Hookah Charcoal Reviews http://www.hookahforum.com/index.php Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:33:53 +0000 120 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19780-coco-naras-vs-exoticas/
Now some of you know that I've personally had some bad experiences with Exotica coals. This will neither be taken into consideration in this COALMAGEDDON contest, nor will I allow it to affect my judgement in any way. What will be taken into consideration at the very end is the plethora of evidence for the inconsistency of quality in Exoticas, however for the most part I will be judging the two top natural coals (on these forums, at least) based on the best each can offer. The Exotica coal I will be using is from Hookah-Shisha, and shows no signs of being "bad". I think it's also important to consider merchant accountability in these matters, so I'll be commenting on that near the end as well. On to COALMAGEDDON!

Exotica Review
Coco Nara Review
Exotica Disposal
Cocanaras Came In!

Coco Nara Website
Exotica Website

The Facts

Exotica Coals are made from compressed charcoal, and are produced in the United States.
Coco Nara Coals are made from coconut shell, and are produced in Lebanon.
Both Coals are clean burning.
Both Coals claim to have no smell or taste, to burn hot and to ash little.
Exoticas are cheaper.

Flammability

I put both coals on at 4:02, being sure to break the Exotica into a piece comparable in size to the Coco Nara.


By 4:05 both are lit well enough to use on a hookah, as you can see the Exotica is more lit than the CN.


By 4:08 they are both completely lit, but notice how the Exotica has begun to splinter and crack. Remember, this is a top-quality Exotica coal from Hookah-Shisha.com.


It's also important to note that the Exotica took about 1 extra minute because I had to break it up first, and then wash the black shit off my hands.

Points
+1 Exotica (Faster lighting)
-1 Exotica (Cracked and splintered)
-1 Exotica (Took extra time breaking up the coal, made my hand black)

Tally: Coco Nara 0, Exotica -1

Taste/Smell

Both coals emit a slight smell during the heating process, the Coco Nara smells like a campfire, the Exotica smells vaguely chemical. By 3 minutes into it the Coco Nara smell is completely gone, while the Exotica scent lingers for several minutes even after they are removed from heat. Neither coal has a noticable taste.

Points
+1 Coco Nara (Very little smell)
+1 Coco Nara (No noticeable taste)
+1 Exotica (Smell prevalent even after smoking begins, but no noticeable taste)

Tally: Coco Nara 2, Exotica 0

Longevity

4:10, beginning of smoke. Tobacco is Nahkla Pistachio, hookah is a Mya Bambino.


4:30, Coco Nara has lost very little size and shape, has made extremely little ash. Exotica has changed shape, shrunk considerably, and is ashing substantially.


4:50, the Coco Nara coal is still only halfway spent, and the Exotica coal is almost completely ashed.



Points
+1 Coco Nara (Longer lasting)

Tally: Coco Nara 3, Exotica 0

Ash

Coco Nara ashes less than half as much as the Exotica, and its ash is lighter.

Points
+1 Coco Nara (A clear ash victory)

Tally: Coco Nara 4, Exotica 0

Heat Management

Exoticas generally burn hotter, although even with the best luck you'll get inconsistencies even within a box of them. Coco Naras do not burn as hot, and every piece is the same.

Points
+1 Coco Nara (Much easier to manage heat)

Tally: Coco Nara 5, Exotica 0

Additional Consideration

Merchant attitudes
- When I received 6 unusable boxes of Exoticas, I sought compensation from the guy who sold it to me and the guy who sold it to him. I was called a liar and a thief despite photographic evidence, although after 2 1/2 weeks I did receive a partial refund. I think it's worth mentioning that, instead of taking responsibility for the obvious water damage, the merchants propounded that the only possible explanation was that mischievous Canadian customs agents either pissed or poured water onto the coals.
- When the shipping costs ended up being higher than their original quote, Coco Nara made up the difference without hesitation.

Points
-1 Exotica (No merchant accountability, poor character and no respect for customers)
+1 Coco Nara (Full merchant accountability, polite consideration and great respect for customers)]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:33:53 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19780-coco-naras-vs-exoticas/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/18986-shaped-bulk-charcoal/



image bellow medium funnel left..small on the right..




readyyyyyyyyyy



4th hit..

30 minutes....

final ashing on 3 coals...




So after smoking using these....id say....... In my opinion.........and I stress this is just my " opinion "


- took about 12 minutes to get fully red ( used my electric stove on HIGH) , got temp to reach high then placed my 3 coals on... flipped each 6 min

- used my small funnel, poked holes slightly larger then the shape of the coal, 0 ice in the base, tobbaco = AF golden grape

-durration thick smoke for .5 hour, then got lighter but by this time was able to enjoy the flavor of the tobbacoo for a good .5hr then started to be a more lighter smoke for an hour. But like voski says last about an hour an some but they shrink. So in fairness to the quality of this product i would say they are very good (Size of the coal VS longevity). Nour fingers are huge but dont stay lit for that long and produce tons of ash.

-produces a nice heat, got thick smoke within 3 hits...

-oder = i persoanly noticed a faint oder when lighting, maybe my nose is just sensitive, as far as taste...hmmmm tuf to call maybe a very very faint taste... but to rule out that its just me, more opinions would will be needed...


Overall...impression will be buying again... Last longer then golden coals..alot better then nour or exoticas.....the heat it puts out is very nice... able to get thick smoke right away on 2 coals (using the small phunnel).I added the 3rd coal at the end to keep the thickness . 9.5 /10 overall...

*** Update.......smoked differnt flavors and I dont notice any taste in coals........... Who ever bought these in my opinion wont be disapointed... ashes less....price is good...longevity is not bad...amount of heat it puts off is great on 2 coals...... Only thing from keepin it a 10/10 is that for me it takes about ~12 minutes to get lit on my stove...


So who ever else bought these any comments?]]> Sun, 27 Jan 2008 01:31:01 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/18986-shaped-bulk-charcoal/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/10844-baroody-wood-coals/
They light faster than other bulk coal I've used, but not as fast as the quicklights. They burn very nicely. Not too fast, not too slow. They don't pop, spark, or smoke. They impart no flavor that I could discern. The ashes are a fine grey powder. I found them less messy than other charcoal.

The more I use bulk coal, the less I like quicklights. They may be convenient, but I can really tell the difference in taste between them and the bulk coal. The bulk coal, and especially this brand so far, gives a much cleaner-tasting smoke.]]> Thu, 24 May 2007 01:41:10 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/10844-baroody-wood-coals/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/7576-japanese-style-coal-reviews-go-here/
Please post all reviews of Japanese Style Coals in this topic. Try to rate the coal on ease of lighting, smell and any taste imparted to the tobacco, and longevity. Anything beyond that is up to you.

To discuss your review, please post a new topic in the main review section.]]> Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:07:49 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/7576-japanese-style-coal-reviews-go-here/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/5415-bulk-charcoal-lump-review/ :: Hookah Forum Other Reviews: Bulk Charcoal (lump)::

Please place all reviews on Bulk Charcoals in this topic. Please state the brand of coal first. Try to rate the coal on ease of lighting, smell and any taste imparted to the tobacco, and longevity. Anything beyond that is up to you.

If you would like to discuss your review, please post a new topic in the review section main forum.]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:38:15 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/5415-bulk-charcoal-lump-review/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/5414-finger-coal-chopped-and-formed-in-any-shape-review/ :: Hookah Forum Other Reviews: Finger Coals ::

Please post all reviews of Finger Coals in this topic. These coals have no chemicals to make them burn or to help them start like quicklites. Please state the brand of coal first. Try to rate the coal on ease of lighting, smell and any taste imparted to the tobacco, and longevity. Anything beyond that is up to you.

To discuss your review, please post a new topic in the main review section.]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:37:35 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/5414-finger-coal-chopped-and-formed-in-any-shape-review/ http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/15627-quicklite-reviews/ :: Hookah Forum Other Reviews: Quick Lighting Coals ::

Please place all reviews for Quick Lighting Coals in this topic. Please state the brand of coal first. Try to rate the coal on ease of lighting, smell and any taste imparted to the tobacco, and longevity. Anything beyond that is up to you.]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:36:56 +0000 http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/15627-quicklite-reviews/