Epic Smoke Pink Lemonade Review

NOTE: This review brought to you courtesy of Arnold Stein over at Epic Smoke! Thanks Arnold!

Brand/Flavor:
Epic Smoke Pink Lemonade

Methodology:
-14 hits/person over 37 minutes
-5 individuals in the circle
-2 CoCo Naras on standard Mya bowl
-3 hose Mya Staff filled with water at room temperature

First Impressions:
Juicy and almost watery, just like the Apple on a Stick. Smells incredible, exactly like pink lemonade.

Post Mortem:
Still quite juicy, with the liquid pouring out of the bowl.

Pros:
-Incredibly huge, thick clouds
-Sweet and fairly accurate flavor
-Strong pink lemonade smell

Cons:
-Flavor was very subtle, at times bordering on absent

Andrew's Thoughts:
Epic Smoke's Pink Lemonade is a little light on flavor. Though it's smell was overwhelming and sweet, the flavor itself was rather subtle. At times I found myself straining to taste it, though when I could it definitely tasted like dilute pink lemonade. However, the smoke was completely over the top. We consistently blew monstrous white clouds, and I had incredible fun practicing my smoke rings. This product surprised me- after the Apple on a Stick experience, I really didn't expect to enjoy it. And while I did have serious problems with it, I could definitely see myself smoking it again, if it were offered to me.

Eric's Thoughts:

Lets just get one thing out of the way right now. This stuff smells freaking fantastic. I mean...if you stuck your nose in a pitcher of pink lemonade, you couldn't get a more accurate smell. And, true to its name, this stuff does produce rather epic smoke. Unfortunately that's more or less where the praises end. This stuff did taste good, however there just wasn't enough of it. When it comes down to it, it tasted like pink lemonade, but it tasted like that watered down lemonade that your camp counselors used to give you at summer camp. Another issue the stuff seemed to have was the stuff was a little bit heat sensitive. Towards the end of the bowl (which ended very very quickly for a phunnel session), everyone's second hit tasted like coal. I suppose this means that this stuff is more conducive to a more relaxed session and simply respond well to the frenetic pace of our reviews. In the end, I would smoke this again, especially if the flavor was stronger.

Peanut Gallery:

(Caroline)
The flavor was alright, although not as strong as I would have liked. Good smoke, though.

(Avi)
I would certainly consider myself an aperture [Editor's note: we think he meant "amateur"] smoker. That being said, I really enjoyed this flavor. As previously stated, the flavor was a little week [sic] and tasted a bit like lemonade mix with a bit too much water. I actually like the lemonade when it is not too sweet, so I really did enjoy this flavor. Again, the smoke was amazing. All in all, I would definitely buy this shisha after having smoked it with Eric and Andrew.

Conclusion:
Light on flavor, big on smoke, Epic Smoke Pink Lemonade may not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of huge clouds you really ought to give it a try.

B-

JM's Hookah Rum and Cola Review

Brand/Flavor:
JM's Hookah Rum and Cola

Methodology:
-Al Fakher Solid 36" filled with ice water, small Tangiers phunnel bowl, 3 Coco Naras
-2 people with 38 hits/person over 35-40 minutes

First Impressions:
Very finely chopped, very juicy and dyed a deep red, as seems to be typical of JM's. Smells like a strongly mixed rum and coke.

Post Mortem:
Thoroughly cooked in the top 60% of the bowl, still a decent amount of moisture at the bottom.

Pros:
-Both smells and tastes like a real "Cuba Libré", at least at first
-Big clouds

Cons:
-Taste dies off relatively quickly, leaving just bitterness

Andrew's Thoughts:
JM's Hookah Rum & Cola both surprised and disappointed me. On the one hand, it came remarkably close to an actual "rum and coke" flavor: it had a distinct herbal cola flavor, backed up by a tangy, rum-like cinnamon/vanilla. At first, I thoroughly enjoyed smoking it, as it produced thick, white clouds and a strong flavor. Unfortunately, as the bowl progressed that alcoholic tang that had at first been an interesting finish began to dominate, and soon all I could taste was this weird bitterness that tasted neither of rum nor cola. By the tenth round there was no real sweetness left, and by the time we stopped it was nigh unsmokeable. JM's Rum and Cola could have been so damn good, but in the end it was just unpleasant.

Eric's Thoughts:
In my opinion, this is probably one of the more difficult flavors to pull off. I mean, there are complex flavors and then there are complex flavors, this is the latter of the two. And while JM's gave it a valiant effort, I can't help but feel that they fell a wee bit short of the mark. The cola flavor was quite herbal and quite good, much like the Romman Cola that we've smoked in the past, it was the rum part that got a bit dicey. The smell was quite accurate to a captains and coke but the taste comes off as a bit chemical. And while one could argue that this makes it taste "alcoholic", I personally wouldn't give them any points for it. But while the experience at the start was above average, as the bowl wore on the flavor became more and more chemical, and eventually became too much to bear. And keeping in mind we were smoking this out of a phunnel, and the bowl was only about halfway done when we called it, there's a distinct possibility that the flavor would get nastier faster for those of you smoking it out of an egyptian or some such bowl. All in all, a valiant effort, but not quite right.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline)
Rum and Coke is alright. They actually nailed the rum flavor, which is kind of impressive—it tastes exactly like having a rum and coke. However, the flavor gets to be a bit much after a while, and I personally do not enjoy smoking it very often. I would much rather drink my rum than smoke it.

Conclusion:
Interesting to try, especially since it's so accurate at the beginning, but it's lack of endurance means we will not likely be buying this again.

B-

Fumari Mango Review

Brand/Flavor:
Fumari Mango

Methodology:
-28 hits/person over 40-45 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-2 CoCo Naras on standard Mya bowl
-3 hose Mya Staff filled with cold water with a small Heba diffuser

First Impressions:
Packed in a sleek, resealable pouch, the tobacco smelled strong and fruity, and was extremely juicy. It appeared much like Romman, undyed and moderately cut.

Post Mortem:
Mostly cooked, but still quite dry, especially in comparison with how it started.

Pros:
-Lots of flavor (bowl would not die)
-Fairly accurate mango flavor (at times)

Cons:
-Unpleasant "saltiness" present at various levels throughout the session

Andrew's Thoughts:

Given that we've tried three or four TERRIBLE mangos already, I wasn't expecting a lot from the Fumari, but I had heard good things about both the brand and flavor, so what the hell. The lack of dye, juiciness, and fruity flavor all boded well for this shisha, but alas that failed to translate to a pleasant smoking experience.

While the smoke itself started off a little weak, it quickly thickened up, and for a little while I was blowing sweet, thick clouds, with only a hint of salt in the flavor. However, as the session continued, the flavor became more and more salty, while the mango flavor started to peter out. In fact, we ended up killing the bowl not when the "flavor" disappeared, but when it seemed we were inhaling seawater.

The fact that most mango tobaccos are bad doesn't make this one good. However, if you ARE hell-bent on smoking some mango, this is probably the best you are going to do (at least, in our experience).

Eric's Thoughts:

So I had read somewhere on the intarwebs that Fumari made one of the only worthwhile mango flavors out there. And because I have never ever ever had a good mango flavored shisha in my life, I decided I had to give this a try. Now before I go on to talk about Fumari, let me talk about what I've encountered from other mango flavored shishas. For just about all offerings I've had prior, the flavor has never been good. Forget accuracy, the flavor has oftentimes been downright disgusting. Every other mango flavored shisha I've had has been plagued by a bizarre saltiness that I simply cannot figure out. At first I always thought it was me, something I had done, but after disappointing showings time and time again, I started to realize that it wasn't my fault, something about the mango flavoring is innately salty for some reason.

Now Fumari had a decent flavor, still sporting the saltiness that is characteristic of most of the other mango shisha's I'd have prior, but to a lesser extent. So that wasn't horrible. It was reasonable sweet and fruity. Not the most accurate flavor, but still decent. Now here's where it takes a turn for the strange. As the bowl got further and further along, the flavor actually got stronger for me. I can't account for this either, and while this would be normally considered a good thing, the salty flavor got stronger as well. This made the bowl practically unsmokable, and after a few more rounds, we called it quits. Bottom line is, the best mango flavored shisha so far, but still not a great mango shisha.

Peanut Gallery:

(Caroline) This is the first mango I have smoked, and although I am told its better than that of other brands I am still not a fan. For the most part it was, well, fairly disgusting. Mango was definitely the dominant flavor, but it was incredibly salty and became progressively more so as time went on. The last hit I took tasted like nothing but salt and made me choke. Not something I would ever recommend to anyone.

Conclusion:

While it is far too finicky for us to recommend to the average smoker, anyone who is really interested in smoking mango tobacco should definitely give Fumari a shot.

B-/C+

Starbuzz X On The Beach Review

Brand/Flavor:
Starbuzz X on the Beach

Methodology:
-34 hits/person over 50-55 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-2 CoCo Naras on standard Mya bowl
-3 hose Mya Staff filled with cold water with a small Heba diffuser

First Impressions:
Bright red, soaked through with molasses. Looks almost like jelly, but this seems to be typical for Starbuzz. Smells very fruity, coconut and peach being most prominent.

Post Mortem:
Almost completely cooked, only a very small amount of color or moisture left.

Pros:
-Thick smoke
-Moderate buzz
-Strong, fruity flavor

Cons:
-Dyed a deep, monkey-butt red
-Vaguely artificial flavor

Andrew's Thoughts:
I was skeptical coming into this review, as our first experience with Starbuzz didn't exactly live up to the incredible amount of hype surrounding it. However, as X on the Beach is one of their most popular flavors (unlike Plum), I was ready to give this stuff a shot at surprising me.

While the smoke itself wasn't anything supernatural, it was certainly capable of producing large clouds consistently, which isn't nothing. It was also largely smooth, and I had no real issues smoking it for the duration of the bowl. The flavor, however, was not perfect: while I did enjoy the taste to a certain extent, I was felt it was vaguely plasticky and artificial, as though the entire experience was manufactured in a lab somewhere. My paranoia aside, it tasted strongly of peach, pineapple and coconut, and once I was able to settle into the session, I had quite a good time. So while I won't say this is something everyone should go out and grab, I will admit there is something to all those excitedly misspelled forum posts (just kidding internets, you know I love you).

Eric's Thoughts:
This flavor, of all the flavors we've had recommended to us, has probably been suggested the most. So I was rather looking forward to this. But the entire time, there was that little thought in the back of my mind "What if they're all wrong?" Now please don't misunderstand me. Again, it has to do with how I typically respond to hype. And it certainly wouldn't be the first time the internet has lied to me. But luckily this time, there wasn't much for me to criticize. The Starbuzz X on the Beach, while still sporting its unnatural red color, smelled incredible. And it tasted just as great. The flavors can only be described as coming in layers, each leading to the next, typically coconut to pineapple to peach. Now whether this phenomenon is my own inability to mentally combine the flavors together, or if this is actually a strangely partitioned flavoring is probably for you to judge for yourself. Suffice it to say, this shisha had an amazing flavor and great smoke and I will more likely than not be buying it again.

Peanut Gallery:
(Caroline) Decent stuff–nice and fruity, but not too sweet. Very coconut-y.

Conclusion:
Solid smoking, highly recommended for anyone who already enjoys Starbuzz shisha. If you're new to the stuff, probably not a bad place to start, as it seems everyone but Andrew (read: the pretentious twat) thinks this stuff is fantastic.

B+

Romman Berry Breeze Review

Brand/Flavor:
Romman Berry Breeze

Methodology:
-24 hits/person over 40 minutes
-4 individuals in the circle
-2 Coco Nara coals, offset holes, rotated every few minutes
-3 hose Mya staff filled with cold water, small Heba defuser attached

First Impressions:
Typical choppy Romman cut, very moist and sticky. Aroma very sweet, like mixed berries. Not too many stems.

Post Mortem:
Almost cooked completely, very little moisture, about 5% with any color.

Pros:
-Sweet flavor
-Thick smoke
-Good buzz

Cons:
-Strange aftertaste, kinda soapy

Andrew's Thoughts:
Romman Berry Breeze was an extremely strange experience. I remember smoking it last year and even last semester, and it was delicious. Very much a "berry" flavor. However, while this pack looked and smelled like a strong, berry-flavored Romman shisha, it acted quite differently. On the very first hit of our first bowl (not the one described above, and one Eric was not present for), I got an overwhelming taste of bitter soap. While I could discern the familiar berry-ness behind it, it was completely unsmokeable. Thinking I had somehow packed it wrong, we cleaned out the bowl, even washing it with hot water, and redid the foil with some new tobacco. However, the exact same thing happened: whatever berry flavor present was eclipsed by a mask of soapy toxicity, and we put the hose down after only 3 hits.

Thinking of Tangiers (an unwashed tobacco), which needs to be acclimated before smoking, we tried leaving it out for a few hours. After three, the shisha still smoked poorly but was noticeably improved, so we decided to leave it out overnight. The next evening, in the session described above, the tobacco was much better than it had been before. The berry flavor was now prominent, and we actually had a chance to see how the smoke and buzz were. While the smoke wasn't spectacular, it was average for Romman, which is always quite good. I also felt a significant amount of nicotine in my system, but again, nothing unusual by Romman standards. The biggest problem with this tobacco was the soapiness. Even on that final bowl, I could still taste it a little, and as the berry flavor faded it become increasingly prominent. Moreover, our friend who bought a pack of Berry Breeze at the same time and place that we did also had this problem, so it wasn't isolated to the pack. This could just be a bad batch, but as we grade on the experiences we have, the soapiness was a major setback for this shisha.

Eric's Thoughts:
We've smoked Berry Breeze before, but this batch was a little stranger than previous bowls. Couldn't tell you what about it changed, but something had changed. The shisha smelled strongly of mixed berries and was very sweet. The flavor was very close to the smell, though there was something a bit off. Andrew and company described it as somewhat "soapy" though I didn't quite get that impression. However I do agree that something wasn't quite right with the flavor. Still though, for the majority of the bowl, the flavor to me was quite good. Smoke was thick, buzz was strong, and flavor was, for the most part, reasonably enjoyable. Its not the berry breeze from my memory, but it was still a decent smoke.

Conclusion:
Romman Berry Breeze is a solid tobacco with some serious consistency issues in production. Grading from memory, this shisha could easily be a B+ and possibly and A, but this batch was simply too flawed. While the flavor was good for much of the session, it took a lot of work to get it that way, and it never quite lost its soapiness.

B-

Al Fakher Jasmine Review

Brand/Flavor:
Al Fakher Jasmine

Methodology:
-20 hits/person over 30 minutes
-3 individuals in the circle
-1 Coco Nara coal, offset holes rotated every few passes
-3-hose Mya Staff filled with ice water, small Heba diffuser attached

First Impressions:
Aroma was simply fantastic, smelled exactly like jasmine tea leaves. Very juicy, no stems. Finer cut, but not as thin as Hookah-Hookah.

Post Mortem:
Somewhat blackened, but still surprisingly juicy and aromatic. Almost didn't want to throw it away, but the foil started to burn.

Pros:
-Strong aroma of jasmine tea
-Thick smoke
-Decent buzz

Cons:
-Flavor was a little weak

Andrew's Thoughts:
Al Fakher is a giant in the American shisha market, and we felt obligated to give it a shot. As one of the few non-premium tobaccos out there consistently getting good reviews, I was excited to see what all the buzz is about (pardon the pun). Happily, Jasmine largely lived up to the hype. The smoke was thick and smooth, and though the bowl died with what appeared to be a smokeable mass remaining, that could have been an issue with our coals dying (we've been having lots of fun with coals lately). Though I wasn't knocked on my butt the way I am with Romman, I definitely felt some nicotine, which was likely enhanced by my dogged attempts at improving my smoke rings. The shisha smells fantastic, just like taking a tin of jasmine tea and holding it up to your nose. Unfortunately the flavor was not as strong, but then jasmine tea always smells stronger than it tastes.

Eric's Thoughts:
With the majority of my smoking experience falling within the Romman brand, I'm always open to try a new one. There's a fair amount I don't remember about smoking hookah before I owned my own, but one thing I do remember is that Al Fahker was a brand that we typically bought, due to its ready availability in the stores closer to home. But despite this, I was still slightly skeptical that Al Fahker would be able to stand up to our usual standards. Well I was wrong on that front. The Jasmine smelled like flowers and tasted exactly like it smelled, something that some shishas seem to have trouble with for some reason. But despite the quality of flavor, there simply wasn't enough of it. Some more flavor would have made this shisha simply excellent. The smoke was thick (once we figured out the coals) and the buzz was strong. All in all, a bit on the weaker side, but still very enjoyable through and through.

Conclusion:
A solid but subtle flavor that any tea aficionado would appreciate.

B+

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-

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

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

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 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.

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

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-