Ever wonder how much tobacco to actually use for the hookah? It’s probably less then you think. To get the baste taste, use only a pinch of tobacco. You should barely have enough in there to cover up the holes on the bottom. Leave it loose! If you pack the tobacco down to much, it won’t burn as well and may be hard to pull. From the basin of the bowl to the top, tobacco should only fill it about half way. You’ll also notice the tobacco burns through more- you won’t end up wasting a lot of unsmoked tobacco, and you’ll enjoy a much smoother taste.

When I buy shisha at our local hookah bar, I always consider the Gold Label first, because it’s always an amazing smoke. This is the top-shelf product line from Al Fakher, targeted at the particular hookah smoker and available in only five flavors, Strawberry, Black Grape, Rose, Eskandarani Apple, and Bahraini Apple.

Apple is king of flavors in the middle east. At the hookah cafes your best bet is the Double Apple, a mix of red and green apple flavors that even the cheapest brands (looking at you, Nakhla) get right. In homes of the upper class, you’re more likely to find Bahraini Apple. It’s a more complex set of flavors based on the style of apple shisha commonly produced in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Al Fakher, a UAE-based company, has taken this flavor, combined it with Virginia tobacco, and produced an elite smoking experience. The flavor is pronounced and smooth, with a clean aftertaste that leaves me wanting another puff. Every exhale is a mix of caramel, sweet apple, cinnamon and coffee, with hints of licorice and clove. The essence is distinct and memorable; it’s a long burn, outlasting our coals and fading into thin smoke rather than going sour.

Definitely recommended. Gold Label is only available in 250 gram containers, and costs about $15-$20.