Once you've gotten somewhat used to shisha, you'll inevitably hit the "coal selection wall." That's right, coal is the super important key to making shisha!
In this article, we'll introduce the best way to choose coals based on heat management, something everyone wants to know, along with the steps to set up your shisha!
Don't miss out on this valuable information, used even by popular shisha shops!
Table of Contents
- Point 1: Choose coals according to your heat management!
・Lotus
・Turkish Lid
・Amabost
・Directly on Aluminum Foil - Point 2: Know when to change coals!
- Point 3: Understand heat transfer and heat retention!
- What's so great about PARAPARA COCO, coals supervised by Dr. Shisha!
- Summary
Here are the three types of coals used this time.
Complete Guide to Choosing Coals by Heat Management (2 minutes 48 seconds)
This video summarizes the steps for setting up shisha, and how and when to change coals.
Point 1: Choose coals according to your heat management!
You need to choose coals that match the heat management device you're using. If you use coals that don't match your heat management device, the temperature can rise too high, causing the flavor to burn and become unpleasant to smoke, or conversely, the temperature can be too low, resulting in less smoke and a weaker flavor. Here, we'll explain how to choose the optimal coals for your heat management device!
Lotus Edition
For the Lotus, "20x20x20" small cube-type coals are optimal. The Lotus has a narrow opening, so the size of coals that can be used is slightly smaller. To achieve the necessary heat within that, small coals that can fill the Lotus's space as much as possible are ideal.
Shisha Setup Procedure (Lotus Edition)
- Use four coals.
- Place the coals diagonally opposite each other, put on the lid, and leave the air vents half open.
- After leaving it for 7 minutes, confirm that smoke is coming out, then remove one coal and arrange the remaining three coals in a triangle. The setup is complete.
- After enjoying shisha for about 25 minutes, add a new coal and remove the ash from the old coals.
- If you feel the smoke is too strong while smoking, adjust by reducing the number of coals or opening the air vents on the lid.
The "20x20x20 Coals" and "Lotus" used here!
Turkish Lid Edition
For the Turkish lid, "25x25x15" flat-type coals are optimal. The Turkish lid has a generous opening, allowing various sizes of coals to be used, but since the bottom is thin, using coals that are too large or thick can lead to excessive heat, causing the flavor to burn easily. Therefore, thinner coals with slightly less heat are ideal.
Shisha Setup Procedure (Turkish Lid Edition)
- Use three coals.
- Arrange the coals diagonally opposite each other to form a triangle, standing them upright.
- After leaving it for 7 minutes, confirm that smoke is coming out, then remove one coal and arrange the remaining two coals diagonally opposite each other. The setup is complete.
- After enjoying shisha for about 25 minutes, add one new coal, stack the two original coals, and place them diagonally opposite the new coal.
- If you feel the smoke is too strong while smoking, adjust by reducing the number of coals.
The "25x25x15 Coals" and "Turkish Lid" used here!
Amabost Edition
For the Amabost (right in the photo), "22x22x22" large cube-type coals are optimal. The reason is that the Amabost has a wide opening and bottom, allowing various sizes of coals to be used, but small, thin coals tend to provide insufficient heat. Therefore, using larger coals ensures sufficient heat, allowing you to enjoy rich smoke and flavor.
Shisha Setup Procedure (Amabost Edition)
- Use three coals.
- Arrange the coals in a triangle, diagonally opposite each other, and place the lid. The coals must be placed close to the center so that the lid can cover them.
- After leaving it for 5-6 minutes, confirm that smoke is coming out, then move the coals that were grouped in the center slightly outwards. The setup is complete. No lid is used.
- After enjoying shisha for about 30 minutes, replace just one old coal with a new one to maintain the heat.
- If you feel the smoke is too strong while smoking, adjust by reducing the number of coals.
The "22x22x22 Coals" and "Amabost" used here!
Directly on Aluminum Foil Edition
For direct placement of coals on aluminum foil wrapped around the bowl (center in the photo), "22x22x22" large cube-type coals are optimal. The reason is that direct placement without a heat management device exposes the entire coal to the air, making it prone to heat loss. Therefore, strong, large coals are needed to secure sufficient heat.
Shisha Setup Procedure (Directly on Aluminum Foil Edition)
- Use three coals. If the bowl is large, use four coals.
- Arrange the coals in a triangle, diagonally opposite each other.
- After leaving it for 5-6 minutes, confirm that smoke is coming out. The setup is complete.
- After enjoying shisha for about 30 minutes, add just one new coal to maintain the heat.
- If you feel the smoke is too strong while smoking, adjust by reducing the number of coals.
The "22x22x22 Coals" used here!
Point 2: Know when to change coals!
Although there are individual differences depending on the number of draws and inhalation volume, the general timing for changing coals can be guided by the elapsed time.
Changing coals too early means you'll be adding new coals when the bowl and flavor are already hot. New coals have a high temperature, which will further increase the temperature of the bowl and flavor, causing the flavor to burn.
On the other hand, if you change coals too late, the existing coals will be small, and the temperature of the bowl and flavor will be low. Adding new coals in this state will not raise the temperature sufficiently, resulting in thinner smoke and less flavor.
◾️Estimated initial coal change time by heat management device
- For Lotus: Approximately 25 minutes from when smoke starts
- For Turkish Lid: Approximately 25 minutes from when smoke starts
- For Amabost: Approximately 30 minutes from when smoke starts
- For direct placement on aluminum foil: Approximately 30 minutes from when smoke starts
Point 3: Understand heat transfer and heat retention!
The size of the coals affects the heat output. Smaller coals produce relatively lower temperatures, while larger coals produce higher heat. Smaller coals burn out faster due to their size, while larger coals last longer.
Smaller coals, with their lower temperature, put less strain on the flavor, resulting in a milder smoking experience. They also reduce the risk of burning the flavor due to the lower temperature. However, they burn out faster, increasing the frequency of coal changes.
Larger coals retain heat well, but there's a risk of applying too much heat. This can cause the flavor to burn, but the larger size means they last longer.
It could be said that smaller coals are for beginners, and larger coals are for advanced users.
*Small coals: 20x20x20 / 24x24x15
*Large coals: 22x22x22
What's so great about PARAPARA COCO, coals supervised by Dr. Shisha!
PARAPARA COCO are original Dr. Shisha coals, packed with expertise gained from providing shisha since 2007.
They are characterized by high heat output per coal and good longevity. This results in quick smoke production and enjoyable, high-quality smoke. Furthermore, they come in a wide variety of sizes to suit different heat management devices and are used by professional shisha shops, making them recommended coals for both beginners and advanced users.
