Al Fakher
Ah yes, Al Fakher, or AF for short. AF is one of the oldest, and most popular brands on the market. It's a brand that's probably the most well known across the globe, as it's available literally anywhere shisha tobacco is sold. Even in countries that don't have much tobacco, you can still find Al Fakher prevalent. Aside from its availability, it's a great brand for a few more reasons. It's easy to pack - fluff it in any bowl, just below the rim, and you're good to go. It has a wide variety of flavors - ranging from the standard Double Apple, to things as exotic as Guava (pick up AF Guava if you haven't already). Finally, it's just damn cheap. One of the cheapest brands on the market, while still maintaining quality. Al Fakher is always a good brand to go to, and as a newbie myself, I smoked basically nothing but AF for a year straight, if that goes to show anything. It's a brand that's great to work with getting your pack down, if you're just starting off. And it's also a great brand for someone a little more experienced, because the flavors are still delicious.
Pure Tobacco
Pure is a newer brand to the market, and is actually one of my personal favorites currently. It's a great brand because: A) Great, simple flavors. It's a great brand to experiment with mixology, and enjoy as a standalone smoke. B) Easy to pack. Just a fluff pack, right up to the rim is all you need. C) No buzz. This is a little more of personal preference, but if you're a newer smoker who doesn't really like the buzz that goes with hookah, Pure is a great place to start because it has very little, if any, buzz to it. A few personal favorite flavors are Morangie, Ice Berry, and FML Red.
Haze
Haze isn't a super new brand to the market, but it's probably one that a lot of local smoke shops will pass on grabbing. Haze is great because it's forgiving - you can pack it wrong, but if you manage your heat well, it can still be a good session. Haze also has a ton of great flavors to choose from, however, it's worth noting that they have probably just as many flavors that aren't so hot, so it's important to do a little bit of research before you buy Haze. A few personal favorites are What-A-Mint, Cucumberita, Lime it Up, and Bananarama. Because of how forgiving it is, Haze is another brand that's great to get your packing down with, because you can afford to experiment a little bit more with different kinds of pack styles. Haze is much like Pure in that it doesn't really have much buzz, if any at all.
Nakhla
Nakhla is another brand that, like AF, has been around forever. It's what your grandpa would've smoked, if your grandpa was a badass hookah smoker. If you had that kind of grandpa, you'd hear him tell you constantly that Nakhla Double Apple is the only flavor that you should ever smoke. And while Nakhla Double Apple certainly is a good flavor to smoke, I would have to disagree and say that Nakhla has many other great flavors to offer. Nakhla is a great brand for newer smokers because it's simple - there's not much to the brand. Not a ton of juice, not very complex flavor profiles, and very inexpensive (probably one of the cheapest brands on the market). Nakhla is another brand that's great for single note flavors, like Lemon, Watermelon, Blueberry, and so on and so forth. So because of how good the simple flavors are, it's another good brand for experimenting with mixology. It is worth noting that Nakhla does pack a bit of a buzz with it, so it may be something that someone wary of the buzz would want to stay away. However, if you're someone with a low nicotine tolerance that wants to work their way up to stronger brands, Nakhla is a great brand for that. It's not a killer buzz, but it is noticeable, even to experienced smokers.
Trifecta
Trifecta is probably my pick for the best brand on the market, if not top three at least, so it's no surprise that it made this list. Trifecta, while amazing for experienced smokers, is fantastic for new smokers as well. They offer a wide variety of flavors, they all smoke extremely well, and they're all easy to pack. Trifecta has basically everything that I could ask for in a brand of tobacco, and that's what makes it a great beginner brand as well. You don't have to do any specific pack to get it to smoke well, and if you work on your packing it can easily be an amazing session, one that will seriously blow you away. There are also tons of flavors to try out, anything from Bohemian Mix, a spice blend, to Twice the Ice, a peppermint, to Huckleberry, a blueberry. Trifecta also has a bit of a buzz, but it's barely noticeable, if present at all. It's meant to be a buzz that new smokers and experienced can enjoy alike, so it's another brand that's good for people who are looking to build their buzz up.
Is that it though?
To be totally fair, there are plenty of other solid brands out there to try, for new smokers and experienced alike, and this list shouldn't be a be all end all list for what you shouldn't try. Rather, if you're struggling with what to try out, think of this as more of a couple of recommendations that we here at B2 stand behind. A few honorable mentions that didn't quite make the list - Social Smoke, Ugly, and Fumari. Keep in mind, it's not always the best idea to jump into higher nicotine brands like Tangiers, and that's totally okay, you'll get there. Most people have to work their way up to stronger stuff, and that's perfectly okay. Be content with where you're at, and know your limits. Don't try something stronger if you don't think you're ready, the outcome is never worth it. Did your brands make the list? Are there any you think deserved to be up here? Let us know in the comments! As always guys, thanks for reading, and happy smokes!