Shisha Review: Starbuzz Mint Colossus

Shisha Review: Starbuzz Mint Colossus

Starbuzz brand shisha seems to be consistently changing their marketing technique in order to attract new and returning customers. First, in addition to their normal flavors they came out with the Starbuzz Exotic shisha label, which as far as I can tell is just a mixture of two existing flavors. Then, they came out with the Starbuzz Acid shisha, which is Starbuzz’s attempt at a sour hookah shisha flavor. Finally, their most recent additions to their shisha catalog come in black tins and sport flavor names you wouldn’t exactly expect from a shisha company.

I chose Mint Colossus.

Now, I’ve smoked many mint flavored shisha tobaccos, and in general I find that they are best used as a mixer with another flavor. Mint by itself tends to be a little overpowering for the taste buds (Winterfresh, for example, is extremely strong and may even be nauseating for some by itself). Regardless of my past experience, I loaded a bowl exclusively of Mint Colossus.

In an attempt to minimize what I expected to be an overwhelming mint flavor (the name, after all, suggests it to be as such) I also placed ice cubes in the hookah vase to cool the smoke and enhance my smoking experience. A few minutes later, my coals are ready and I place them on the edge of the bowl so as not to immediately burn the shisha (this technique also helps warm the bowl itself, creating a more even burn overall).

It takes a few puffs to get the hookah smoking, but what I find is a pleasing contradiction to my former expectation. It doesn’t taste like I’m chewing on a bunch of mint leaves, but instead is much tamer than that. The taste is very similar to other mint flavors I’ve tried, but without the minty intensity. The flavor lasts, smooth and enjoyable, for a very long time without becoming harsh or changing in intensity. I suspect Mint Colossus would also perform well as a mixer with another shisha flavor (I like to mix mint flavors primarily with fruity ones). Once the coals start burning low, I wrapped a bit of tin foil around the bowl, a technique used to trap heat more effectively which preserves smoke density for a longer period of time.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed smoking this new flavor. Perhaps Starbuzz created this new line of black tins to revisit older flavors and improve its flavor/smokability, but either way I give Mint Colossus a thumbs up, as it smokes great as a solo flavor and as a mixer.

On a final note, Hookah Happiness will proudly begin selling various brands of hookah shisha, including Starbuzz, at a discounted price soon!

Starbuzz Shisha Review: Tangerine Dream

Shisha Review: Starbuzz Tangerine Dream

Starbuzz hookah shisha remains one of my favorite shisha brands for a few simple reasons: Not only is the tobacco they sell consistently packed with flavor, but the product itself is usually easy to handle and contains a minimal amount of twigs (the un-smoke able sticks sometimes found in a tin of hookah tobacco).

Today I exposed my palate to a new flavor, Tangerine Dream, and it simply blew me away. Personally, I’m a sucker for sweeter shisha flavors – Blue Mist, Melon Berry, etc. – for their stronger taste and seemingly longer retention thereof, and Tangerine Dream was no different. Just smelling the shisha itself reminded me of what I imagine a sugary slice of tangerine would taste like. That’s one more thing I really enjoy about Starbuzz hookah tobacco – their flavors are, generally speaking, very exact in what they’re supposed to be mimicking.

I loaded a bowl of the stuff into my Dragon Hookah and stacked two natural coals on top. I like to use natural coals over insta-lites whenever possible for their extended, more even burn. But insta-lites are great for when you’re on the go. The first few puffs were light in smoke as the shisha began to burn, but then the full flavor of Tangerine Dream revealed itself.

The flavor of this shisha was actually very comparable to the way it smelled, which is something I rarely find. Although it wasn’t as powerful, the taste in my mouth was almost exclusively of tangerines. For the first 45 minute session this shisha burned evenly and consistently, never getting too harsh or losing flavor (until the coals eventually died). Even after loading a second round of coals onto the bowl, Tangerine Dream still tasted remarkably like it had previously.

For a flavor such as this, I suspect the manufacturer was aimed at producing a great mixing flavor. That is, Starbuzz Tangerine Dream would most certainly smoke great with other flavors, fruity ones in particular. That being said, smoking Tangerine Dream by itself was in no way a disappointment, and performs well in its own capacity. I would highly recommend this flavor to smokers looking to try either something new, or discover a great mixer to improve existing flavor favorites.