Rehash: Tangiers Tobacco + Phunnel + Scalli Mod

[Evil_Spork]

so i love the flavor, the crazy nicotine levels are neat, but how the heck do i not burn it?!

i can tell im close to getting it, but its still too harsh. i just cant handle it!

i know im doing something wrong.

im using 2 rings of holes around the outside and i have 2 quicklights on there.
with the quick lights stacked with one leaning on the other its still kinda harsh but the smoke is really wispy...
with both coals on flat its crazy harsh.

for comparison, al-waha gives absurdly thick smoke and NO harshness at all with 2 quicklights flat on opposite sides of the bowl, everything else the same.
so lets get this done for officially done with: how does one set up the coals to get this stuff thick but without the harshness?

[ShishaFred]

What I do is only 1 ring of thootpick holes , all the way thru the tobacco.
1 and a half or 2 coals , broken up in pieces and spread around the head . If it gets harsh , I remove some pieces.

[cymptom]

The question of how to get Tangiers smoking thick and without harshness will go on for ages... until (yes, I'mmana say it again) he decides to make a washed line of tobacco. As someone who has over 3 kilos of Tangiers and has been messing around with the stuff for a good 8 months, I wish I could offer an answer... but I still have no idea what the hell is going on. Some flavors smoke thick and smooth reliably (I just got off an F-Line Kashmir + Juicy Peach session that was max thickness, killer buzz, no harshness) and others I'm lucky if I can pull off a decently thick smoke that is just barely tolerable in terms of harshness.

[Evil_Spork]

The question of how to get Tangiers smoking thick and without harshness will go on for ages... until (yes, I'mmana say it again) he decides to make a washed line of tobacco. As someone who has over 3 kilos of Tangiers and has been messing around with the stuff for a good 8 months, I wish I could offer an answer... but I still have no idea what the hell is going on. Some flavors smoke thick and smooth reliably (I just got off an F-Line Kashmir + Juicy Peach session that was max thickness, killer buzz, no harshness) and others I'm lucky if I can pull off a decently thick smoke that is just barely tolerable in terms of harshness.

hahahah this stuff seriously has a mind of its own!!!!!

my QL's just turn to ash too quickly if i break them up so thats not a real option for me

[fizzgig]

Look, I don't smoke Tangiers because I HATE a nicotine buzz but it is my understanding that Tangiers is a low heat tobacco. So I don't think you're gonna get rid of the harshness until you stop using the quicklights. I thought I read that the Japanese coals were good to use with it. And Cymptom, I sure wish he'd make a washed alternative as well!

[Hookah_Bob3]

With a phunnel, take regular foil (not heavy duty) and poke a circle of holes just big enough for a coal to fit on, then poke a hole over the funnel..plop a 3k or whatnot on there and enjoy..Rotate the foil every now and then, so don't pack it too much.

That's what I do to get good, smooth tangiers smoke

[cymptom]

It's certainly true that the Golden Japanese coals (canaries) work much better than the Three Kings. I can't afford to keep them around all the time though, especially when you're using 1/12-1/10th of a box for each session. I have had good results from the quicklights, as have others, but as I said above, only with certain flavors. The flavors that are problematic for me are only slightly less problematic with the Japanese coals than they are with the quicklights.

[HAHkoo]

i've had quite a few flavors of tangiers and really all the flavors are different gum ball needed less heat we (me and my cousin) used natural finger coals. with kashmir it need lots of heat like we had to cover the whole head (medium phunnel). so really with tangiers its all shoot and miss oh and our session have never been the same as before. its like mixed results with tangiers. can't really tell you what exactly is wrong, but all i can say is that a letting it acclimate for a long time helps out alot.

[art_official]

break the coals up

heat distribution is key.

[xpimpitox]

i pack a small funnel with normal holes like using a regular bowl and i place in a triangle fashion 3 japanese coals and sometimes its smooth and thick other times its harsh and thick. lately its been harsh im gonna try 2 coals and see how it goes. i also havent been acclimating the tobac as much as i usually do that could also be a factor.

[ASUSEAN1]

try 1 ring oh holes and put the coals on opposite sides of the funnel

[Jerr]

I have found 2 ways to get good thick smoke without the harshness.

A. Drive to Tangiers in san diego and have the master himself pack you a bowl and just smoke the effin beegeesus out of it. It is delcious. i can say i've smoked a bowl of kashmir peach for 3 1/2 hours.

B. If your trying to do it at home just smoke through the harshness. If you can get 2 or 3 people who are willing to smoke through the harshness for a little bit, the smoke will indeed mellow out and become fully delcious, thick, and not harsh.

on a side note. why are you using quick lite coals? ewwww... get some of the japanese coals or the pressed wood coals. both work better for tangiers. Oh yes and Pear Watermelon is fantastic.

[Sonthert]

Here's my tips on smoking Tangiers Well:

1. Open package, empty tobacco and juice into clean container. Squeeze as much juice as you can into cointainer.

2. Let acclimate for a day. (Optional)

3. Stir tobacco and juice well.

4. Lay tobacco in bowl. Don't spread it, separate it or mash it down! The density of the tobacco in the tub is the density the tobacco should be in the bowl as opposed to most brands that are ground up smaller that you have to separate out in the bowl (spread it out in the bowl).

5. Add foil/screen. More airflow is better. I like to use a 100 or so squarish holes formed by a seafood fork. Don't use something like a pushpin or needle. Two 1/4" holes don't allow as much air through as one 1/2" hole (not that you should be putting holes that big in the foil....just a rule to be understood).

6. Invert the bowl and, while holding the foil/screen so it doesn't blow off, blow through the hole that will be connected to the hookah. The air should pass through easily , not effortlessly, it should feel like there is something in there (The tobacco).

7. Put bowl on hookah. For a large Tangiers bowl, I use about 1 33mm 3 Kings quicklight (broken into thirds or quarters and then lit, individually) or four Japanese style coals.

Most common problems why Tangiers doesn't smoke right:

a. Too little tobacco in the bowl...makes the smoke thin and harsh.

b. Too few holes in the foil (not an issue with a screen)...also makes the smoke thin and harsh.

c. Too much charcoal...flavor dies quickly or smokes harshly and then dies...use less charcoal.

If you're getting good smoke, but its harsh, take some charcoal off. If you aren't getting much smoke, its too little tobacco or too few a holes in the foil.

The tobacco will smoke a little harsh for the first five minutes or so frequently, but once the bowl gets up to temperature, the whole thing will smooth out into smoking mode.

[Evil_Spork]

Here's my tips on smoking Tangiers Well:

1. Open package, empty tobacco and juice into clean container. Squeeze as much juice as you can into cointainer.

2. Let acclimate for a day. (Optional)

3. Stir tobacco and juice well.

4. Lay tobacco in bowl. Don't spread it, separate it or mash it down! The density of the tobacco in the tub is the density the tobacco should be in the bowl as opposed to most brands that are ground up smaller that you have to separate out in the bowl (spread it out in the bowl).

5. Add foil/screen. More airflow is better. I like to use a 100 or so squarish holes formed by a seafood fork. Don't use something like a pushpin or needle. Two 1/4" holes don't allow as much air through as one 1/2" hole (not that you should be putting holes that big in the foil....just a rule to be understood).

6. Invert the bowl and, while holding the foil/screen so it doesn't blow off, blow through the hole that will be connected to the hookah. The air should pass through easily , not effortlessly, it should feel like there is something in there (The tobacco).

7. Put bowl on hookah. For a large Tangiers bowl, I use about 1 33mm 3 Kings quicklight (broken into thirds or quarters and then lit, individually) or four Japanese style coals.

Most common problems why Tangiers doesn't smoke right:

a. Too little tobacco in the bowl...makes the smoke thin and harsh.

b. Too few holes in the foil (not an issue with a screen)...also makes the smoke thin and harsh.

c. Too much charcoal...flavor dies quickly or smokes harshly and then dies...use less charcoal.

If you're getting good smoke, but its harsh, take some charcoal off. If you aren't getting much smoke, its too little tobacco or too few a holes in the foil.

The tobacco will smoke a little harsh for the first five minutes or so frequently, but once the bowl gets up to temperature, the whole thing will smooth out into smoking mode.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddddddddd STICKY THIS POST.

beautiful guide! that actually helps a LOT! ill give larger holes, and more of them a try, also ill use WAY less heat and alot more tobacco. i think im burning an underpacked bowl that has too few too small holes.
it feels like im in the ballpark of getting it right.. but theres still something critically wrong with my setup thats killing my session. luckily i have 250 grams to toy with to get it right and a room mate who's willing to bear with my screw ups!

thanks so much! and like i said.. that post is legendary, you should really make a post with that in it and sticky it. that would help out soooo many people.

[Allia22]

Bah, just have it written somewhere on the tub

[ShishaFred]

It is the sampler pack I received had a complete FAQ on how to smoke it written on it , and it also had a link to www.hookahforum.com on it

[Allia22]

Fantastic!

[HAHkoo]

wooo exact directions from the man himself!

[Sir Tony]

I really need to start experimenting with this stuff. Sounds like a fun little challenge, with a great outcome.

[Sonthert]

I have heard from lots of people that they never have a problem. The new way people put bowls together that they were taught by someone who was taught by someone who was taught by someone who was a cheapskate and like to put a tiny amount of tobacco in the bowl to save money (probably a lounge owner ) and to compensate they poked a few tiny holes to make the draw right. Back in the day, we did things differently because tobacco was different. If it smokes well that way, great keep it up! Smoking Tangiers may mean doing things slightly differently for some people...but don't assume the way you pack a bowl is the only correct way and has been the correct way for time and eternity. Try doing things differently. Its a good experiment, you might still hate Tangiers but find something that works better for when you return to smoking Al Fahkamirwaha! Lets put it a different way...if we were meant to use only a tiny amount of tobacco...why do we continue to see bowls on the market that are far too large? Its like putting a shot of whiskey in a Big Gulp Cup. If, indeed, smaller amounts of tobacco were intended by the manufacturer...why aren't they making tiny little bowls (The equivalent of shot glasses!)? Whatever works for you is the best way to do it, but Tangiers means going back a little in the process, fill the bowl up, don't spread it out, don't push it down...foil, lots of good sized holes to get the air through there.

All this was said with a big smile on my face...don't thinnk I'm trying to land on anyone here...except those lounge owners!

[ShishaFred]

I agree your way is great for Tangiers. The only problem is it takes me about 4 1h sessions to finish a damn bowl . I smoked Apple for 2 sessions , and I wanted to swtich flavours , so I have a bit of apple in a little bowl that has been standing around for like 4 days , and its still moist ...

[xpimpitox]

i spread the tangers out and LIGHTLY pack it down with an oyster fork, which i also use to mix the tobacco well. i never packed it down at all before but decided to try it today when i smoked melon blend and it worked wonders. that tint harshness that eric mentioned at first did happen but after 5 mins i had semi thick clouds of smoke. i added a 3rd and i had super flavorful clouds. it takes time but once you got it down your in hookah heaven.

EDIT: shishafred is so right! i smoked the melon blend for about 40 mins and i had to stop because it was gettin cold out and i needed to get somehomework done but the bowl is still moist. im gonna have to fire up the bowl after school 2morrow!!! Edited January 8, 2007 by xpimpitox

[JoeLipinski]

I didn't use the funnel bowl or mod, but I tried what Eric said on a regular SS bowl and it worked great. I am enjoying this session so much. Thanks so much for the tips Eric... if anyone is having any problems trying to get tangiers tobacco to work, then do what Eric said and I hope you will get a great session.

My setup
Laid the tobacco in the bowl (takes a little bit longer then just sprinkling it in)
Covered with foil
poked a lot of holes with a toothpick (the foil was completely covered with holes)
Turned bowl upside down and blew
Put bowl on hookah
added (1) 1 1/2" natural finger coal in the middle of the bowl
ashed after about 5 mins.

Not the biggest clouds (or at least so far) but makes the session so much more enjoyable
I could also taste more of the flavor!

Thanks so much Eric!

Joe Edited January 9, 2007 by JoeLipinski

[Sonthert]

I've been packing bowls the same way for 8 years, the way I learned to pack at Fumari. It took us a year to get Nahkla smoking right, we'd propose theories back and forth. I'm glad to share what I've found out over the years.

[pinky]

Thanks Sonthert for this tutorial!

My Experience was that I started smoking hookah with Nakhla. I filled the bowl to almost top of the bowl. Then pushed it easily down, so that I had a plain surface. Put Foil on it added holes with a toothpick an smoked about 2 hours with 3K coal. I could just add a coal after the first was finished and had no harshness at all. Also full taste and smoke.
Then I tried using less tobacco an different brands. And never reached such good results again.
Now I tried it again the old way. More tobacco and big holes with Tangiers tobacco. But again no luck.
The shisha is burning all the time. Maybe the coal is too hot, but the thing is, if I'm reducing coal it does not smoke right.
So, my question is: How much shisha do you use? Do you fill it up so that the shisha touches the foil, or less? Do you slowly rise heat or do you only put fully burning coals on the bowl? And how do you arrange the coals?