Adventures in Natural Coals

With our last major hookah order (the one that brought us that brand spankin' new Mya Staff we are so thoroughly enjoying), we received a box of 84 Coco Nara natural coals. We bought a range cooker at Target yesterday, so we finally had a chance to try them, and I thought the rather spectacular results were post-worthy.

We lit the coals fairly easily by just leaving them on the heater until the bottom was lit, then flipping it over and waiting another couple of minutes. Aside from the slight smell of cooked ham, it was a surprisingly low-maintenance process. That changed radically, however, as soon as we started smoking the bowl.
We started with a standard pattern in the foil, poking 10 to 15 small holes near the side clustered in an area roughly half the size of an unlit coal. The bowl started well, and after a couple of passes we (Eric, Caroline, and I) were quite impressed with the thickness of the smoke. However, in spite of our frequent coal rotations, it quickly became inexplicably harsh. When we lifted up the coal, the cause became immediately apparent: the hotter, denser Coco Nara coal had burned straight through the foil, leaving a hole nearly big enough to drop itself into the tobacco.


We killed the bowl immediately and cleared the hookah (something which the Staff does not do easily, incidentally), but were uncertain of how to proceed. We tried using a coal screen, and while we did get moderate smoke using roughly 2.5 coals, it simply wasn't as thick as the smoke we were getting with the foil. Mustering up some courage, I tried a new foil with only 5 small holes, spaced relatively far apart. This seemed to work for a while, and the clarity of the Coco Nara's taste put the Romman Cappuccino in a new light for me. However, after about 10 minutes, we tasted that odd metallic taste again, and when I lifted the coal, it had made a smaller but equally disturbing hole in foil.

Giving up for time being, Eric and I shot some zombies for a while (yay L4D), but I was determined to get these coals functioning. Working under the assumption that the issue was that our foil (Reynolds) was not the heavy-duty kind, I tried doubling the foil, and while that seemed to work for a while, we had already had too much hookah, so we didn't quite give it a fair shot. I'm interested in trying this again tonight, as the coal screen is an unacceptable compromise and the Coco Naras just have too much potential to give up on.
Look forward to updates soon!

UPDATE: More photos of ground zero.





UPDATE (4/30/09): So we tried smoking some Al Fakher Jasmine last night with a couple different hole patterns (expect a review up soon!), and we think we have some relevant results to share. First, with our Syrian bowl (the one from Ophelia), we used a variation on our standard pattern, which consisted of a rectangle of tiny holes made with a safety pin on the standard Reynolds double-layered, spaced roughly 2-3mm apart (the change came in the size and spacing of the wholes), slightly smaller than the size of the coal. This rectangle was off-centered, with a vent placed opposite that could be covered by a flap of foil as necessary. This seemed to work for a while (in fact, our entire review), but when we tried to restart the bowl a half hour later, the top layer of the foil had a small piece burned away.

We tried again later with another bowl of Jasmine, this time with the Mya bowl, using a variation on our previous technique. This time, contrary to all our previous patterns (for QL or natural), we made the rectangle large enough that some holes would always be uncovered, and act as a vent. To compensate for the lost heat, we used two coals instead of one. Though we ended up cutting a vent later on anyway, this method seemed to have worked quite well, with no signs of damage to the foil whatsoever. Assuming this wasn't a fluke, it seems that by placing our vents at the actual site of the heating we actually cool off the hottest part of the foil, so that it is much harder for the foil to get too hot. Of course, if this problem continues, expect further updates.

Starbuzz Plum Review

Brand/Flavor:
Starbuzz Plum

Methodology:
-25 hits/person for two, 15 hits for one over 30-35 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-1.5 33mm quick-light Golden coals offset holes rotated every few passes
-3-hose Mya Staff filled with ice water, small Heba diffuser attached

First Impressions:
The shisha was double-bagged in an attractive tin, though tins all tend to be rather poor for long-term storage. The shisha itself was bright red, soaked in molasses like a maraschino cherry. It smelled strongly sweet, though vaguely medicinal and not at all like plum.

Post Mortem:
Only very slightly moist, thoroughly cooked.

Pros:
-Incredibly thick smoke
-Strong buzz
-Long-lasting smoke

Cons:
-Flavor was unidentifiable and wore off quickly

Andrew's Thoughts:
As our first foray into the much-hyped realm of Starbuzz tobacco, this shisha had a lot riding on it, and overall, it withstood my scrutiny. Though the flavor itself was unimpressive in quality, it was certainly significant and moderately pleasant, at least early on. Sugary yet vaguely medicinal, Starbuzz Plum is no plum tobacco, but it was not bad at all. The smoke itself was remarkably thick, reminding me of some the best bowls of Romman I've ever smoked, though the new Mya certainly didn't hurt. The buzz was also quite significant, putting Caroline to bed and leaving both Eric and I a bit woozy. In the end, not a bad experience, but assuming that the smoke and buzz quality are fairly consistent within a brand, I think it'll be a while before I come back to this flavor.

Eric's Thoughts:
I supposed for our first purchase of Starbuzz, we could have picked an easier flavor than plum, but seeing as we've never smoked a plum tobacco before, we figured we'd give it a try. Personally I thought the flavor was reasonably inaccurate, tasting sweet and slightly medicinal, but strong. At the beginning of the session, the flavor can only be described as dripping off my tongue. Andrew and Caroline didn't have the same opinion however. But for me, this was probably one of the strongest flavors I've tasted in a while. However this was not a lasting flavor. Probably about halfway through, the flavor ceased to be intense, and then quickly disappeared altogether. The smoke was thick and the buzz was as intense as a good bowl or Romman. Bottom line, was it plum? Not really. Was it enjoyable? Yes.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) Aside from the fact that it made me sick after about 10 hits, the plum was alright. The smoke was nice and thick and the buzz was almost comparable to that of Romman. The flavor, however, was quite disappointing. It was not very strong initially, died out quickly, and was not nearly as plum-y as it could have been.

Conclusion:
While the flavor itself was mediocre, the smoke and buzz were of excellent quality and bode well for future Starbuzz experiences.

B-

Al Waha Orange Cream Review

Brand/Flavor:
Al Waha Orange Cream

Methodology:
-15-20 hits/person over 35 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-40mm coal offset holes rotated every few passes
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
Tobacco is cut similarly to Romman, but is far less moist. Molasses is oily, much like the Hookah-Hookah shishas we've sampled. The smell was underwhelming, but the orange scent was discernible.

Post Mortem:
Completely cooked. No, really.

Pros:
-Thick smoke
-Citrus flavor was significant, not orange per se, but citrusy

Cons:
-Cream flavor was almost unnoticeable
-Had characteristic "throat-drying" of citrus flavors
-Almost no buzz
-Dried out quickly

Andrew's Thoughts:
I have historically been skeptical of Al Waha tobacco, but I came into this review really trying to give it the benefit of the doubt. I was, unfortunately, disappointed. At first, it took me 4-5 hits to even taste anything, though Eric seems to have had a different experience. When I did start to get some flavor, it was strongly citrus and rather acidic, with no apparent cream taste. I did manage to catch a whiff of vanilla when french inhaling, but as a flavor it simply wasn't there. Though the smoke itself was thick and even pleasant at times, the citrus quickly became too much for me, and despite the significant weakening of the bowl towards the end, I had trouble taking my last five hits.

Eric's Thoughts:
I've heard from a few people that Orange Cream was worth trying, so when I found out that we had a box of Al Waha orange cream from the local store, I was interested. The flavor wasn't quite the orange I was expecting. The orange I had in mind was significantly more sour, so the fact that I wasn't immediately puckering after the first hit was a pleasant surprise. That said, it wasn't a sweet orange flavor either. As for the cream aspect of the flavor, it was practically nonexistent. I expected a balance of orange and cream, like a dreamsicle, but was instead greeted with a cream that was an afterthought at best, and a scent only at worst. The other major problem I had was that it dried out far too quickly, giving the smoke a jarringly nasty flavor. But despite all this negativity towards its flavor, I felt that the thickness of the smoke was absolutely incredible. And while that doesn't absolve it of its many issues, it certainly made this bowl much more enjoyable.

Conclusion:
Al Waha Orange Cream is not orange cream flavored. The cream flavor is quite weak, while the orange is sharp and acidic. That said, you could certainly do worse, as this shisha can produce wonderful clouds of smoke. Just don't expect much buzz.

C+

Romman Sweet Start Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Sweet Start

Methodology:
-30 hits/person over 35 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-40mm coal offset holes rotated every few passes
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
Typical Romman thick cut, slightly stemmy with a couple larger stems, very sticky. Sweet, subtle scent with mildly chemical undertones.

Post Mortem:
Thoroughly cooked, only about 5% retaining any kind of moisture.

Pros:
-Thick smoke
-Subtle but sweet flavor
-Solid Romman buzz

Cons:
-Flavor could be stronger
-Flavor dies out in the last 1/3 of the bowl
-Slightly chemical/metallic aftertaste in the back of your throat

Andrew's Thoughts:
Having smoked sweet start about a year ago, I had a couple of preconceptions coming into this review. I expected a solid smoke with a slightly chemical but quite sweet taste, and that is precisely what I got. Though its underwhelming was somewhat disappointing, I honestly enjoyed this shisha. Its natural subtlety make it an obvious candidate for mixing, especially since "sugar" is a flavor that works in almost any mix. In fact, I'm probably going to try some "sweetmint" now.

Eric's Thoughts:
I'm going to preface this section by saying that I am, at the time of writing this, incredibly congested thanks to Hay Fever (hoo-friggin-ray). So, please take that into consideration while reading my thoughts. This isn't the first time I've smoked this flavor, and that said, I definitely remember this flavor being stronger. Whether that's a change on Romman's part or on mine, you can be the judge. That said, the flavor is still an indescribable "sweet" flavor. There's very little else to it. I don't think I, or anyone, could put their finger on exactly what it is this shisha tastes like. But it is enjoyable and not overpowering. The smoke was thick and the buzz was significant. Beyond that, there isn't much else to say. All told it makes for a nice breakaway from the typical fruity flavors without venturing into the somewhat scary realm of spicy flavors like cinnamon or clove.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) This flavor is pretty weak, especially when compared to regular mint, and isn't all that exciting on its own. By the end what little flavor there was completely gone. Its probably best to mix it with something.

Conclusion:
Though this shisha is a little weaker than others, it's hard to imagine a strong yet purely sweet flavor that isn't overwhelmingly chemical. Romman Sweet Start isn't something I would immediately pack to show off our fancy hookah to a group of hot chixx, but it certainly isn't bad, and I can't imagine anyone really disliking it. That said, if asked, you WILL NOT be able to describe its flavor as anything but "sweet".

B

Hookah-Hookah Banana Review

Brand/Flavor:
Hookah-Hookah Banana

Methodology:
-5 hits/person across 10 minutes
-4 individuals in the circle
-40mm Golden coal offest holes with a ventilation hole opposite
-Foil rotated every couple hits
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
We got the Hookah-Hookah Banana as a shot, kindly donated by one David Sokolowski. Shisha was finely cut, slightly dry and quite oily. Smell was only vaguely reminiscent of bananas.

Post Mortem:
Though we only smoked for a very short time, we already saw the spectacular shriveling of the tobacco that we soon found typical of Hookah-Hookah shisha.

Pros:
-Moderately thick smoke

Cons:
-Little to no flavor
-Any flavor it had was completely unrelated to bananas
-No buzz

Andrew's Thoughts:
This flavor was not a pleasant introduction to Hookah-Hookah shisha. In fact, there was very little about it that was pleasant. To be sure, we got some good smoke out of it, but try as we might, all we got was a vague aluminum-like taste, soon followed by what I assume was the flavor of the tobacco itself, which was remarkably similar to wild rice. In short, there is nothing remotely bananaish about Hookah-Hookah Banana, and I cannot in good conscience recommend this shisha to anyone.

Eric's Thoughts:
Any hesitations I had in trying Hookah-Hookah shisha were pretty much confirmed. Admittedly it could have been far worse, but that by no means exonerates it from its sub-par performance. The smoke was pretty thick, but there was absolutely no flavor. The shisha itself seemed rather dry, and while this could be attributed to a "bad shot", I personally consider any sample of a shisha as indicative of that flavor as produced by that brand as a whole. And to claim that the shots are somehow exempt from this scrutiny is a cop out. Bottom line is, it smelled vaguely chemically like banana upon opening, but as a smoke, it produced no flavor.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) It was kind of like smoking stale banana bread. Gross.

Conclusion:
Oily and weird before, chemical and bland during, and shriveled and bizarre after, Hookah-Hookah Banana is unlikely to satisfy even the least discriminating hookah lover.

D+

Romman Grape Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Grape

Methodology:
-20 hits/person across 30 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-40mm Golden coal offest holes with a ventilation hole opposite
-Foil rotated every couple hits
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
New Romman box design, red and black with a picture of a bunch of grapes on the front. Typical Romman cut with a few small stems. Shisha is very juicy and smells strongly of grapes, not a perfectly natural smell, more like grape Jolly Ranchers or grape jelly, but a bit less sugary (a bit like wine).

Post Mortem:
Cooked all the way through, only 5% retaining any kind of moisture at all.

Pros:
-Decent smoke
-Moderate buzz
-Flavor matches smell

Cons:
-Flavor is unexpected, not very sugary sweet
-Flavor is not incredibly strong

Andrew's Thoughts:
I picked this up at Trade Roots (the local head shop) on an impulse, but I've always wanted to try grape shisha, and Romman is a consistently solid brand. From a distance, the shisha smelled good, like Welch's mixed with Manischewitz. Up close, however, the smell was overpowering and somewhat unpleasant. The taste of the smoke was quite similar to the smell, a somewhat bitter grape jelly. Though the smoke was thick (we even blew some smoke bubbles), I really wasn't satisfied with the flavor. I had hoped for something sweeter and more obvious, and while the grape wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Eric's Thoughts:
I've been wanting to smoke a grape flavor for a while now, and while this wasn't quite what I was expecting from a grape flavor, I did enjoy it. I feel that the slight lack of flavor and lower density of smoke might come from the fact that we had a hole opposite the coal pattern, thus diluting it all. So I feel that this flavor, when smoked with a more airtight seal, will probably yield a better result. The grape as stated above isn't an insanely sweet sugary grape, but rather a tart grape flavor. It has great depth and I would definitely continue smoking it.

Peanut Gallery:
The grape was…decent. Nothing incredibly special, but it wasn’t bad. The flavor was not as strong as I had hoped, nor as sweet as I was expecting; rather, it was mild and a bit on the bitter side, in a good way. We likened the flavor to concord grape jelly. Interesting, subtle, and something I will probably smoke again.

Conclusion:
While this flavor might not be what one would expect out of a grape shisha, it's hard to say that it's bad. It is an accurate grape flavor, subtle and deep. If you're looking for a sugary-sweet grape, this isn't it, but Romman Grape is unquestionably grape flavored, and a solid smoke to boot.

B

Rosetta Peach Passion Review

Brand/Flavor:
Rosetta Peach Passion

Methodology:
-10 to 15 hits per person over 20 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-40mm Golden coal, off-center holes with a larger ventilation hole opposite
-Foil rotated a few times per minute
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
When we first opened this in my kitchen, I had to go sit on the porch as the scent was overwhelming. Though difficult to identify at first, this smell is nearly identical to that of peaches and cream instant oatmeal (at least Andrew thinks so). The tobacco itself is a deep red, cut moderate to fine, and quite moist.

Post Mortem:
Since we stopped early (see below), this isn't terribly meaningful, but the tobacco was about half-cooked– still quite moist, and about 75% red.

Pros:
-Thick, fairly smooth smoke

Cons:
-Taste was a weird "peach oatmeal" at best, metallic and seriously unpleasant at its worst
-Very little buzz

Andrew's Thoughts:
I was quite pleased with myself when I identified the scent/flavor as Quaker "Peaches 'n' Cream" Instant Oatmeal, because that is exactly what it is... when it's "good". This shisha swiftly degenerated into alternately metallic and plasticky awfulness. While the smoke itself wasn't harsh and was good for blowing rings and the like, the awful flavor just made this tobacco intolerable, and we hung up the hose after only twenty minutes.

Eric's Thoughts:
I have to say that whenever I see shisha that is bright red, I get a bit nervous. This time, I think my hesitation was well founded. I bought this stuff at a local convenience store (Cousin's, $3/50 g) as an experiment in honey based shisha, and needless to say, it was quite the failed experiment. Not only is the flavor incredibly artificial and acrid, but the reasonable thickness of the smoke barely made up for it. I haven't stopped smoking a bowl halfway through before, but this was one time that Andrew and I simply couldn't take it. It was not pleasant to say the least. I would not suggest buying this to anybody, regardless of experience.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) In addition to tasting like oatmeal, it made me nauseous--something moderately thick smoke just can't make up for.

Conclusion:
If you're interested in thick, smooth, plastic-oatmeal-flavored awfulness, we heartily recommend Rosetta Peach Passion. However, if you don't hate your tastebuds or your friends, stay the hell away.

D+

Romman Apple Cinnamon Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Apple Cinnamon

Methodology:
-20 hits per person over 35 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-40mm Golden coal, off-center holes with a larger ventilation hole opposite
-Foil rotated every minute
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
The box is the new Romman design, red and black with a picture of the flavor inside. Incredibly intense smell, very sticky shisha. Typical Romman cut, a couple of stems. The shisha smelled strongly of hot cinnamon.

Post Mortem:
Only about 50% of the tobacco was black by the end. A good portion of it retained the original color, though very little of it was still sticky.

Pros:
-Accurate cinnamon with noticeable apple flavor
-Thick smoke
-Strong buzz

Cons:
-Cinnamon frequently overpowers, sometimes to the point of unsmokeability
-Apple flavor could be stronger

Andrew's Thoughts:
When first smoking this, it was almost intolerable. While the flavor itself was delicious, tasting strongly of cinnamon yet retaining undertones associated with apple crisp, the cinnamon "burn" was just too strong. However, especially in other bowls we've smoked (all generally with the above methodology), I have enjoyed this shisha, though with a caveat: you absolutely cannot hit it too hard, nor can you allow it to burn. Given the chance, this shisha will incinerate your lungs. Other than its dangerous cinnamon flavor, the Romman Apple Cinnamon was quite tasty, with excellent smoke and buzz, and I would probably buy this again (though not any time soon).

Eric's Thoughts:
The first time I smoked this flavor (40mm center coal), it was far too intense. I went into this expecting a sweet cinnamon and was met with a Big Red cinnamon kick to the throat. The flavor is quite imbalanced in my opinion. The flavor is dominated by the cinnamon, and the apple is only a mere afterthought. I'm not entirely sure if that is what Romman was shooting for, but I feel that a more balanced interplay of cinnamon and apple would have been more enjoyable. Some may think that there is no such thing as too intense when it comes to shisha. But if ever there was a shisha that was unenjoyably intense, this is it. There were times when the tobacco wasn't even harsh, yet we were coughing because of the overpowering nature of the cinnamon. Making this flavor more balanced, and thus less intense, would make this flavor far more enjoyable and accessible for everyone. Now while I'm harping on how unbearable the flavor is, understand that it is not that the flavor is always unbearable. Rather, with this flavor, you have to make many changes to how you typically smoke hookah. We found ourselves poking what we would normally consider unnecessary holes in the foil in order to let some clean air into the stem. Once that happened, the flavor became not only bearable, but enjoyable. Bottom line is, don't expect to be taking huge hits because the cinnamon burns.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) Despite its harshness, I enjoy this flavor. It is extremely strong, but if you're careful with it, or even mix it with something else to tone down the spiciness of the cinnamon (something we haven't yet done), its definitely worth trying. I had best results when I inhaled slightly less than I usually do.

Conclusion:
Frequently harsh and overpowering, the Romman Apple Cinnamon should be approached with caution. However, when set up correctly, this shisha can reward you with thick smoke, a strong buzz, and a rich flavor. We might buy this again, but not without careful consideration.

B-

Romman Rose Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Rose

Methodology:
-20 hits/person over 27 minutes
-3 people in the circle
-40mm Golden somewhat off-center on foil, rotated every few minutes
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
Typical Romman cut (so slightly stemmy), but juicier than most. Delightful rose smell is strong but not overpowering.

Post Mortem:
Thoroughly cooked, only very slightly sticky at the bottom.

Pros:
-Strong sweet rose flavor that doesn't overpower
-Solid buzz
-Delightful smoke

Cons:
-Burned a little quick
-Flavor could have been a little stronger

Andrew's Thoughts:
Rose has always been one of my favorite shisha flavors, and the Romman Rose delivered on most, if not all, the criteria I have for good rose tobacco. The flavor is strong, pleasant, and natural, while avoiding the overpowering nature of some of the other roses I've sampled.

Eric's Thoughts:
I like rose, I've always liked rose, and Romman does it very well. Admittedly it wasn't as strong as some of the rose shisha I've smoked in the past, but at the same time, this isn't a bad thing. Previous bowls of rose have been overpowering. Romman's rose is most certainly not overpowering, rather it is present without overstaying its welcome. The smoke thickness wasn't great at first, but after a while it got going quite well. Typical Romman smoke, typical Romman buzz, nothing new there. Bottom line is, it was quite good and I would absolutely buy it again.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) Rose is hands down my favorite flavor. It smells absolutely beautiful and is generally a nice break from the usual sickly-sweet fruit flavors. Produces a decent amount of smoke, as well as being quite calming. I think this could be enjoyable even for someone who doesn't like rose or other more herbal flavors.

Conclusion:
It seems that as we smoke more and more Romman, we start to lose sight of those qualities that make it great. We've begun to take the accurate, natural flavor, thick smoke, and strong buzz for granted, and as a result this review was somewhat hard to write. Although we couldn't find really anything wrong with it, it somehow seemed less exciting than an "A" shisha ought to. However, taking into account Caroline's opinion and my own memories of the first time I smoked Romman, this tobacco really is up for an A, held back only slightly by minor complaints regarding flavor and duration.

A-

Romman Cappuccino Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Cappuccino

Methodology:
-20 hits/person over 30 minutes
-2 people in the circle
-40mm Golden centered on foil
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
Not the juiciest by Romman standards, but still very juicy. Box is simple and descriptive. A few stems, but typical of Romman tobacco. It smells strongly of coffee and mocha, great smell.

Post Mortem:
Cooked completely through, only about 5% retaining any kind of moisture at all.

Pros:
-Thick smoke
-Nice, complex flavor
-Decent flavor retention
-Good buzz

Cons:
-Flavor weak at times
-Seemed to burn easily
-Actual flavor is difficult to distinguish from that of burning shisha

Andrew's Thoughts:
Spectacular aroma that made me think of hot mochas from Rao's or Starbucks. Good, tasty hits, but the flavor faded in and out, and the tobacco, though juicy, came to a burn within a few minutes and required constant attention. Might be worth trying again with a Vortex bowl, though we have no personal experience with them.

Eric's Thoughts:
This flavor was a bit underwhelming to me. That's not to say it was a bad flavor, it certainly tasted as advertised, the flavor could have just been a bit stronger. The smoke was good and thick, typical Romman tobacco and the smell is reasonably strong and pleasant and lasts quite a while. Its got a good buzz, again as is typical of Romman tobacco. All around, a good complex flavor, not terribly strong, and thus, not the most enjoyable smoke, but its definitly not unpleasant. I wouldn't say don't buy it, but I'd say that you shouldn't expect any kind of intensity from it.

Conclusion:
Pleasant and smokeable, I would probably buy this again, but especially with Romman's price increase, the occasionally disappointing flavor and frequent burning might not make this shisha worth it for everyone. Not terrible, but not great, only alright at best.

B

EDIT (5/1/09): Grade changed from B- to B after a great experience with the Coco Naras.

Hookah-Shisha.com Price Increase

Dunno about other brands, but it appears that Hookah-Shisha.com, the site where we buy most of our Romman tobacco, has increased the prices on 50g boxes to $5.95 and 125g tins to $12.95.

Also, not sure if they had it before, but it now appears that they are carrying Starbuzz ($11.95/100g), so look forward to a couple of those reviews in the coming weeks.

Romman Chocolate Strawberry Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Chocolate Strawberry

Methodology:
-20 hits (Eric), 10 (Caroline), and 5 (Andrew) over 30 minutes
-3 people in the circle
-40mm Golden centered on foil
-Ophelia filled with ice water

First Impressions:
Standard for Romman: juicy, slightly stemmy, and smelling delightfully of real strawberries dipped in chocolate. The smell is absolutely mouthwatering. Packaging was the typical new Romman design, black and red with a pictured depicting the flavor within.

Post Mortem:
Cooked (or "donezo", as Eric so eloquently put it). Very little moisture remaining. Again, typical for Romman shishas.

Pros:
-Thick, malleable smoke
-Significant buzz

Cons:
-Flavor was not strong AT ALL
-Buzz bordered on sickening (at least for Andrew, but then he smoked way too much anyway)

Andrew's Thoughts:
Smell: orgasmic. Taste: spectacularly disappointing. I really could barely taste anything, although what flavor I did notice was quite similar to the scent. Still, while the smoke itself was good, I would not personally purchase this again.

Eric's Thoughts:
This was a grade A disappointment in my book. Everything leading up to the smoke hitting my tongue led me to believe that this flavor would be absolutely incredible. And in the end, all I could come away with was a resounding "eh". The smoke was thick, as is typical with Romman tobacco, but the flavor, which we at first classified as "subtle" quickly turned to "weak" or "nonexistent". Perhaps it is due to the massive expectations I had going into this review, but I cannot now say that this flavor was in any way good. If you're looking for a smokable tobacco, you can certainly do a helluva lot worse than this, but if you're looking for a good flavor, you'd be far better off buying something else.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) I was quite excited when we bought this one, and even more so when we opened it up: the smell is amazing--just like fresh strawberries in chocolate. However, once we started smoking, I was horribly disappointed. The flavor is anything but intense; merely a hint of strawberries and chocolate. Interesting, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

Conclusion:
Great smell and great smoke thickness. But these attributes do not make up for the almost entire lack of flavor. Its not the worst thing in the world, but there are many brands/flavors out there that significantly eclipse Romman Chocolate Strawberry ($5/50g). In the end, would not buy again.

B-

EDIT (4/13/09): We tried this again recently mixed with a little mint, and it was rather tasty. The mint wasn't even the dominant flavor, and it was a reasonably enjoyable smoking experience. This wasn't exactly a revolutionary mind-changing experience, but you might want to bear this in mind before writing this flavor off completely.

EDIT (5/1/09): Coco Naras help this flavor a lot, was able to really taste both chocolate and strawberry. Changing the grade from C+ to B-.

Hydro Herbal Blue Viper (Blueberry) Review

Brand/Flavor:
Hydro "Blue Viper" (Blueberry)

Methodology:
- Approximately 20 hits/person across 20 minutes
- 3 individuals in the circle
- 40mm Golden coal, center holes
- Ophelia (See previous review for clarification)
- Vase filled with cold water

First Impressions:
Very stylish box, shiny black and blue design. Very silly engrish on the back of the box. Zip lock pouch with the herbal shisha inside; again, zip lock bag is more or less useless. Shisha looks very fine and fibrous, and is considerably drier to the touch than typical tobacco shisha. Not much excess molasses in the pouch when transferred to the jar.

Post Mortem:
Cooked completely through, almost no moisture residue whatsoever. It looks like dried grass.

Pros:
- Incredibly thick smoke
- Intense flavor, very sweet
- Barely any buzz/dizzyness/lightheadedness
- Not as messy

Cons:
- Barely any buzz/dizzyness/lightheadedness
- Slightly strange aftertaste, gone within a few seconds

Eric's Thoughts:
I'll be quite honest with you, I was expecting nothing from this pack of shisha. I've experimented with herbal shisha before and I've been seriously let down. So that said, Hydro blew me away. The smoke was incredibly thick, possibly thicker than the Romman Mint we reviewed yesterday. The flavor was intense and sweet, which was not what I was expecting from a shisha that was so dry to the touch. From the perspective of a tobacco smoker, the lack of a buzz, while not unexpected, was something of a letdown. However if you are not interested in having any nicotine in your system, Hydro Blue Viper is a solid buy. The flavor lasted for quite a while which again, surprised me considering how dry the shisha felt. The lack of buzz and thickness of smoke makes this brand/flavor ideal for practicing smoke rings without risking getting too lightheaded to walk.

Andrew's Thoughts:
Berry-flavored grass. Also, spectacular smoke, at least on the first few hits. I honestly can't recall seeing that much smoke coming off a hit, herbal or otherwise. The aftertaste was quite odd, especially at first, but I got used to it quickly, although I never really stopped noticing it. Overall, a solid smoke, especially if you're looking to stay nicotine-free, but don't expect a buzz.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) If you're looking for something intense and incredibly sweet, this is a good choice--it quite literally tastes like candy. And the thick smoke was fun as well.

Conclusion:
A great blueberry, recommended regardless of whether you usually smoke herbal or not. If you want to stay nicotine-free, this is definitely recommended. If you're just looking for something flavorful and different, this is still a great buy ($4/50g).

B

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A note on our rating system

Our Rating System

Some people give 5 stars, some give 10/10. We are uber-collegiate and give letter grades. Or something. Anyway, our ratings break down roughly as follows:

F: Toxic. Smoke only at risk of total lung collapse and years of recovery from physical and psychological trauma.

D: Recognizable as hookah, but barely. Taste is only loosely related to the flavor advertised, and smoke is harsh and unpleasant. Recommended only for the extremely stingy.

C: Passable. Certainly not what we would recommend you keep in stock, but reasonably acceptable for party situations and the uninitiated.

B: Solid smoking. Flavor as advertised, with moderate to thick smoke 90% of the time. For all but the most discerning hookah enthusiast, B grade shisha is what we recommend for the majority of your purchases.

A: Perfect. This grade will certainly not be passed out often. However if we ever get something that we feel warrants it, you can be certain that we heartily recommend it. A must buy for any hookah enthusiast.

+ and -: These modifications to the above grades are given based on how we feel about the product.

Romman Mint Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Mint

Methodology:
-Approximately 50 hits/person across 35 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-33mm Golden coal, offset holes, foil rotated every couple minutes
-22" generic 1-hose hookah (hereafter referred to as Ophelia...semi-arbitrary choice)
-Vase filled with cold water

First Impressions:
VERY sticky, lots of molasses, but not unmanageable, slightly stemmy, all typical for Romman. Aromatic but not overwhelmingly so. Professional-looking tin with a zip lock pouch within. Zip lock pouch is fairly useless, leaks molasses rendering tin rather disgusting. (Shisha was transferred to a jar earlier this week, more details to follow on that technique.)

Post Mortem:
Almost cooked all the way through. Only about 10% retained any kind of moisture.

Pros:
-Decently thick smoke, quite usable for rings, french inhale, etc.
-Consistent smoke
-Significant buzz
-Natural mint taste for the majority of the bowl
-Strong menthol coolness

Cons:
-Mildly stemmy
-Slightly metallic aftertaste towards the end of the bowl

Eric's Thoughts:
Mint isn't my favorite flavor to smoke on its own. I've had mint mixed with many different flavors in the past from fruit to chocolate, and to be quite honest, I don't really like the mint on its own. I feel that mint is better suited as an enhancement for other fruit flavors and should really rarely be smoked alone. I felt that the flavor didn't have anything beyond the menthol's cooling sensation, which really cannot be held against it as it is advertised as a pure mint flavor. Overall, good smoke, wouldn't do it alone too often, but the flavoring is certainly as advertised.

Andrew's Thoughts: First 20 minutes were spectacular. Natural mint flavor with powerful cooling that opened up my chest and lungs (I'm asthmatic). The metallic taste kicked in about two thirds of the way into the bowl, but was much like that of organic toothpaste–probably the result of a menthol overdose. The nicotine rush was so strong that I had to lie down only 10 minutes into the bowl, and was physically uncoordinated until a full 15 after we had put down the hose. Overall, the experience was quite enjoyable (as a mint-lover, admittedly), if quite intense. In my experience, the mint also mixes quite well with other flavors (berry, chocolate, etc.), so I honestly don't see how you can possibly go wrong with this shisha.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline)
I agree with Andrew--the mint completely cleared out my sinuses, which was nice.

Conclusion:
Honest and intense, Romman Mint is perfect for any mint-lover, though it might be a bit strong for the rest of us, not to mention a bit pricey ($5/50g, $12/125g). However, mint's natural mixability makes this shisha a difficult one to pass up.

EDIT (4/06/09): After nearly an hour of debate, we've decided to change the grade to B+/A-, as I (Andrew) strongly believe that Romman Mint is a run-out-and-buy shisha, whereas Eric finds its overwhelming flavor when smoked on its own to be too negative a quality to warrant an A of any kind. We are both very opinionated (as advertised!).

B+/A-

One added note before we start...

When things are slow, ie: between our shipments of shisha, we will be posting some of our secrets for getting the best experience out of your hookah. These tips will range from beginners tips (Foil and such) to more advanced tips. If we feel like it at times, we might even put up some of our smoke tricks. So stay with us and soon you'll be smoking like the pros that we would like to think we are.

F1rst P0st!!1

Hey Everyone.

Welcome to our blog.

Statement of Purpose:
To review hookahs, shisha (tobacco), and hookah-related products and services available both on the web and around the greater Amherst area.

Expected Result:
Lots of pretentious ranting about hookah, college, and life in general.

Basically, Eric and I are hookah-loving juniors at UMass Amherst. Having exhausted the local selection of shisha brands and flavors, we naturally turned to the internet for a wider selection. However, anyone who has ever googled "hookah" knows that there are literally hundreds of online vendors to choose from, their stocks ranging from obscure Middle-Eastern brands to bizarre homemade concoctions. Obtaining a consistent opinion on even the best-known shishas proved impossible, as websites shamelessly promote their exclusive wares, while forums are invariably infested by teenagers buying their first two-dollar pack of "Double Apple".

And so, we have decided to chronicle our previously informal adventures in the fascinating (and often perilous) world of hookah.

Our initial goal is to put out at least one full review on a particular tobacco variety every week, and depending on personal interest, free time, and your feedback, we'll see where we want to take this thing.