepare Tangiers and then they can make whatever changes work better for them.

Thats my opinion in the matter.

Eric

[Stuie]

I use a Fumari poker for most shishas but I have an awl I use for Tangiers!

[Chreees]

Hm. I disagree with the following, from MY experience:

 

-"Tangiers has no more acclimation issues than any other brands." I have had acclimation issues with Tangiers, but not really with other brands. I have found other brands to benefit from slight acclimation (i.e. leaving it sit out for 30 mins before packing), however. But those flavors would still smoke well enough if I were not to acclimate it first, whereas with Tangiers if you're having acclimation issues it will likely not smoke well at all. I've just always attributed this to Eric's manufacturing process, and the ingredients used in Tangiers.

 

-"Why is it that 'Birquq doesn't have acclimation problems'?" I have had acclimation problems with Birquq. Nothing too severe, but I have had them nonetheless.

 

-"I used to offer to replace 'non-acclimatable tobacco', if people sent it to me and I determined that it was defective. In every case, the tobacco smoked fine right out of the package they sent it in." I bet if I had sent Eric the 250g of Lucid Static Starlight that had NO flavor for me from the very first bowl, it would not have had flavor for him either. By the time I discussed the issue with him, there was less than half of the 250g left, so I declined to send it in when he offered to test it. Just didn't seem worth it to me. Instead just mixed it in with other flavors so it didn't go to waste. I was doing everything as usual, so it HAD to just be the "batch" or whatever. That along with one 250g of Blueberry have been the only bad packages of Tangiers I've experienced (damn shame about the Blueberry too, considering it was the last time I got to try it because of the discontinuation). Either way, my point is, in my opinion, there is always a chance for a bad "batch," no matter what the brand of tobacco is.

 

-"Note: Stonehenging coconut coals is NOT an acceptable substitute for breaking them in half before lighting. If you are still using this procedure, you are decreasing your tobacco flavor by 33-50% and you are using more charcoal than you need to!" Now I don't know about the second part of this statement, but honestly in my typical smoking session, I only smoke for 3 hours tops. We all know how long Tangiers can last, so for me it really doesn't matter if stonehenging coals decreases the flavor by 33-50%, as I never smoke a bowl to it's full longevity potential anyway. I think many are like me in that regard, but perhaps I am mistaken... Either way, I find that by stonehenging coals, the coals last longer than halves, and I don't have the hassle of having to cut them (although the process is quite easy if you use a good pair of Craftsman Handi-Cuts). Heat is just the same as well, whether you cut them or just stonehenge.

 

Again, these comments are from my own personal experience... I trust Eric because he is the creator and has the most experience working with his own brand of tobacco and many others as well I'm sure, but I have to disagree with those few things I mentioned, simply based off of my (way more limited of course) experience. Everything else I totally agree with, more or less.

 

My :twocents:

 

EDIT: Also, I always use an oyster fork to poke holes with. ;)

[boludo]

I have always said that what most people claim to be acclimation issues are in fact packing or heat management issues. It is so much easier to blame the tobacco when in fact it is more likely your own fault.

[Chreees]

I have always said that what most people claim to be acclimation issues are in fact packing or heat management issues. It is so much easier to blame the tobacco when in fact it is more likely your own fault.

 

I do want to clarify that I agree with this statement. 9 times out of 10 it's the packing job, or the heat management. I don't want folks to think my above post suggests otherwise. People are often quick to blame it on the acclimation, when in all reality, they're just not packing high nor dense enough.

[Pavo21]

I have always said that what most people claim to be acclimation issues are in fact packing or heat management issues. It is so much easier to blame the tobacco when in fact it is more likely your own fault.

 

I do want to clarify that I agree with this statement. 9 times out of 10 it's the packing job, or the heat management. I don't want folks to think my above post suggests otherwise. People are often quick to blame it on the acclimation, when in all reality, they're just not packing high nor dense enough.

 

This is 100% true man people who think it is the tobacco it isnt.  It is them. i've even proven some wrong face to face in my HOUSe!!

[mustang67n]

i agree with some of this.. in the end.. my bowls are usually best when i dont worry about any of it.. if i just open the package, grab clumps and throw it in the bowl, it smokes better than if i get super crazy and worried about every little bit. I think this could be psychological since i don't expect much from it, and it ends up being amazing.. but even then.. When a friend packs a bowl and they claim their bowls are the best ever, and they're good, but nearly the same as my own packs, I am disappointed.. all of that thought and energy put into it and it's the same kind of dulls the point of all that energy. I pack my bowls in less than 20 seconds. and they are full of flavor, longevity, and clouds. Maybe it's because my climate is similar to that of SD... idk

[â€On]

I think it's pretty retarded for anyone to say "There is only one way to skin a cat". I use my Fumari poker for 100% of all bowls I pack. It's consistent and I get big flavor, longevity, etc. out of a bowl. To say "you have to use an oyster fork" is retarded. I don't use an oyster fork because I think it makes my bowls look ugly. I'm an aesthetics person, but I'm also about performance. Some of the bowls I pack have 200-300 holes in the foil. There is literally less tinfoil on my bowl then there is on your oyster fork packed bowl, so don't give me any shit about my airflow suffering as a result of it, because it clearly doesn't. Sometimes I put the foil on an empty bowl so I can poke deep, wide holes without disturbing the tobacco, then remove and pack and replace the foil. I take pride in the holes in my foil, and for anyone to tell me I'm doing something wrong when I'm smoking a bowl for 3-4 hours every night is complete idiocy. I use oyster forks for packing my bowls in about an equal amount that I use my hands, and both methods I get fantastic results, so for someone to say "you have to use an oyster fork to pack your bowl" is completely stupid. I prefer GC's now that I've learned their ways, but when I use CCN's, I stonehenge the fuck out of them. It gives me better control of my heat and lets my coals AND my bowls last longer as a result. If I was smoking 10 hours on every bowl, I might give a shit, but like Chris, I just don't see the point. If I can smoke all night long on a bowl, then who cares if it doesn't last an extra 4 hours after that?
 

Remember that all rules are guidelines. Do your own thing. If something doesn't work out, follow the guidelines tighter until they do work. But, that doesn't mean those rules are the only way to do things. 
 

 

People like Tangiers products (that includes tobacco as well as bowls) because they are different. Being different requires outside of the box thinking. Sometimes different is bad, sometimes it is good. I tried Classic Raspberry. It tasted like Dusty Assholes. That is a good example of different being bad. The Tangiers small is my favorite bowl of all time, and 95% of the Tangiers flavors I try, I like. That's different good. So, for all of the outside of the box thinking that Eric has to do to make Tangiers what it is, it seems completely bass fucking ackwards for him to then turn around and say "this is how everything must be done". That being said, I also agree most problems people have are because they don't know what they are doing. I know this because that's how I was when I started smoking tang. 

[Pavo21]

Nate I hope the hype of my bowls have preformed the way I say they do