Best Hookah Flavors: 20 Top-Selling & Most Popular Shishas Ever

Best Hookah Flavors: 20 Top-Selling & Most Popular Shishas Ever

So you are looking for the best hookah flavors?

Well, you definitely came to the right place.

Here in this article I’m revealing the list of best-selling, most reviewed, and top shishas of all time.

Back in the day when there were only a few flavors on the market, you didn’t have a lot of options, many experienced smokers started with the very basic flavor like Nakhla Two Apples.

Today, we have a great choice of tastes, so I listed here only the best out of the best and I truly believe that you will love the taste and smoke of each and every single one.

Still can’t find good hookah? Here’s the list of the 10 best hookahs of 2022 so take a look.

Best Shisha Flavors For Beginners

I’m considering Starbuzz, Fumari, and Al-Fakher as the most beginner-friendly shisha brands, so choosing by the brand that would be these three.

These shishas are good for beginners because of the low amount of nicotine content in hookah tobacco, which means you’ll feel a mild buzz compared to more advanced stuff like Thangiers or Nakhla.

If you want shisha with tobacco but you don’t want strong buzz these brands are for you. Anyway, for total rookies, I would recommend herbal shisha to start with.

Herbal shisha doesn’t contain tobacco, nicotine, or tar. Brands like Hydro Herbal, Shiazo, or Fantasia’s herbal shisha lines are good for beginners.

You’ll experience good clouds and long-lasting sessions with no buzz or dizzy feeling.

Most of the popular brands have their own tobacco-free line so it wouldn’t be so hard to pick one of them but here’s my recommendation.

Getting started? Check out these guides.

More on Shisha

List of The Best Tobacco-Free Shisha Flavors

Image DescriptionScore Check Price
Best value
Al Fakher Herbal Shisha Mint Hookah Shisha Molasses Al Fakher 200gr Jar

Al Fakher Herbal Shisha Mint Hookah Shisha Molasses Al Fakher 200gr Jar

$15.92
View Product
2 Hydro Herbal Peach Shisha (Tobacco Free)

Hydro Herbal Peach Shisha (Tobacco Free)

$5.99
View Product
3 Kraze Hookah Tobacco-Free Herbal Shisha Molasses, 125g (Berry Chill)

Kraze Hookah Tobacco-Free Herbal Shisha Molasses, 125g (Berry Chill)

Best price
4 Beamer Watermelon Ice Drops (50g)

Beamer Watermelon Ice Drops (50g)

$5.39
View Product
Best seller
5 Fantasia Herbal Shisha 50g – Hookah Flavors (Rainbow Burst)

Fantasia Herbal Shisha 50g – Hookah Flavors (Rainbow Burst)

$5.89
View Product

Top Hookah Flavors Of All Time (List & Review)

Adalya Love 66

pack of Adalya shisha tobacco brand

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Adalya tobacco is a global brand created by a tobacco expert who managed his cafeteria after spending several years in the tobacco industry, which emerged from his crossing paths with tobacco when he ran the cafeteria. All of Adalya’s products are produced using flavors appropriate to European Union regulations and selected with the highest quality tobacco. It is one of the largest tobacco producers in Turkey. Adalya Tobacco climbs the ranks each time they launch a new flavor.

Adaya Love 66: Smell and Taste

jar of Adalya Love 66 shisha

The smell of Adalya Love 66 can come in somewhat of a variety. They have not officially mentioned what mix it is, but you can smell some hints of sweet watermelon, passionfruit, and menthol when you open the package. When smoking this flavor, you get a strong passionfruit/watermelon when you draw with some menthol coolness that you can feel even on the exhale with a lingering aftertaste of passionfruit that is leftover when you’re done.

Adaya Love 66: Clouds and Duration

The clouds formed by Adalya Love 66 are better than what you would get with Al Fakher flavors. A thick, creamy clouds for those who enjoy it. Definitely a must-try flavor. Keep your windows open for this one. If you want to enhance your hookah clouds, you can try upgrading to coconut coals and arrange a proper hookah setup that can do wonders! This flavor can last between 40-60 minutes as most flavors do.

Adaya Love 66: Mix and Buzz

Adalya shisha packed in the bowl

Adalya Love 66 is great for summer and an excellent choice for a tropical vibe. It is a great stand-alone flavor. If you want to tame the menthol flavor or change things up, you can add other fruit flavors such as a hint of double apple, orange, and strawberry to turn it into a cocktail mix, or maybe some additional mint for an extra cool added kick to help you relax. The buzz it gives is much stronger than your average flavor, so new smokers should avoid smoking this too much because it will make them nauseous and cough too much.

Personal Rating & Overall Experience

Adaya has proven to be one of the best flavors in the market, especially for veteran smokers who are looking for a buzz. It’s sweet, tropical, and cool, and definitely worth being a new addition to your palette of flavors.

Starbuzz Blue Mist Most-Popular Flavor Ever

Starbuzz Blue Mist on a blue smoke background
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Starbuzz has so many different and creative shisha flavor combinations but I’ve chosen their most popular flavor of all time, you guess, it’s a Blue Mist.

This product is one of the most popular, best-selling, and definitely one of the best shisha tobacco. Blue Mist is a brown color-washed shisha made of blonde leaf tobacco with a low percentage of nicotine ( less than 1%).

Starbuzz Blue Mist: Smell and Taste

Starbuzz Blue Mist shisha flavor and packed clay bowl

I felt like someone had smash-packed fresh blueberries. But wait, every time I sniffed over the mix, I sensed a peppermint-like nuance. Simply a classic Starbuzzy.

You’ll love how tart berries bring an overwhelming flavor but you won’t get any mint there, to be honest. Take a hit and swoosh! Let the oceanic breeze leave a cooling sensation in your throat and chest. But that’s not very minty.

Starbuzz Blue Mist: Clouds and Duration

Starbuzz Blue Mist tobacco smoke clouds
If it’s Starbuzz, you shouldn’t worry about the clouds even though the shisha has a little drier texture. I got nice uplifting clouds and really liked the after-smoke aroma.

So make sure to fluff pack your shisha with any bowl you like. One charge should last between 1 and 1 and half hours depending on how you pack the bowl and which coal you use, your smoking session can easily reach 2 or more hours.

When I throw 2 coals my session easily lasts for about an hour. I always use a medium Egyptian bowl and really enjoy the flavor durability throughout the session.

Starbuzz Blue Mist: Mix and Buzz

My favorite flavors to mix with Blue Mist are lemon flavor or vanilla. If you would like to have a stronger flavor of mint, just mix with Starbuzz spearmint and thank me later.

Some of the best shisha flavors to mix with Blue Mist can be found in my complete review of this flavor in the link below.

You know their exotic lines use washed brown tobacco leaves, so you don’t need to be an expert. I love subtle tingles that give me a relaxing sensation.

Personal Rating & Overall Experience

two packages of Starbuzz Blue Mist shisha flavor

The Blue Mist has such a fantastic performance and never fails to deliver a bluemistic experience. It’s worth every single penny.

I felt like blueberry candy floss instantly melting in my mouth and leaving the smoothest flavor. But remember to store it in an airtight container otherwise; you may smoke cough syrup.

My personal rating and overall experience with Blue Mist is 10/10 although some passionate smokers would disagree with me.

Read the Full Review: Starbuzz Blue Mist Shisha Review

Fumari Ambrosia Shisha Flavor

pouch of Fumari ambrosia shisha tobacco

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Fumari is known as the juiciest shisha on the market and Ambrosia is one of their top-selling shisha flavors.

Ambrosia was the food of gods in Greek mythology, also the name of a very famous salad, and one of the best shishas.

Fumari Ambrosia is based on brown leaf washed tobacco, containing 0.05% of nicotine, airtight pouch is perfect for keeping shisha, it saves the taste and juices.

Fumari Ambrosia: Smell and Taste

The smell is the first thing that would deceive you. I won’t lie, I thought if I could eat the shisha. Truly a mesmerizing aroma just like fruit candy. It’s hard to describe but this is the best way I could.

The very first draw will put you in metathoughts. I didn’t feel the taste as strong as the smell, but yes it made me feel like the Greek gods appreciated the flavor.

Take a hit and you get a melon on the front followed by an aftertaste of delicious marshmallows.

Fumari Ambrosia: Clouds and Duration

Fumari Ambrosia flavor and loaded Alpaca hookah head

As you can expect from brands like Fumari, the clouds are phenomenal, this shisha will provide you with large and thick clouds even with the use of one or two coals.

Boy, you would smoke like a modern-day god of clouds. Fumari makers understand that we love to play with clouds, and so they come up with the best composition of shisha juices. I can now say, smoke an Ambrosia and let the people become your disciple.

A medium Phunnel or Vortex bowl helped me to achieve an hour-long session easily. The flavors are so consistent that you’ll only wish the pleasures of god to never end.

Fumari Ambrosia: Mix and Buzz

pouch of Fumari Ambrosia shisha flavor and clay bowl

The flavor I think is subtle and so I tried the combination with Mandarin Zest. Seriously you’ll enjoy the flavor of the gods and keep coming back with this mix. You can also mix it with any other fruit flavor, especially lemon and mint, and guava also comes into consideration.

The buzz is weaker but great for beginners or those who want something a bit weaker for change. Fumari tries to reach hookah lovers of all levels. That’s why we are so pleased with its mellow buzz. I think it’s a go-for-brand for starters.

Overall

Ambrosia was the source of immortality in ancient Greece. But I don’t think this would happen to us. I can only say the flavor, clouds, and aroma would make your senses crank up to eleven and you will only ask for more. I would like to give 9/10 to Ambrosia.

Nakhla Tobacco Double Apple

Nakhla Double Apple on a colorful smoke background
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Nakhla Double Apple is a traditional shisha flavor produced in Egypt by the most experienced shisha tobacco company that has been on the market for decades. Nakhla company hasn’t changed this flavor and its texture for years, this shisha is one of the most used hookah tobacco flavors on the planet.

This is unwashed tobacco with a higher percentage of nicotine, which is not recommended for beginners. Double Apple is a traditional and favorite flavor of Middle Eastern people, but it is also a must-have flavor for many hookah bars.

Nakhla Double Apple: Smell and Taste

You can expect something between anise and sweet apple flavor but definitely, a more dominant flavor is anise. This is a spicy based flavor, it’s not so strong in taste, on the first inhale you will feel the anise, and the apple flavor comes as an aftertaste.

It’s the same apple-like traditional aroma that would bring you some 1913 vibes. Yes, Nakhla is that old. I barely see anyone who could maintain the legacy for a century.

Nakhla has a classic taste and I don’t think it would ever die. Initially, I thought much like an apple drink. But as I took the first draw, it welcomed with the vibrant anise flavor which was awesome. You will also notice mild hints of earthy tobacco but it won’t give you any harshness.
Nakhla Double Apple hookah tobacco and loaded unglazed bowl

Nakhla Double Apple: Clouds and Duration

The clouds are huge, if you’re a fan of big clouds, you will get what you want from this tobacco. The Nakhla isn’t the juiciest tobacco in the world, but the clouds are great. I found that Nakhla’s newer shisha has a juicier texture than the older ones. So the puffs were nice and dense. I loved this modernized version of Nakhla.

Nakhla’s Double Apple made me feel the Egyptian vibes for 1.5 straight hours. I prefer a mid-sized unglazed Egyptian bowl, a traditional bowl for a traditional flavor. But it’s great that Nakhla isn’t so heating sensitive. You can overpack and throw in extra coal as well.

Nakhla Double Apple: Mix and Buzz

various Nakhla flavor packages
My summer days are exhaustive and so I always use Nakhla with something refreshing like Lemon mint. It’s utterly relaxing and makes me feel energetic again. Also, it can be mixed with a little bit of mint to get the freshness of taste, some spicy based flavor is also a good option to mix with.

If you’re a newbie, it’s better to skip this flavor and try something lighter. It induces a typical dose of nicotine due to dark tobacco leaves. And that’s enough to cause coughing and nausea and you won’t like that to happen. Although it’s very strong for newbies alternatively you could try a non-tobacco version of this flavor.

Overall

Visit somewhere in the Middle East and you’ll hear 90% of folks talking about the double apple. If you’re smoking for a while but are new to Nakhla, I definitely recommend this flavor. Take some Nakhla shots AND you’ll feel very Egyptian.

Tangiers Cane Mint Shisha Tobacco

pouch of Tangiers Cane Mint tobacco with mint leaf on the top
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The Tangier’s Cane Mint should be on your must-try list. I personally prefer Al Fakher’s Mint, but I must say that this has really caught me unawares.

Along with the Nakhla, Tangier’s Cane Mint is made of Dark leaf tobacco, it belongs to the unwashed type of shisha tobacco, which means it has a higher percentage. Learn more about the difference between washed vs unwashed tobacco.

Tangiers Cane Mint: Smell and Taste

The flavor is so intense you don’t want to sniff directly over the shisha. Menthol is so noticeable that you will know if someone unpacks the Cane Mint quietly in your room.

I didn’t find much sweetness that I expected with a candy cane. But what I felt after each draw was a chilling sensation as if I was breathing in Antarctica.

Believe me, I never expected a strong punch of icy cold mint from any flavor but Tangiers.

Tangiers Cane Mint: Clouds & Duration

Tangiers phunnel bowl loaded with Cane Mint shisha

I didn’t find clouds as intense as the flavors. But as the cooling smoke goes down to the throat, you may not bother much about the clouds and simply enjoy the delight.

I tried normal packing with a Tangiers phunnel bowl that gave me 1.5 hours of a chill pill. I really liked the flavor retention and never felt it ever fading away.

Tangiers Cane Mint: Mix and Buzz

The combination of Tangier Kashmir black (noir) really helps me to take a pause from the daily hustle and just appreciate the moment. The minty-spice blend is so amusing that it really changes your mood and makes you feel fresh like mornings.

If you’re just a starter and know about the Birquq line, it’s better to keep a distance. It induces a strong buzz enough to spin your head. If you ask any expert, smoking Tangiers is dope for them.

Tangiers Cane Mint: Overall Experience

It’s a perfect treat for elite hookah lovers. For me, it really fulfills the smoking appetite and awakens my senses.

I don’t think any dark line maker could deliver such an intense minty experience like Tangiers.

I usually like to gift Cane mint to my friends who are elite smokers and they appreciate it so much.

Fumari Island Papaya Shisha Flavor

pouch of Fumari island papaya shisha on a orange smoke background

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This exotic tropical taste will surely delight you, close your eyes, take the smoke and it takes you right to an exotic island.

Fumari Island Papaya: Smell and Taste

Fumari always greets you with its mouthwatering smell of real fruit pulp. You will have the same experience with Island Papaya but make sure you don’t have to eat them. If you love juicy papaya, then this shisha is definitely a bang for the buck.

I felt the real Papaya taste in full effect followed by something like a citrus melon. I never get bored with such a delicious flavor. Fumari Island Papaya leaves a nice impression when you inhale it, you will have a very sweet taste in your mouth, a really refreshing and tropical flavor, you will definitely taste the Papaya.

Fumari Island Papaya: Clouds and Duration

pouch of Fumari Island Papaya and loaded tradition bowl

It’s better to say that you would smoke big white tropical clouds. Fumari always wants you to make the best smoke out of their shisha and deliver some creative rings. The experience is out of this world. With any Fumari flavor, you will be able to create really huge clouds of smoke.

Frankly speaking, I wanted to have it all day but it can’t go beyond 1.5 hours. The best I can do is to pack it lightly in a Phunnel or Vortex bowl and burn it under medium heat.

Fumari Island Papaya: Mix and Buzz

Mixing a special Fumari shisha with another Fumari always works wonders. I wanted to get some tang and paired with Mandarin Zest. Now I can say my summers are very exciting. Also, I love to mix it with guava, but mixing it with Fumari Ambrosia is another good option.

The flavors are so overpowering that you will only receive a slight buzz. By the way, who cares about the buzz when you have a Fumari by your side!

Overall Experience & Personal Rating

If you are a fruit lover, Island papaya would surely take your imagination to the coastal heavens. Treat this to your guests and they will remember you for your hospitality. Next time, pack an Island papaya for your beach holidays and thank me later for this advice. 10/10

Al Fakher’s Mint Shisha

Al Fakher mint shisha on a painted green background

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Everybody talks about Al-Fakher and this brand is popular for a big reason. Their best hookah flavor of all time is definitely mint. It has a very special taste, and mint can be mixed with most of the flavors.

Al Fakher Mint: Smell and Taste

I don’t think you need a room freshener if you have Al Fakher with you. Keep this shisha unpacked in your room and someone might sense if you’re chewing a pack of peppermint gum. I could literally feel as if I was drinking fresh mountain water.

The sensation sends a wave of cool mint throughout your mouth, nose, throat, and chest. After a while, my eyes too started to give off tears of joy. And trust me, have a session and you will love your breath all day.

Al Fakher Mint: Clouds and Duration 

box of Al Fakher mint shisha flavor and clay phunnel bowl

It’s no surprise, you will be greeted with rich white puffs. You may go for extra charcoal to get even better clouds. But please don’t take heavy pulls. The shisha may induce a harsh flavor and you may end up coughing a lot.

On average, I spend an easy-breezy 1.5 hours using the Al-Fakher Ceramic bowl. I think this is the best hookah flavor for your sunny days. When the heat is sucking you up, smoke Al Fakher for an hour or two and you’ll be alright.

Al Fakher Mint: Mix and Buzz

Mint is so versatile, it can be mixed with almost every flavor. If you ask connoisseurs, they use Al Fakher in nearly every shisha cocktail they prepare. My personal preference is lemon and it’s a bang on with the aroma and taste.

Al-Fakher produces a typical buzz that most people love. For me, the buzz was good enough to induce a nice and moderate tingling sensation. Though I didn’t feel the effect as strong as Nakhla, so, I think it’s a perfect shisha for newbies.

Overall Experience

Tangiers small bowl and package of Al Fakher mint

Some people with sinuses claimed to me that their nostrils were surprisingly unblocked during the session. I believe Al-Fakher offers a cheap thrill to make our summer days exciting. And so I often preserve some Al-Fakher’s for those boring days.

Starbuzz Queen of Sex

beautiful woman and Starbuzz Queen of Sex hookah tobacco
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Another Starbuzz product on my list of the best hookah flavors is their well-known Queen of Sex.

Starbuzz Queen Of Sex: Smell and Taste

You might be curious about the name. But there is something else that would grab your attention and that is the smell. Your nose would never have smelled like lime so different and yet, seductive. There are so many clichéd flavors that resemble each other. But one thing you may not know is that Starbuzz surprises us by bringing uniqueness to those flavors. I really liked the authentic taste of sweet lime with a hint of mint.

Starbuzz Queen Of Sex: Clouds and Duration

For me, this is definitely the queen of clouds. I really felt my senses aroused which tempted me to smoke clusters of clouds. I think it would have been better if Starbuzz had come up with the name, Queen of Clouds.

If you’re getting an hour and a half long session, you might not get consistency with the flavor. Once I smoked with a Phunnel bowl and the flavor started fading after 45 minutes. But hey, nothing to worry about.

Pick an unglazed Egyptian bowl and pack your shisha light. And don’t forget to use a wind cover. Your flavors will definitely last longer.

Starbuzz Queen of sex shisha and quick light coals

Starbuzz Queen Of Sex: Mix and Buzz

I don’t think the flavor profile is compatible with a wider range of flavors. The best mix I tried was with Starbuzz Blue mist. You may also prefer the orange flavor for zingy notes which I think everyone likes

The queen serves you with a gentle buzz and leaves you fantasizing about your smoking experience. I bet you won’t feel the same tingles as other Starbuzz flavors.

Overall Experience With Queen of Sex Shisha

I don’t know what the name has to do with the flavor but it definitely makes you crave more. So keep your worries at bay and let this queen turn your senses on with her intense flavor. Try once and you will always keep visiting her back again.

Overdozz Wild Night Out

girl smoking shisha and jar of Overdozz wild night out tobacco
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Overdozz Wild Night Out: Smell and Taste

Overdozz Wild Night Out smells like lemon cheesecake with notes from Graham Crackers. Inhaling gives you notes of lemon and the exhale gives you the subtle notes of Graham Crackers. Overdozz produces flavors that change smoothly over the course of the session. Around halfway across the session, you start getting notes of creamy cheesecake on to inhale, and on the exhale, you get notes of sweet lemon.

Overdozz Wild Night Out: Clouds and Duration

This flavor produces thick, milky clouds similar to Fumari. From the start, they already produce decent clouds but that is just the beginning, the clouds get denser as the session goes on.

The duration of Wild Night Out is about 60-120 minutes, heat management is important to get the maximum output because of how the notes change over the course of the session, some people mistake it for losing flavor but instead end up burning out the perfectly good flavor that is only evolving to get better.

Overdozz Wild Night Out: Mix and Buzz

Overdozz Wild Night Out and ZOMO Strawberry Creamy (75/25). This mix is a creamy match made in heaven! The tarty flavor comes from Wild Night Out with a hint of strawberry cream. It is the perfect combination that leaves your mouth tasting like a lemon-strawberry cake. Zomo Strawberry Cream is a warm flavor so those who do not have warmer flavors can substitute it with any minty flavor of their preference to turn into a nice lemon-mint flavor.

Wild Night Out has a light nicotine buzz that leaves you feeling tingly but may not feel like much to any veteran smoker. However, it makes for a great flavor to be used by a novice smoker. Veteran smokers would be advised to mix it with a stronger flavor of their liking, preferably creamy or minty flavors.

Overall Experience

It is a great Lemon Cheesecake flavor that could possibly replace your current favorite creamy flavor. Its flavor evolves as the session progresses from giving cheesecake notes, gram cracker notes, and sweet lemon notes. It can be enjoyed by the beginner and the veteran smoker and makes for a great addition to fruit and citrus mixes.

Khalil Mamoon Mango

jar of Khalil Mamoon mango shisha and mango fruits
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Hookah enthusiasts who love fruity flavors will most definitely like Khalil Mamoon Mango. If you are looking for a rich mango taste and smell, this is by far the strongest and sweetest I have tasted on the market.

It leaves a pure mango flavor in your mouth without any other background tastes. The smoke is mild and light, making this a perfect choice for beginners and light smokers. It gives you a mild buzz and taste for the summer.

Khalil Mamoon Mango: Smell and Taste

The first time I smelled this KM, I was so impressed and wondered how it would smoke. I sensed well-detailed mango notes, not the usual mango but something like a premium. I was speechless the moment I took my first draw.

I don’t know how to define this mango flavor but it’s a very sophisticated punch of tang on your taste buds. I really liked the balanced sweetness. Take a number of draws and feel your tongue being enveloped with mango juice.

phunnel bowl with tobacco and jar of Khalil Mamoon shisha

Khalil Mamoon Mango: Clouds and Duration

Simply let your shisha get enough heat. You will smoke and wonder, “Did I just blow that?”. I had a similar reaction when I first tried KM shisha. But I think it’s their age-old tradition of offering the best smoking experience for all generations.

I always use a KM for my KM flavor and it easily allows me to enjoy 2 hours long. So whenever I think about disconnecting from the world, I grab my KM set, prepare the shisha and forget everything.

Khalil Mamoon Mango: Mix and Buzz

I haven’t tried many combinations with KM mango. I really love my combination of mint and spiced flavors. Trust me it tastes ‘mangolicious’.

I bet you would love the traditional tingling sensation. Many KM flavors deliver a strong buzz but with KM mango, I think even beginners would love the light sensations.

Overall

Close your eyes and you’re in the mango orchard. Trust me, take a try and you’ll only ask for more. KM has a rich history of the hookah ritual and people enjoy the same experience even today. It’s definitely on my bucket list for my next bonfire camp. It’s lit.

Fumari White Gummy Bear

pouch of Fumari white gummi bear hookah tobacco

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I love Fumari for a reason, and it’s my pleasure to let you know more about the taste that meets all the criteria you should keep in mind when choosing the good shisha flavor for you.

Fumari White Gummi Bear: Smell and Taste

The aroma is so surreal that it would mesmerize every creature. Take this to a bear and it won’t growl at you. Although it smells to you like pineapple, the taste doesn’t mimic the same. What I noticed was the extract of pineapple, something like the gummy bear candy with orange notes.

I don’t really like to smoke sweet flavors for long. Interestingly, Fumari prepared this shisha with us in mind and has medium sweetness. You’ll enjoy the taste for hours, and for me, it’s proved to be the best mixing with a little mint and some beautiful fruit flavors such as peach.

Fumari White Gummi Bear: Cloud and Duration

Fumari = Fume + Ari (bringer of rain in Arabic). Now we know why the shisha is named Fumari. Undoubtedly you will bring the rain of fumes and smoke like a pro.

I always pack my Fumari a little light and my session goes over an hour. My experience with a White Gummy Bear is so magical that the time seems to pause for a while and I stop caring about anything.

Fumari White Gummi Bear: Mix and Buzz

You should mix Red Gummy Bear as the combination blends really well with each other. If you want to fly really high, go and mix some Ambrosia and see the magic.

This flavor doesn’t allow me to think of the buzz at all. I know there is a mild sensation. But the flavors are so damn good that it overshadows the tingling sensation.

Overall

Trust me, you’ll keep licking your lips after each shot. This is definitely one of the best shisha flavors ever but you need to burn a hole in your pocket. And so I am more concerned with the price tag that I prefer to use only on special occasions.

Trifecta Deja Dew

jar of Trifecta Deja Dew tobacco on a green smoke background

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Trifecta is a company that is relatively new in the market in terms of developing hookah flavors. Founded in 2014, they are an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with.

Trifecta Deja dew: Smell and Taste

When you open Trifecta’s Deja Dew, you instantly recognize the fragrance of an all too familiar favorite soft drink, Mountain Dew. This flavor is designed to replicate this soft drink with strong hints of lemon and lime. It is bound to satisfy the needs of anyone’s sweet cravings. The taste of which reflects almost identically on the smell, pure lemon/lime when you inhale and exhale

Trifecta Deja dew: Clouds and Duration

jar of Trifecta Deja Dew shisha tobacco

The clouds produced by this flavor are nothing short of incredible, do not expect anything short of smooth, consistent clouds with an intense lemon flavor. The quality of smoke varies also on the coals and hookah setup you have. To enhance poor cloud density, try switching to coconut coals. They can do wonders. The flavor lasts for anywhere between 40-60 minutes depending on how you smoke it.

Trifecta Deja dew: Mix and Buzz

Being purely a sweet lemon-based flavor, Deja Dew is great, even standalone, especially during the hot days of summer. If you want to change things up, the best addition you can make to prevent the flavor from heating too quickly is adding gum or mint to the mix for some extra added coolness. Despite being dark-leafed tobacco, it does not pack as much of a punch. You would not need to worry about getting a strong buzz when smoking Deja Dew.

Personal Rating & Overall Experience

When you think of Mountain Dew, Deja Dew comes as close as possible to replicating the flavor, it is a unique flavor worth trying, especially for the soft drink fanatics, It has a pleasant lemon taste that can satisfy your sweet tooth or make a great sweet lemon-mint mix. It should not be so quick to dismiss when considering giving this flavor a shot.

Hydro Herbal Peach

package of Hydro Herbal tobacco free shisha
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Hydro Herbal is the industry’s top leader in producing tobacco-free shisha and their peach flavor is one of the best shisha flavors without tobacco. The main ingredients contain molasses, glycerine, honey, and flavor, completely free of nicotine and tar. If you like to smoke but do not enjoy the buzz give this shisha a try, it offers great clouds and even better taste literally everything that shisha with tobacco can offer.

Hydro Herbal Peach: Smell and taste

If you ever have smelled jelly beans or fruit jams, that’s how Hydro Herbal’s peach would feel to you. I loved the sweet, savory flavor and how it imparts a velvety touch to the taste buds.

The smell is also beautiful and gives the authentic aroma of peach, but it has that sweet taste like peach candy which gives a very seductive scent to the flavor. The taste is a bit weaker than the smell, it’s pretty good, authentic and you will definitely feel the peach in your mouth.

Hydro Herbal Peach: Clouds and Duration

It felt to me that Hydro makers brag about their shisha products with just taste. It produces so-so smoke unlike the traditional shisha, but I think that’s okay to go with. But be careful with heat management as it starts getting baked really quickly.

Initially, I felt that shisha started losing its flavor in 30-40 minutes. So I tried to sprinkle-pack with a Phunnel bowl and used single charcoal. You may earn more than 15 minutes by using some honey and glycerol. But make sure it shouldn’t reduce the original flavor.

Hydro Herbal Peach: Mix and Buzz

I really like to make cocktails out of my Hydro herbal shisha. Last time, I tried with Hydro herbal mango (tropical storm) and it felt as if I was smoking a smoothie. So feel free to try your combination and do share your experience with me.

I think starters would love the idea of nicotine-free herbal shisha. It’s a non-tobacco shisha and doesn’t give you any buzz.

Overall Experience & Personal Rating

There’s no doubt, a healthy alternative to your hookah cuisine. You will never feel any harshness and it’s all fruits. Every pull will make you feel like a mouth full of candies but in a smoke form. It’s a must-try for all fruit lovers. I gave 10 out of 10 to Hydro Herbal because it’s beginner-friendly, it has an authentic peach taste, and a long-lasting flavor.

Fantasia Pumpkin Spice

Fantasia pumpkin spice shisha flavor jar
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Fantasia Pumpkin Spice: Smell and Taste

Fantasia Pumpkin Spice has a complex variety of smells and tastes. The raw flavor itself smells like pumpkin spice with strong notes of cinnamon. When it is on the hookah, you can taste the cinnamon/nutmeg in your mouth when you inhale, but when you exhale you get an incredibly smooth hit of a Pumpkin Spice Latte that you can find in Starbucks. On a side note, to enhance the pumpkin flavor, try exhaling from the nose.

Fantasia Pumpkin Spice: Clouds and Duration

Fantasia has set the standard for clouds that stay consistent with all its flavors and Pumpkin Spice is no different. You get thick, puffy, milky clouds that stay consistent throughout the session.

The duration for this flavor is about 45-60 minutes. The first 40-45 minutes are the sweet spot with maximum flavor output, but the flavor does not stay strong throughout and you may notice a dull pumpkin flavor towards the last 15 minutes of your session. However, it is only the flavor that is sacrificed because the clouds stay consistently thick in this session.

Fantasia Pumpkin Spice: Mix

Haze Pumpkin Spice and Al Fakher Vanilla (70/30). This flavor adds a touch of vanilla and turns the pumpkin spice flavor into a pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. The vanilla acts as a creamy addition which complements the pumpkin spice flavor well. A mix worth trying in the winters!

Haze Pineapple Krush

Haze pineapple krush shisha flavor
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Haze Pineapple: Smell and Taste

Haze Pineapple Krush shisha smells like sweet pineapple with notes of icy menthol and it tastes exactly like a pineapple soda! It burns sweet, on the inhale you get more pineapple flavor but as you exhale, you get a nice refreshing menthol kick as well, but it is not overpowering at all, just a subtle cool taste.

Haze Pineapple: Clouds and Duration

The clouds produced by Haze flavors are always consistent, thick, and milky, Pineapple Krush is no exception! This flavor produces large white plumes of smoke that will make it hard for you to navigate around your room. Do not forget to keep proper ventilation!

The duration of Haze flavors is amazing. Haze makes flavors that generally burn a little slower so it can last you anywhere between 7amazing.utes depending on what bowl and coal you are using. To push your session longer, try using lesser coals and using bigger bowls that can pack more flavor.

Haze Pineapple: Mix and Buzz

Haze Pineapple Krush and Azure Lemon Pie (60/40). This mix counters the menthol in Pineapple Krush with an extra added cookie dough note, making your hookah taste like eating a Pineapple Lemon muffin. Wonderful flavor mix to experiment with.

Haze Pineapple Krush does not have a strong buzz whatsoever, you can go through it without feeling dizzy, but will you tingle. It is a great standalone flavor for any novice smoker but if you are looking to get a stronger kick out of it, try mixing it with mint or other stronger flavors from a company of your liking such as any fruit mixes to turn it into a cocktail flavor!

Overall Experience

Haze Pineapple Krush is an excellent flavor that is great for any level of smoker. It tastes like a pineapple soda party in your mouth, it goes great with almost any fruit flavor combination and will be a worthy addition to anyone’s palette of flavors. Best advised storing this flavor with an airtight seal to always ensure freshness.

How Much Nicotine Content is In Shisha Flavor?

Depending on the type of tobacco, the nicotine percentage in shisha is mainly at 0.05%, 0.3%, and 0.5%. Many reports claim that we ingest 0.05gms of nicotine in every 10gms of shisha. Say, Tangiers labels their shisha with nicotine that ranges from 0.3% – 0.5%. This means that for every 20gm (average serving) of Tangiers, we consume 0.06gm – 0.1gm of nicotine and that is an excess amount.

The fact is we don’t actually receive that much nicotine. It completely depends on how heated shisha is. The standard temperature of red hot hookah charcoal is over 300 degrees whereas nicotine vaporizes at a temperature of 247 degrees.

However, there is no such technology that could detect the amount of nicotine given off due to the heat. In the case of e-liquids or cigars, I could say we ingest a lot more. But in the case of shisha, I am sure that we definitely don’t consume all that nicotine as labeled on the container.

Best Hookah Flavors: Combinations And Mixes


Hookah feels better when the right combinations come together. Many expensive brands sell flavors that aren’t worth a premium.

Being able to understand the sentiments, I would like to share the 5 best shisha flavor combinations that would make you believe that wonders happen. These shisha cocktails have a standard ratio. Feel free to do your equation.

Al-Fakher Pineapple (40%) + Starbuzz Vintage Vanilla (20%) + Starbuzz Exotic CocoJumbo (40%)

Taste and smell:

Coconut imparts a faint hint. The real reason I mixed CocoJumbo is to bring silkiness as you inhale. Vanilla leaves a nice aroma and complements its sweetness with pineapple. A classic shisha cocktail that I call COCOPYNILLA.

Clouds

Overwhelming clouds. The juicer texture maintains the consistency of smoke production.

Buzz

Balanced buzz. Increasing Starbuzz vintage amounts to receiving buzzier feelings.

Overall

I prefer a combination of premium shisha flavors to serve my guests. Folks would love it and appreciate your choice.

Al Fakher Vanilla (30%) + Romman Cinnamon (35%) + Romman Turkish Coffee (35%)

Taste and smell

How to make your home a Starbucks lounge? Simply brew the mix. Cinnamon not only improves the fragrance and taste but also has a great partnership with vanilla and coffee. Undoubtedly, the smooth caramel flavor with a mind-bending aroma will take you to an expensive café.

Cloud

Not so big clouds. Try heat management with windcover and 2 coals to receive better smoke.

Buzz

Euphoric buzz. Seasoned smokers might not experience the sensation.

Overall

With this combination, my house turns into Café CINNAMONILLA. A surprise for someone who has been smoking the same old fruit and mint flavor.

Al Amir Kiwi (50%) + Nakhla Two Apples (50%)

Taste and smell

Kiwi and apple have different flavors spectrum. But their fusion brings in a unique citric kick with prominent anise. The smell would make you think of KWAPPLE, a fictional fruit.

Cloud

A blend of traditional Nakhla and the latest Al-Amir produces colossal clouds.

Buzz

Strong buzz, enough to make your head spin yet enjoyable.

Overall

Recommended for folks looking for a real fruit punch. My favorite summer recipe.

Al Fakher Banana (25%) + Al Fakher Vanilla (30%) + Lavoo Dark Mint (20%) + Starbuzz Exotic Strawberry (25%)

Taste and smell

You won’t believe the flavor switch and how each note plays with your senses. The flavor seems complex yet you will receive each tone in no order. I came up with a scientific name for this blend, BANANILLA MINTBERRY.

Clouds

Insane clouds. After setup, prepare for an aromatic smoke bath.

Buzz

Expect mild buzz. For an elevated buzz, add more Lavoo flavor.

Overall

Trust me, this combination is a mood changer and tempts you to revisit the same mix of different variations.

Fantasia Herbal Wild Mango (35%) + Social Smoke Lime (35%) + Tangiers Cane Mint (30%)

Taste and smell

Mint is overpowering, which has a prolonged, soothing impact. You will also feel like smoking a mango shake with a tangier punch. The combination, LYMINTANGO smells like visiting an orchard in the springs.

Cloud

Fantastic clouds. Cane mint is dry but Fantasia and Social Smoke add wetness and improve cloud formation.

Buzz

Add more Tangiers only if you want a strong buzz. Otherwise, the normal mix induces a mellow buzz.

Overall

Chewing gum addicts would experience different versions of mint. Prepare once and you’ll only receive more requests.

Shisha Flavors Q & A

How are hookah flavors made?

Hookah flavors are made of finely cut tobacco, glycerine, honey/ molasses, flavoring agent, or even semi-dried fruit pulp. Tobacco and molasses/ flavoring bases blend in a 3:7 ratio with gentle variations and produce a perfect mu’assel. 

Traditional shisha flavor makes use of dark leaf and blonde/ brown leaf tobacco. They are processed to create different levels of nicotine that induce buzz:
1. Washed shisha: Treated with water (by soaking or boiling). Less buzz
2. Unwashed shisha: Directly mix with the base and treat under pressurized heat. Strong buzz

Whereas tobacco-free flavors include organic herbs, bagasse, steam stones, and flavored gels.

How many types of hookah flavors?

Hookah flavors commonly use a wide range of fruit flavors, herbs (mint, tea leaves), spices (cinnamon, anise), and beverages (cappuccino, vanilla). They make a delicious assortment while mixed with either Tobacco-based or Tobacco-free flavors.

Non-Tobacco flavors:
1. Fruit flavor:
Shisha is made from dried or processed fruits. Ex. Hookah Fruit and DeCloud use the most popular fruits to make flavors. 
2. Steam Stones:
Flavored juices are added into a special porous mineral via the Pressure Injection method. Ex. Shiazo, Sophies, Shisharoma, and Starbuzz’s steam stone.
3. Herbal flavors: 
Natural herbs are processed and mixed with fruity molasses. The texture appears to be similar to tobacco shisha. Ex. Hydro Herbal, Beamer Alshan, Desperados, Aafreen, Fantasia, Urth tree, Soex, Goldstar, Noor, Kraze, and Karizma. 

Note: Beamer and Sophies are the only brands to present flavored gel drops. Beamer’s “lifted” is, however, a tobacco line.

Tobacco flavors: 
1. Dark shisha flavor: 
Nakhlas’s Zaghloul flavor, Al Fakhers’ Soft black, Desi Murli, Jurak, Qass, Salloum, Tangiers (Birquq and Noir), etc.
2. Modern dark shisha flavor: 
Lavoo double dark mint, Alchemist stout, Trifecta morning glory, and Starbuzz (Vintage-line).
3. Blonde shisha flavor: 
Starbuzz(modern-line), Pure, Fumari, Al Waha, Azure, Fantasia, Haze, Romman, etc.
4. Washed shisha flavor: 
Starbuzz, Tangiers’ Lucid-line, Fumari, AlFakher, Salloum, etc. 
5. Unwashed shisha flavor:  
Tangier’s Noir and Birquq, Nakhla, Romman, Al Waha, etc.

How much nicotine is in hookah flavors?

Nicotine content depends upon the types of tobacco used such as dark leaves and blonde leaves. The amount of nicotine also varies from unwashed to washed shisha. Most shisha flavors available today contain 0.05% nicotine. But unwashed and dark leaf shisha have a higher presence of nicotine. Treated with water that washes off excess nicotine and tar. Whereas unwashed leaves retain that earthy aroma and pungent behavior. 

Some of my favorite shisha lines:
1. Fumari Ambrosia: ~0.05%
2. Starbuzz (Exotic) blue mist: 0.05%
3. Tangiers (Burqiq) cane mint: ~ 0.3%
4. Tangiers (Lucid) Cocoa: 0.3%
5. Starbuzz (vintage) Vanilla: 0.5%
6. Lavoo double dark mint: 0.5% 

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