Help Persuade Me To Try New Brands

[Grim_Puffer]

I posted this on another site as I want a broad opinion on this topic, so here it goes.

I have been using the hookah much more lately as life has become stressful and it helps curb my anxiety disorder without popping Xanax everyday.

I just placed a large shisha order, over 1000g worth, which is large to me, and it hit me. I only ordered US made shisha. Not that anything is wrong with that but I've never considered brands like Al Fahker, Nahkla, or Al Tawareg and various others.

I know they have huge followings, they are cost effective, 250g of these is what I paid for only 100g of other brands.

Here are my issues:

I worry about nicotine content in these. I don't care for a buzz, I use Swedish snus for that, I just enjoy the relaxing nature of a good hookah session and nicotine can sometimes provoke my anxiety/panic attacks.

I've read tons of mixed reviews. For every praise there are always negatives that follow too. Whether it be it burns too hot, it lacks flavor, or it tastes nothing like what the name suggests.

Lastly, I've had samples sent with other purchases and the shisha was dry or just gave me a headache. Granted, I've only had 3 samples but they were terrible but it could be they were old.

I use a small mya hookah, will be upgrading in a month, only use natural coals and have my methods down enough that I enjoy 90% of my sessions with the bad ones being the shisha just tasted off, prob due to poor heat control.

Can anyone tell me what I'm missing from avoiding these tobaccos? I really want to try these but every time I go to order I just cannot pursuade myself to try these.

[Pavo21]

SMOKE TANGIERS! lol also naklah is a HUGE brand around here we all love them both. they have good options on flavors also last a good time in a bowl. also they are cleaner then most other tobacco brands. so i recommend tangiers or naklah.  and everyone else on here will say the same thing. Al Fakher is good also just i perfect naklah over all the other brands besides tangiers.

[Grim_Puffer]

Excuse me...

Al Fakher and Nakhla seeing as the grammar police showed up on the other forum... Of course lol.

Tangiers is out of the question due to nicotine content. Edited May 16, 2013 by Grim_Puffer

[Pavo21]

Tangiers does come in Lucid which is a wash tobacco like all of the rest of them out there. which has a lower nicotine content. but im not really sure how the nicotine matters since u do snus regularly.  it shouldn't even really effect you honestly.

[Bawhee]

If youre worried about nicotine levels Nak Mizo line is washed, AF is washed too I think, as for the flavors all brands are hit and miss, nak hits most flavors, some are off still, AF has more misses than hits but the hits are pretty fucking brilliant, you gotta try different flavors and see how you like them. Nak original line is dry, pack a bunch of it in there and it smokes really well even if its dryer than you think is good. Nicotine buzz is likely if youre not used to smoking unwashed tobacco tho. Mizo is kinda like AF, in wetness, but the cut is different. Both mizo and AF dont carry much of a nicotine punch and there are some really nice flavors, I for one am hooked on mizo Guava atm.

[Chreees]

Tangiers Lucid should be right up your alley, along with the Mizo and Ice/Mix line of Nakhla. Tangiers and Nakhla are my two favorite brands. Good luck!

[Fouda]

I quite enjoy AF and tang as well. Nakhla haven't had quite the same success with.......yet....but ya try some AF. Stay away from al tawareg. IMO they aren't that good

Just outta curiosity what brand/flavors did you get?

[mattarios2]

 

If youre worried about nicotine levels Nak Mizo line is washed, AF is washed too I think, as for the flavors all brands are hit and miss, nak hits most flavors, some are off still, AF has more misses than hits but the hits are pretty fucking brilliant, you gotta try different flavors and see how you like them. Nak original line is dry, pack a bunch of it in there and it smokes really well even if its dryer than you think is good. Nicotine buzz is likely if youre not used to smoking unwashed tobacco tho. Mizo is kinda like AF, in wetness, but the cut is different. Both mizo and AF dont carry much of a nicotine punch and there are some really nice flavors, I for one am hooked on mizo Guava atm.

 

Mizo is not washed, nothing nakhla makes is washed, not even el basha despite the fact it says ultra light on the box.

[mattarios2]

Tangiers Lucid should be right up your alley, along with the Mizo and Ice/Mix line of Nakhla. Tangiers and Nakhla are my two favorite brands. Good luck!

 

Mizo is not washed.

[Stuie]

Headaches? Do you have a Red Dye Allergy? I do and stuff like AF, Starbuzz and a lot of other brands that pour it into some flavors kill me. Love the flavor not the migraine.

[mushrat]

Ya, Tangiers lucid or stones.

 

i smoke essentially Tangiers (lucid, og, birq.) and Mya stones and feel no need to "branch out. Of course, I have smoked a LOT of other brands along the way. ;)

[Fouda]

Still need to branch out further in the tang line

[mushrat]

Can't smoke the F-line...jacks my ass up. :w000t:

[Fouda]

Ya that's one I think I'm goingti stay away from haha
Oh and I fuckin love you mush for the new cowboy smilies!!!!

[hookah hippie]

Tangiers Nahkla al fahker are the top 3 imo probably something like that order too just buy different brands if you want to try them all, if they suck don't buy them again.  Lots of personal preference occurs when enjoying your hookah.

[redwingsoverbaron]

yeah, mizo is unwashed, therefor "higher nicotine content" but don't buy into it. i get more of a buzz from the occasional AF than mizo. im one of the lost souls that still cant fucking get tangiers right, so i cant speak on it, but from the few bowls i did do right the flavor is really good. personally, AF and Mizo all day for me. so try them out, i like headbuzzes but i dont seek them, more about flavor.

 

edit- dont fucking buy AF pineapple. other than that its mostly flavor preference. 

Edited May 16, 2013 by redwingsoverbaron

[king_lunchb0x]

nak mizo is good but it might have slight buzz, Al fakher is alright but i do get headaches sometime from it. Imo al amir is crap..smells always awesome but no flavor in smoke. afzal is supposed to be good with spice/floral flavors. Fumari has good fruit flavors. There is a lot to choose from.

[joytron]

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[Grim_Puffer]

Ill order some tangiers lucid but I checked HS today and they are out of everything.

Also, what are some good first try AF and Nak? I hate anise and coffee flavors, prefer fruit flavors. Not uber sweet, just nice fruit tones.

Thanks for the advice this far. Edited May 17, 2013 by Grim_Puffer

[Bawhee]

if you like citrus flavors I personally am a huge fan of nak orange, af watermelon is awesome shit, just smoked some, nak mizo guava is very very good, but kinda intense flavor I guess? I mean its guava tho, and its delicious. umm, mizo blueberry is pretty nice but has a sort of cooling effect to it, not like minty just cooling. Raspberry is good from mizo too. Also nak peach, pretty yum, banana is something youre gonna have to try yourself, Im not a huge fan but my girl loves it. Nak sweet melon is yum. AF dies a decent strawberry and a pretty good orange as well as lemon. Lemon is actually pretty good from AF, better than nak. rambling cause its late and I Cant make sentences. Look at mizo cherry. also check the reviews section of the forums for detailed listing of flavors and peoples thoughts on them!

[Rani]

If you're going to try Nahkla, I'd start with their El Basha Caramel flavor.  It's very light, almost like a good Cavendish pipe tobacco.  I've never liked Mizo all that much for some reason.  Also Nakla Sweet Melon is almost everyone's favorite and it has a strong flavor.  I would suggest either of these to start.  The guys could be right, the dye could be part of the problem you're having.  Nahkla doesn't use dye in anything but Mizo.  Maybe because regular Nahkla is so dry it releases less of the nicotine, I'm not sure.  Tangiers Birquq and Lucid are both great, but they can still be tricky for some people.  If you're going to order and give them a try, I'd check the various instructional videos available before you light up.  They will help.

 

Generally, American style or "new school" tobacco is all washed, and all loaded with dyes.  "Old school" generally is unwashed and doesn't usually have dyes.  But if the nicotine really is a factor for you then you may never be able to enjoy them.  If that's the case, there's always Fusion, which is quite reasonable compared to some brands and they do have great flavors.  When it comes to Al Fahkar, I've never found any flavor except vanilla that I really love and have to keep around.  Fantasia is good especially some of their new "named" flavors, oh, and before I forget, remember guys the old Fusion Honey Berry that was so popular until the idiots stopped making it?  Fantasia Hush Honey is very, VERY close.  

 

I would suggest you find out if it's actually nicotine that's the root of the problem, and by the way, you can slowly build up a tolerance.  For me and others around here, nothing, absolutely nothing short of tombak gives us a buzz because we smoke all the time and have built up a high tolerance.  If it turns out it's the dye as suggested by some of the people here, then you'll know to lean more towards the old school Nahkla, Al Waha, etc. The hard part is that when you buy in 50 gram boxes, you're really not getting the same product as when you buy the full 250 gram packages.  Something about the packaging in the little boxes just seems to mess it up in my opinion.

 

'Rani

 

EDIT:   Oh and Mush, if you ever want to lay on the grass and watch the pretty swirly stars, let me know.  I've got some Orange Soda F-Line I'll send you............ lol...

[Grim_Puffer]

Well I was a smoker from age 16 to 23. Then used dip until I got turned on to snus. Used it for the last 4 years.

Diagnosed with panic disorder at age 22.

Nicotine doesn't always spark it but an overabundance of it can.

[Fouda]

AF motherfluffin kiwi!!!!!!

[ilikemyusername]

My list of off the top of my head must try smokes...

Nakhla 2 apples. They made it first, they made it best. When you smoke it, try to dissect the flavors. Instead of thinking "mmmeh this tastes like licorice:(" think... " what's in this?" It's an extremely complex , mellow and smoothe flavor, a staple in my house.

Al Waha orange cream. Truly a delicious real life orange creamcicle. They did a great job here. And no, it doesn't get boring.

NAKHLA CARDAMOM. Try it, it's like smoking a mint leaf rolled in spices. EXTREMELY FLAVORFUL. The most knock you on your ass, not sure what this is flavor I've ever had... A roller coaster if you will.

AL Fakher ;lemon, mint, grape, dark plum and pipe. All are truly excellent flavors, lemon tasted like lemon, mint-mint, grape-grape, dark plum tastes like a Devine plum tea and pipe tastes like a chocolate tiramisu cake of yumminess..

AF ESKANDERANI APPLE.
God... Really, god made this stuff out of godself...

Do you like grapefruit???
Nakhla tropicana... Like a pink grapefruit complete with bitterness.

Nakhla sweet melon. Ever have a delicious nearly but not quite borderline over ripened canteloupe? Oh my god, I love this stuff!

Tangiers juicy peach, I got a sample from hay,(arcane) it was the only tangiers bowl I was able to get going really greatly but I still remember how it made me feel like I was drinking juice but smoking... Truly a sensation! Eric nailed that one!

Al Amir blackberry... Yummers... Like smoking a blackberry pie...


That's my list of must try (will love) flavors. I'm sure I forgot a few