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-