Coals, Sizes and Types / buring shisha

[Mathazar]

My favorite right now is Golden.  I think they only come in one
size.  The problem I had with 3Kings is that it added too much
charcoal flavor to the smoke,  and always ruined my smoking
experience    If I were
you,  I would avoid the 40mm (large) 3Kings coals because it
really adds ALOT of charcoal flavor to your smoke.  But if you
absolutely MUST have them,  you can buy them at: 
www.SocialSmoke.com,  you can get 3 boxes for $46.  From
www.hookahcompany.com I just ordered some Nour Natural Wood
Coals.  There supposed to burn longer than the quick-lights, 
but it takes longer to light them up......approximately 2 to 3 minutes
on a gas flame.  Fortunately I have a high-powered torch that I
picked-up at:  www.ChefDepot.net/minitorch.htm.......It's called
the MesserChefTorch,  the first picture on the page,  along
with 20 cans of butane.  It's absolutely AWESOME!!!  The damn
thing gets my Golden Coals REDHOT in a matter of mere seconds   
It'll be perfect for my Nour Natural Wooden Coals.  The torch
flame is MANY times more powerful than a regular gas stove,  and
will light coals very quickly. 

I think I'm going to like the Nour Wooden Coals,  because they are
supposed to NOT impart any bad odor or charcoal flavor to the
smoke.  They're chemical and additive-free,  so it's really
the healthiest way to smoke,  because I don't know how healthy
regular quick-lites like Golden & 3Kings are for my health.

If you're looking for a new coal to try,  then head on over
to:  www.hookahcompany.com and pick yourself up some Nour Natural
Coals.  They're pretty cheap at $7.00 per kilo (2.2 lbs). 
Mine should be arriving on Thursday,  I'll let you know how I like
them 

[supachink]

Golden coals are 33mm, and i always found that i'd have to use two at
the same time with a bowl of al waha or nakhala. Might i be doing
something different? I really havent had a chance to experiment outside
the bounds of those brands due to cost... but i got soem cash for xmas
so i think ill try some other massels. As for a torch, i just use my
colibri cigar ligher. its probably the same thing just a jet torch
lighter, it gets the coals pretty hot too. for anyone looking in to
those, colibris are expensive, but you can pick up a cheap one at an
asian markert / bodega store for like $5 it does the exact same thing
but probably has a weed leaf on it... natural coals, im really looking
in to it seeing that im not having such a great time with these self
lighting ones, my only question is how many come in a bag like a kilo?
and how large are the coals, please do let me know how they smoke and
any suggestions that you guys might have on why i need so much heat...

[Mathazar]

I'll let you know Thursday afternoon how I like the Nour coals and how
many are in the bag.  I'll give a brief review of them.

I know what you're talking about with the 1 coal/2 coal syndrome. 
Either it's not enough or it's too much. I don't know what the answer
to the problem is.  I'm hoping the Nour Wooden Coals will be the
solution to the problem

[King Mo]

[quote name='Supachink']Hey guys,
What have you all found to be the best coals? I have only use a few, 3 kings, Golden, and the japenese finger square things (they were my friends, i dunno) I found that the 3 kings and golden were pretty good for quick lighting. My only problem is that whenever i buy them online they end up being hte small ones. and 1 is not enough and 2 is too many.. or at least i belvie so. Is there anywhere online that you have found the large 3kings or Golden Coals for a good price? Or do you know a way in which i can fix my problem of buring the shisha
Thanks
 [/quote]
 
If one is too little, and 2 is too many, then simply use one and a half.
Break the coal into half before lighting and it's as simple as that.
I usually use one coal. If I have trouble, then I start it with 2 coals, then take it off and continue with the one coal. It does waste a coal, but u get the best smoke.
1 and a half usually works fine for large heads.
(i'm talking about the swift-lite cheap charcoal instant lite discs)

[King Mo]

of course, the major amateur mistake, is to put a sparking coal on the shisha, or put a new one over the one on the head so it lights on the head.
NEVER EVER DO THAT.
Always light the coal away from the shisha, and put it on the tray so it fully lights. Blow on it too to make sure it is orange.
If you put it on the shisha head when it is orange and not sparking at all, then you will get a great smoke, even with the cheap ass instant coal.
the blacker or sparkier the coal is, the more taste you will get into the shisha (you'll be tasting that nasty smell emitted when u light it).
 
 

[supachink]

mathazar, how did the nour coals go? were there alot in the 1 kilo bag?

[MR Bubble]

Hey supachunk, If you do decide to go for the large 3 kings, you may want to break them into quarter pieces and use 3 of those pieces on the bowl. I'm sure they are the same size as large ones I used to get, and that technique worked perfectly.
MR Bubble

[Mathazar]

Yes,  there's a HUGE amount of coal in the Nour 1 kilo
bag, I didn't count them because there's just too many of
them to take out of the bag,  and I didn't want to make a
mess. 

They resemble regular coal in their appearance,  except that their
made out of wood. I think they're made out of a wood resin, 
because the coal is black.  They're cylinder shaped and
long,  so you have to break off pieces of it to light.  I
found that my torch lighter wasn't strong enough to light them, 
you have to use a stove.  I have an electric coil stove,  and
I just turn the heat up to High,  and I place the coal directly on
the coils.  You have to turn them like hotdogs on a grill, 
in order to disperse the heat throughout the coal.  It takes about
2 minutes to heat them up,  but once their hot,  they last a
long time.  They get VERY hot.  My reccommendation,  if
you decide to buy them,  is that you break off a piece that's
equivelent to the size of the bowl,  place a redhot piece on one
side of the bowl,  and then as you smoke you can simply roll it
across the bowl to take advantage of all the tobacco.  As I
said,  they're long cylinder shapes,  so they will roll
across your bowl rather easily.  It's quite convenient
actually,  as you won't have to move the coal around the edge of
the bowl,  you can simply roll it across the bowl as you smoke.

These are excellent quality coals,  as long as you don't mind
having to heat them up on the stove,  and as long as you don't
mind the shape of the coal.  There's absolutely NO charcoal flavor
whatsoever.  It's the BEST coal I've ever used. 

After trying Nour coals,  every other coal will seem inferior
because these last a long time and they are flavorless and
odorless.  The only other regular coal that compares in quality to
Nour are the Golden Coals.  But Golden is a quick-light,  and
with all quick-lights,  I've found there to be somewhat of a
charcoal flavor to them.

Try the Nour,  you won't be disappointed 

[ApoC]

anyone use Abu Haitman japanese coals?

[MR Bubble]

Arent Abu Haitman the ones sold by thehookah.com? If so, they are great. I used to break each square in half, and use 3 of these half-pieces, arranged like a triangle on the head. Great temperature!
MR Bubble

[MR Bubble]

I like them too. The only drawback is they are best suited for large groups of shisha smoking. They come in all sizes of pieces. Most are too big and need to be broken down into usable pieces. When you do this they never seem to break apart like you want them to and you end up with so much wasted coal. If I ever buy them again, I will not use any antil I have gone through the whole bag and pre-cut each piece with a fine toothed saw, maybe like a miter saw. Other than that, I really liked them, but it takes practice using them.
MR Bubble

[NERV]

i tell you this much, stay away from shisha-lites, they are unstable,
sometime too hot, soemtimes not hot enough, smell bad when lgihitng,
and add a little bit of coal flavor

[HookaH4LIFE]

lemon wood coals are the best.  I've tried the nours once and they
still add a strange flavor to the smoke.  Try lemon woods and
you'll taste the difference.  They are a little more inconvenient
to work with, but it's definitely worth it.   It is the cleanest
smoke possible.

[Mathazar]

Gee......I'd say we've probably thoroughly confused the poor guy. 
There's enough reccommendations here to confuse anyone.  I
say,  if you want the EASIEST possible solution for your charcoal
needs,  then go with Golden Coals ( they're quick-lights). 
They burn hot and for a  decent amount of time.  They are
round discs, so they won't roll off your bowl.  They are made in
Holland,  and are formulated to be virtually flavorless &
odorless.  I know beyond any shadow of doubt that you will be
thoroughly happy with the Golden Coals.  You  can get 3 boxes
of 100 for $36.00 over at  www.Hookah-Shisha.com.  I've got a
large bowl of them sitting next to me right now.  They're simply
MARVELOUS!!!!  And they get REDHOT very quickly.

I know I said that the Nour Coals are the best,  and I stand by
that statement,  only because in my opinion and experience, 
I have found them to impart NO charcoal flavor into the smoke
whatsoever,  and they burn HOT for a long time.  The only
drawback is that you have to heat them up on the stove,  and they
take a couple minutes to heat-up.

The Golden Coals,  on the other hand,  spark right up and get
REDHOT in less than a minute.  Give them a try,  I know
you'll be completely satisfied 

[Highpockets]

The Nours are my favorite as well. A word of caution though, I ordered what I thought would be Nour online, I think at thehookah.com, and they sent me a brand called Al-Manara, which is the same idea, with the finger shaped logs, but is vastly inferior. When heating up, they infuse the room with some disgusting smell, and they impart taste into the smoke.  If you go for the Nours, which you should, make sure you don't get Al-Manara instead!

[Mathazar]

Go to www.hookahcompany.com to get your Nour Coals 

[To100YearsToLate]

I'm with mathazar on this one.  Golden Coals and Nours are the best I've used.

I like the goldens a bit better for the convenience factor.  The
Nours last longer but are a bit tougher to light.  My parents
don't like me lighting them on the stove because of charcoal residue,
so I have to use the propane grille in the backyard.  It takes
about 5-10 minutes to get them going really good.  No big deal
when I'm cooking on it as well, but alot of hassle when the goldens do
the job fine.

[ZAP]

Has anyone tried the Star coals found at hookah-shisha.com?

[supachink]

if they are round like logs wont they just roll off of the bowl???

on a side note... as for posting in REALLY OLD Topics, i kept pressing
hte next topic button and for some reason it took me to the oldest
topics in the forum... lol

[nargile_men]

tight forum!
i agree 3kings sucks.. golden is great. going to try nour soon... yet i was curious what kind of coals they use at hookah bars/lounges?  i don't think they break up golden into chunks. is there a company called orange or something?  they using nour, or lemon wood or something?