Semi-new Hookah Fan

[PSKmustang]

I have hookahed for about a year and a half now. I always did it at my buddie's place. I ended up getting my own hookah now and had a few questions.

Anyways, I purchased my hookah from hookah-hookah.com, the Sahara - Bubble (17"):

I purchased some Coco Nara Charcoals

I purchased some metal screens from hookah-hookah.com (I have been covering the bowl with aluminum foil)

I purchased a phunnel bowl from hookah-shisha.com to try something different from a regular bowl

I also purchased a nammor hose from hookah-shisha.com that I have seen recommended

So I only have a few questions:

1. I have been poking holes into my foil with a toothpick in a circular pattern starting with the middle and working my way around. Should this change with the phunnel? How do you recommend I poke holes or should I stick to the screens?

2. I hear on the forums that people use 2-3 coals for a session. Whenever I smoked, one coal seemed enough and would last about half an hour. Then if I used a second coal I would start to get an ashy taste. I used some random coals from a store. What do you recommend for the phunnel bowl + coco nara coals? 2 pieces of coal or 1 coal broken into 2 or 4 pieces?

3. Any other suggestions?

[Victim026]

Depends on the size of the phunnel and what tobacco your using in your phunnel. I need 4 coconaras on a bowl of AF in my medium phunnel usually, or 3 and my windcover at least.

[ryno]

Ditch the screens! I used to use them and found foil to be much better.

Also, what shisha are you using? With the phunnel bowl, it will generally take 2-3 coals to get a bowl started and keep it going. For holes, I like to use either a thumbtack or a t-pin to poke holes, usually 3 rings around the outside, none of the middle.

As for other suggestions, check out the review section for different baccy to try out. I myself prefer Nakhla, Al Fakher and Tangiers

[PSKmustang]

Ditch the screens! I used to use them and found foil to be much better.

Also, what shisha are you using? With the phunnel bowl, it will generally take 2-3 coals to get a bowl started and keep it going. For holes, I like to use either a thumbtack or a t-pin to poke holes, usually 3 rings around the outside, none of the middle.

As for other suggestions, check out the review section for different baccy to try out. I myself prefer Nakhla, Al Fakher and Tangiers

I am using the hookah-hookah tobacco which from what I am reading was not a great choice

After I get through some of this tobacco, I'll start looking at some of the other tobacco choices and reviews.

[ryno]

I started out with hookah hookah and hookah freak, and they're not too bad, but there is much much better out there

[Rayneuki]

Ditch the screens! I used to use them and found foil to be much better.

Also, what shisha are you using? With the phunnel bowl, it will generally take 2-3 coals to get a bowl started and keep it going. For holes, I like to use either a thumbtack or a t-pin to poke holes, usually 3 rings around the outside, none of the middle.

As for other suggestions, check out the review section for different baccy to try out. I myself prefer Nakhla, Al Fakher and Tangiers

I am using the hookah-hookah tobacco which from what I am reading was not a great choice

After I get through some of this tobacco, I'll start looking at some of the other tobacco choices and reviews.

SOME Hookah-Hookah is ok. Go look around some local Mediteranian markets and look for some Nakhal and stuff. Head shops sometimes sell Shisha. But little hole in the wall markets sell shisha most of the time, and some hookahs.

Also, cocos + windcover are your friend. Al Fakher Cinnamon and Mint are both great flavors. I reccomend Mint. Edited December 19, 2008 by Rayneuki

[Scoop]

hookah hookah and hookah freak are some lowest quality stuff ive had. i could never get it smoking right and it never tasted any good. weaksauce.

theres a lot better. if you wanna go straight to the best stuff, you might as well skip everything artificially colored and just go straight to tangiers.

[NickReppinThe909]

if your new to setting up a hookah i wouldnt recommend tangiers just yet because there is a learning curve too it, go for some al fakher or nakhla and stay away from star(crap)buzz because it is overpriced, loses flavor too quickly and is overall just shit (aside from winterfresh and wild mint)

[rigor]

Get Al Fakher shisha. Not over priced, and good quality. Some Fusion and Layalina is good too. Try the hole pattern in my signature, should work well for you.

[antouwan]

i would strongly suggest tangiers lucid line. i don't think you'd be let down.

[MandirnOrange]

Fusion, Fantasia, Layalina, AF, Afzal, Starbuzz, Skyzzz. Try anyone of those, you wont be disappointed. As for the hole pattern on a phunnel, i usually do two rows around the center with no hole in the middle. There have been many people that do either a hole in the middle or not. Personal preference i guess. and as for coals, with cocos I usually use two on a small phunnel. Good luck!

[PSKmustang]

Thanks for all the great replys... I guess my next purchase will have to be AF at minimum. Will probably just end up trying a bunch of 50g at some point when I get tired of the HH stuff I bought.

Also, the phunnel I purchased, does anyone know if it is a small or medium phunnel? It's the only phunnel on the site I listed in the first post.

[Zyram]

it will probably be the medium if it was not specified.

[mustang_steve]

I reccomend AF and Layalina.

Al Waha has some pretty good flavors, but the smoke can get harsh VERY easily. Their "after nine" flavor (chocolate mint) is excellent...tastes like an Andes Mint.


Romman has been a mixed experience with me, and I agree with Starbuzz being really pricey for what you get, although I am a huge fan of their pomegranate flavor.

[Victim026]

it will probably be the medium if it was not specified.

You could actually very well have a large phunnel, when I contacted Hookah-Shisha yesterday to inquire what size phunnel it was they were selling on the site they told me Large's were the only thing they had. Are you able to fit a whole 50g box of tobacco in your phunnel with little issues?

[PSKmustang]

it will probably be the medium if it was not specified.

You could actually very well have a large phunnel, when I contacted Hookah-Shisha yesterday to inquire what size phunnel it was they were selling on the site they told me Large's were the only thing they had. Are you able to fit a whole 50g box of tobacco in your phunnel with little issues?

I will let you know when I get it in this week

But it does say this: These Phunnel bowls range from 4 3/4" to 5" in height and are about 3" in diameter. It holds between 30 to 45 grams of shisha tobacco.

[Victim026]

it will probably be the medium if it was not specified.

You could actually very well have a large phunnel, when I contacted Hookah-Shisha yesterday to inquire what size phunnel it was they were selling on the site they told me Large's were the only thing they had. Are you able to fit a whole 50g box of tobacco in your phunnel with little issues?

I will let you know when I get it in this week

But it does say this: These Phunnel bowls range from 4 3/4" to 5" in height and are about 3" in diameter. It holds between 30 to 45 grams of shisha tobacco.

If what they quote on the site is correct then it's a medium, in my large I can fit about 75g.