Full Disclosure

Hookah-Shisha.com Company was kind enough to send us this tobacco for free to try it out and share our opinions. We always make every effort to review honestly regardless of what means were used to acquire the product. Al Tawareg is currently available exclusively from Hookah-Shisha.com.

Rating

[Rating:4.5/5]

Based on: Flavor: 4/5, Smoke:4/5, Resilience: 4.5/5, Longevity: 4.5/5

Cut & Composition

Al Tawareg is a fine cut tobacco which, thanks to a honey composition, is extremely sticky. You’ll want to break it apart in a kitchen bowl before packing it into your hookah bowl. Al Tawareg uses honey in greater proportions than other similar tobacco brands. You should not be surprised if your used tobacco is more difficult to clean out of the bowl when you’re done smoking.

Price & Quantities Available

• 50g – $2.49

The Experience

Al Tawareg’s Double Apple was slower to start than other brands, taking nearly 20 minutes to deliver the richest flavor and smoke. Once things had started, the smoke and flavor were consistent throughout the bowl, and the tobacco didn’t become harsh in response to minor changes in heat. In a Vortex Bowl, the session lasted about an hour and a half before the smoke and flavor noticeably deteriorated.

The Flavor

Al Tawareg has some big shoes to fill with Double Apple. The flavor is among the oldest known hookah ‘flavors’, popularized by Nakhla Tobacco, whose fans are famously passionate about the their products. Double Apple really tastes nothing like apples, as the name and graphics on the packaging might suggest. In fact, Double Apple is an anis flavor which most closely resembles black licorice. In spite of black licorice having a seemingly small fan-base, in the hookah world, Double Apple has a huge fan base. Al Tawareg’s attempt honors the original well with a very, very familiar flavor. However, compared to similar flavors from Al Fakher and Nakhla, Al Tawareg’s Double Apple is light and mellow. The natural honey composition also shines through with a subtle honey sweetness and just a hint of cinnamon.

The Insight

Not being a big fan of Double Apple flavors, the lack of intensity and richness of flavor was a welcome change for me. The anis sensation is not overwhelming, for me, making it easier to enjoy the experience and the smoke. Though these changes aren’t going to be welcomed by everyone.

Who Should Try This Flavor

Recommending an alternative Double Apple flavor will have a narrow audience. Many fans of Double Apple will have a loyalty to their brand. However, some, like myself, may enjoy the flavor but find the classic offerings too strong. In that case, Al Tawareg’s Double Apple may be a perfect solution—at the very least, worth a try.