| Levels of the Force? We realized that we hadn’t explained to you guys how we are pairing the tobaccos we test, so we’d like to go ahead and slide that in now. After careful consideration, the Inside Hookah team decided to classify the tobaccos in accordance with price and/or self-proclamation: The tobaccos that claim themselves as premium, and/or charge the highest market rates for their products compose the highest classification (The Jedi Masters). The tobaccos that are more moderately priced compose the mid-grade classification (The Younglings). And, those least expensive (The Clones) are considered in the lowest grade of classification. We are associating price with quality because we figure most manufacturers would justify their pricing with the quality of their tobacco. In addition, these stand as initial rankings. After a tobacco has competed with all of the other tobaccos in its class, it is free to compete with a tobacco in the level immediately preceding it. If a subordinate tobacco competes with a supposedly superior tobacco and wins the majority of the flavors, its classification will be adjusted, and so will the losing competitor’s. This month’s theme is Star Wars, but next month will feature a different theme. The terminology on the classification chart will always correspond with the theme for the month; however, the actual classification of the tobaccos shouldn’t change, unless (as mentioned in the aforementioned paragraph) the brand earns a better classification. Debriefing: Last month we had a great turn out with around, 25 or 30 testers, and this month was no exception. Inside Hookah selected recently opened Eisley’s Hookah Lounge of Denton, TX for this month’s taste test. The event kicked off around 10:30 PM and lasted until midnight. We had an average of 20 votes. Last month we tested two mid-range (Younglings) tobaccos, Al Amir and Layalina, and this month we selected two premium tobaccos: Fumari and Starbuzz. After Social Smoke generously donated hookahs and shisha for the last smoke off, we decided to contact them and the two brands being tested for additional support. Social Smoke graciously donated 10 brand spank’n new Oasis I Ice Bowl hookahs, and while Fumari was hard to get a hold of and eventually declined to participate, Starbuzz donated 100 g bags of the flavors we were testing AND covered the cost of purchasing the Fumari tobacco. If that were not enough, they also gave us free samples to send to our members! The Inside Hookah team would like to take this opportunity to thank Starbuzz, Social Smoke, and Eisley’s for their support in this month’s Tobacco Wars tasting! The Prologue:  StarBuzz and Fumari are both premium tobaccos with comparable pricing. Both companies are based in California, but StarBuzz manufactures their tobacco in the United States, and Fumari manufactures their tobacco in Jordan. Both companies also carry several diverse, and some special blend, flavors; however, several of the flavors are unique to the brand and as a result, we were limited in our selection of flavors. Nonetheless, our team chose: 1) Guava; 2) Lemon Mint; 3) Mango; 4) Sour Apple; and 5) White Peach. The Plot: Just as last time, the taste test was set up in a double blind manner – those who staffed the tables and the participants in the test were unaware of which hookah contained which brand of tobacco - so as to prevent bias. In addition, we used brand new hookahs (2 for each flavor, 1 per brand), clay bowls and washable hoses. The same amount of tobacco was distributed in each bowl, the hole patters were also the same, and each hookah had one piece of fully lit 33mm Three Kings Charcoal. Again, all conditions were kept the same to ensure a controlled tasting experience. Jeff – our on staff hookah master, and all around good guy – set up all the hookahs in identical method so as to guarantee the elimination of as many variables as possible. |
|  The Conclusion1: Like Emperor Palpatine at the battle of Endor, StarBuzz definitely used force lighting and took out Fumari in the way only a true Jedi Master could. StarBuzz won 4 out of 5 rounds, and Fumari tied one round. Overall feedback indicated that StarBuzz’s flavors were more potent and befitting of their name, with the exception of Mango. Starbuzz came in with an overall ranking of 3.54 and Fumari came in with a significantly lower score of 2.92. Here’s what some of our tasters had to say about the flavors: Gauva – “Victorious” StarBuzz Starbuzz: "Taste as if it could've been picked fresh from the tree." Fumari: “Doesn’t taste like anything.” Lemon Mint - “Victorious” StarBuzz Starbuzz: “Taste like Countrytime lemonade!” Fumari: “Bites the back of your throat” Mango – Tied Starbuzz:”Mango-licious” Fumari: “Tastes just like Mango” Sour Apple - "Victorious" StarBuzz StarBuzz: "Nice Aftertaste" Fumari: "Tastes like licorice" White Peach – “Victorious” StarBuzz Starbuzz: “Like a smoothie in your mouth.” |
