No flavor!!!

[tnotbdclxvi]

Hello, I am a noobie, sort of. I just received a hookah yesterday and tried it a few times with a few different flavors (such as double apple, rose, and apricot). However, I noticed that they do not have any flavor. I do not know what I am doing wrong, as I believe I am packing in enough molasses, and poking enough holes and what not. I just seem to get the same taste no matter what flavor I use. Does anyone have any idea how I can get the taste back? I am using one of them instant coals and al waha flavorings. Maybe I am doing something wrong?

[Captain Courageous]

well I am not a fan at all of al waha and have always hated the taste of that shisha but that probably isnt the problem. You probably just need to clean out your hookah really well... make sure that everything is clean. If the taste isn't really pleasant and always tastes the same that is probably the problem. Make sure every part is clean and from reading here on Hookah Forum I hear lemon juice is good for cleaning out hookahs but have never tried it but I would guess you would use some water too, mabie warm water with plenty of lemon juice in it to clean out your hookah well. If anything I can promise you that it isn't the coals (if you are getting good smoke) and is defenantly not the amount of holes that you are poking in the foil (if you are getting good smoke) lol, but since I personaly dont like al waha I will also mention that it wouldent hurt to try so other shisha brands and see how they taste in comparison. Might just be me but al waha is cheap and tastes like plastic to me. Blaaaa

[Macho555]

Pretty much what the cpatain said, but I'd like to add to check your seals. If your hookah isnt totally airtight, then too much air will get in, and thus no flavor. But yeah, I think Al Waha is sort of lapse on some flavors, so don't lose hope.

[Macho555]

PS - Welcome To The Forum!

[mgcsinc]

It also may be that you are packing too much tobacco in for air to get through - it should be lightly packed.

[40 Thieves]

if its smoking and your not getting the flavor you could let the tobacco sit out withe the lid off for a while - it might be in shock and need to readjust w/ the weather changing.

Cleaning the hookah is a given.

[tnotbdclxvi]

Alright, I'll try cleaning it out. If al waha is lacking in flavor, what brand should I get, and where can I get it from? The store near me only had al waha.

[lilotaku]

Alright, I'll try cleaning it out. If al waha is lacking in flavor, what brand should I get, and where can I get it from? The store near me only had al waha.

hows the amount of smoke your getting? If your still not getting that much taste, add a little more heat as well. I've used AW in teh past and i had to use a good amount of heat to get good flavor/smoke with it.

[james]

Check your heat. Too little and you might not get enough smoke for a good flavor. Too much and you'll burn the tobacco, covering up the flavor.*


*My opinion.

[tnotbdclxvi]

i get decent smoke volume. but how do i "check" the heat and know if it's enough or too much.

i dono if this has anything to do with it but whenever i take the foil off when i am done, some of molasses stick to the foil so maybe i am putting too much?
and what's better than al waha in case that may be the problem.

[james]

Tobacco burned to the foil makes for a bad smoke to me. Happens when I've packed my bowl too full or I have too much heat on.
Either way, you're probably tasting burning tobacco. Burned tobacco can really overpower a flavor.

Some people like it, though. Just not me.

What hookah are you using, btw?

[tnotbdclxvi]

I bought this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/29-1-Hose-BLUE-KING-TU...oQQcmdZViewItem
So tobacco that sticks to the foil means it's burnt? And the answer would be to not pack as much in? How can I control how hot the coal is?

[angemonkwj]

how about heat management? how often are you moving the coal around? are you just leaving it sit in the center the whole time?


p.s.-welcome to the forum

[tnotbdclxvi]

Nah, i move it around and stuff. I try not to put it in the center. I also drop it on the tray once in a while to get the ash off.

Thanks for the welcomes, btw.

[jtemes]

Alright, I'll try cleaning it out. If al waha is lacking in flavor, what brand should I get, and where can I get it from? The store near me only had al waha.

Al Waha aint a lacking flavor. if you cant get flavor with Al Waha it's doubtful you'll get flavor with any other brand. I personally think Al-Waha has lots of flavor. its just your technique...i went thru the same thing.

[mgcsinc]

Describe how you are packing the bowl, maybe your putting too much in or not leaving enough room for air. I would avoid trying to find another tobacco if you're really not getting anything from three different kinds of AW - chances are there is something wrong that getting new tobacco just ain't gonna fix. Also, what brand of quicklight coals are you using?

[tnotbdclxvi]

I am using golden coal.
My packing method is to break everything apart first, then sprinkle into the clay bowl. from there i just put as much as i can till it goes to the top but does not overfill. I compress it so i can pack more in. Maybe too much?

[james]

So tobacco that sticks to the foil means it's burnt? And the answer would be to not pack as much in? How can I control how hot the coal is?

If it's sticking to the foil, it's most likely burning, as it's burnt to the foil. You could pack less, leaving more room between the foil and tobacco. And/or you can probably use less heat.

You can control how hot the coals are by breaking them up some. Let's say you're using one coal. If one's been putting out too much heat, break the next one into three or four pieces. Then you can play around with the heat some. Two-thirds of a coal may not be hot enough, but three-quarters may be just right. It just takes a little time to figure out what the right combination is.