[quote name='ih303' date='05 February 2010 - 01:53 PM' timestamp='1265378007' post='449876']
I can vouch for this one. AF is hands down the juciest tobacco I've come across. Combine that with their new shitty "soggy saw dust" cut, and you have a recipe for disaster. The good news is, for whatever reason, that new cut seems to show up only randomly. Most of the AF we get at the lounge still has their traditional cut. If you find some of the other, finer cut, good luck. I've never been able to get that to smoke as well as the other.
The problem with finely-cut, juicy tobacco is there is really no way to make it "fluffy" without drying it out first. It just seems to clump together. I've actually used an entire 50g on a small phunnel and STILL had room to spare.
The first rule is USE A PHUNNEL. I absolutely dread packing AF in anything other than a phunnel - even an egyptian. It's too wet and clogs the holes like no other. If you have to use something other than a phunnel, blow it out before smoking it. Granted, you'll spend the first five minutes of smoking trying to clear out the scorched, throat melting harshity caused by all the juices that flew to the underside of the foil. I haven't found a way around this.
The second rule is USE LESS HEAT. I find the jucier the tobacco, the less heat I need to get it really smoking. On a small phunnel, I generally start with three CH Nats, but inevitably pull one off shortly after start. Two coals seem to keep the juciest of AF flavors going for a long time.
Two more thoughts - First, we have a decent selection of AF flavors at the lounge and I've noticed that juciness and cut is by no means consistent across all the flavors. I think it's a batch thing. Second, when dealing with kilos and 250's, make sure you alway stir it up prior to use. It may be tempting to use the dryer stuff on the top, but when you get down to the soup at the bottom, you'll think differently.
I'm not gonna lie, I have dried out AF numerous times with paper towels before loading, especially in the smaller bowls. It's always an option.
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EDIT:
Thanks I have left the tubs out over night to see if it changes anything. It seems some of the juices have gone but its still damn juicy. How long do you keep it with 3 CH Nats? Im between 3 for like 5-10 mins and then two with a windcover for the rest of the sesssion.. If it changes ill have to try drying it out with a paper towel...Its weird how the mint is perfect and smokes amazing but the grape/orange are both dripping..