9/27/07

Al Fakher Orange Review

Al Fakher Orange

Shisha Cut: med, light stems. Med brown. Very drippy.

Hookah Type: 22" Egyptian

Duration: 55 mins

Bowl: glass

Foil / Screen: foil

Coal / Amount: (2) 1-1.5 inch pieces of Dy Natural Fingers

Smoke: med to thick

Buzz: mild

Smell / Flavor: Smell was a fresh squeezed orange. Nice and tart, citrus-y. Taste was light orange, true orange, not sweet or candy-ish.

Video Link: "coming soon"

Rating (1 to 10): 7

A decent Orange, very "true" smelling and tasting, but rather light on the taste. It was there, but not nearly as strong as I would have hoped. Still, overall a very nice smoke. Maybe with some OJ in base it will enhance the taste.

9/21/07

Al Waha Orange Cream Review

Al Waha Orange Cream

Shisha Cut: med to course, good bit of stems. Med to dark brown. Med drippy.

Hookah Type: 30" Green Syrain (Froggie)

Duration: 45min to 1hr 15min

Bowl: standard bowl

Foil / Screen: foil

Coal / Amount: 2 chuncks of Starbuzz Coals (4 total)

Smoke: med to thick (dependant on heat amount)

Buzz: typical Al Waha sleepy buzz - Med to HEAVY

Smell / Flavor: Smell is like fresh squeezed oranges, with a creamy undertone of vanilla. Taste is the same - not a candish tasting Orange, but a true Orange w/ a Vanilla undertone.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsjZDKwjFTk

Rating (1 to 10): 8

Not that I've had a second go at this shisha, I do realize it's a decent mix. True Orange taste w/ Vanilla undertones. Reminds me of something "trying" to be a creamsicile - not quite, but similar.

No dissing to SamB for the original sample - I understand where it came from, but the fresh tub is almost like a different shisha. Very tasty, considering I don't overly enjoy Orange. Dankes.

Starbuzz Marlette Review

Starbuzz Marlette

Shisha Cut: med to fine, light stems. Dark red in color, very drippy.

Hookah Type: 22" Eypg, 27" Syrian

Duration: bwt 50min and 2 hours

Bowl: clay (deep), mod

Foil / Screen: Foil, thick pre-cut sheets

Coal / Amount: 1 Golden QL (33m) whole @ a time, 1 (2") Dyimite Finger @ a time, 2 med chucks of SB natural (with windcover on/off for all 3)

Smoke: thick

Buzz: very slight

Smell / Flavor: Smell was a rich grape, sweet and heavier than most grapes I've smelt. It faintly reminded me of "sparkling grape juice". Taste was excellent - it seriously reminded of me a wine, but with a sweetness to it that counters any of the bitterness wine would have. Very "deep" and rich grape taste.

Video Link (coming soon):

Rating (1 to 10): 10

It was like smoking wine, without the hangover or the bitterness involved w/ real wine consumption. Very rich, deep, but sweet grape taste. If you could make a "wine" candy, this would probably be what it would taste like. It's not quite the same taste as it's "wine" namesake, but still very similar.

Out of all the "grapes" I've tried, this is got to be my favorite. Heck, this shisha even outranks my liking of Irish Cream, X on the Beach and White Peach (which is my absolute favorite SB flavor). I highly recommend!If you want to enhance the taste, add some Merlot or Sangria to the base jar and smoke this! OMG! It rocks!

8/31/07

Pimp Your Hookah order

Well, I finally got my order from Pimp your hookah yesterday. Ordered on the 16, it was shipped out the 20, arrived on the 29th and sat at the post office until the 30th.

I feel bad for making such a small order (and uninvertently taking advangae of his free shipping deal), but I wanted to see how good he was (reopening his shop) and I wanted some SB & Layalina.

Starbuzz 100g Sample pack w/ 1k Starbuzz Coals
(White Peach, X on the Beach, and Marlette)
Blue Med Base Protector
Layalina Blueberry (250g)

Went to pick up the box, the ladies there had a good giggle over the "Pimp Your Hookah" sticker on the top/bottom of the box (which I suggest NOT doing in the future). The tapes up edges were coated in a "dark grainy" material from the inside, but otherwise the box was intact.

Opened, was surprised at the 100g tins of the SB, got 2 Base Protectors (ordered and a red one) and the Layalina was good too. The SB coals where in a box, that was stuck in the outer box - i ripped it trying to get it out. Found out the coal dust was from the ripped inner plastic bag, but there wasn't much he could have done about that.

SB smells great. So does the Layalina Blueberry... the coal is standard NATURAL lump coal, but some of the chuncks are freaking HUGE - as big as my hand! I've got to find a container for it.

Other that the coal dust everywhere and the lack of tracking number (which an email took care of), it was a good experience. I'll probably order from him again in the future - his prices for Layalina and Al Fakher are great, plus he offers various great deals!

Also got a package from Sambooka of Hookah Pro - he just sent back the hose covers I made too short, but enlcosed a 250g box of Nahkla Peach - which was very good, although not a true peach taste, more of a necturine or apricot, but tastie never the less. Video reviews this weekend.

Mahir from Nazar Hookah will be back from his vacation soon, so I'll get my Nammors and AW Orange Cream very soon - :) me so happy!

8/20/07

Pharaoh Exotic Peach Review

Brand and Flavor: Pharaoh Exotic Peach

Shisha Cut: med w/ stems, light to med brown in color. Drippy (when mixed).

Hookah Type: 27" Syrian, 17" Modern, 22" Egyptian

Duration: 1hr to 2hr

Bowl: glass, standard clay, deep clay

Foil / Screen: foil (all)

Coal / Amount: (2) 33m goldens (broken), (2) 1-1.5" Dinamite Natural Fingers

Smoke: thick

Buzz: med to heavy (don't chimney)

Smell / Flavor: Smell was awesome! Sweet yummie peachy goodness. Mouthwatering! Taste was the same - peachy goodness. Alittle on the sweet side, but not overpoweringly so. Very good and long lasting taste.

Rating (1 to 10): 9.5-10

Possibly my Absolute number 1 shisha flavor I've smoked yet. This even out ranked SB White Peach, but only due to price rather than any flaw w/ the shisha itself. Wonderful yummie peach smell & taste - well worth the 10$ price tag.

This can easily be smoked for and hour plus, even if you "smoke the hell out of it". The taste lasts till the last minuet and by the time it goes "burnt" you know it's done and over with.

One thing of note - do not underpack the bowl. For best results, do a normal packing (atleast 3/4'er of the bowl) to get the best life and smoke out of the shisha. Too little will give you less smoke and start to burn early.

Starbuzz Lemon Mint Review

Brand and Flavor: Starbuzz Lemon Mint

Shisha Cut: med, stems, dark green in color. Drippy.

Hookah Type: 22" Egyptian

Duration: 1hr 15min +

Bowl: standard clay

Foil / Screen: foil

Coal / Amount: 2" dinamite natural coal

Smoke: med to thick

Buzz: none

Smell / Flavor: Smell was a light lemon, with an undercurrent of mint. Taste was mint w/ a exhale of Lemon. Refreshing.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFjndqq-hho

Rating (1 to 10): 7-8

I was very surprised with this flavor, I did expect alittle more Lemon flavor, but it was a good refreshing and relaxing smoke. Thankfully it doesn't seem to suffer the typical SB heat issues, but it could be I know SB has this issue and handled right.

Wish i had enough for a 2nd bowl, as I would have done a video review. I may even consider purchasing this flavor by itself, if it could be found at a decent price.

Recommended if located at a good price.

Nahkla Tropicania Review

Brand and Flavor: Nahkla Tropicania

Shisha Cut: typical nahkla, course and oil, dark brown in color.

Hookah Type: 22" Eypgtian

Duration: 15 min

Bowl: standard clay

Foil / Screen: foil

Coal / Amount: 2" dinamite natural coal finger

Smoke: thick

Buzz: heavy

Smell / Flavor: Smell was strong; overly fruity and heavy on the citrus. Taste was gross; sickenly sweet taste, mix-mash of fruit and lemon. Very strong and overpowering.

Rating (1 to 10): 2

I am glad I only bought a 50g pack of this flavor as the smell & taste (most importantly) was horrible. The smell was strong, the taste even worse - it was a horrible mix/mash of fruit + lemon, overpowering and somewhat nauseating. After 15 min of fighting w/ it I gave up and tossed the whole thing (even the unused).

Perhaps mixed (lightly) with mint it may have been smokable, but as it was, I considered unsmokable.