DEUS

DEUS Hookah Tobacco: strong dark blend on pure burley

Behind DEUS stands Anton Gaivoronsky, better known to most as John Calliano. He co-founded the hookah chain Hookah Place, which today runs locations in more than 20 countries. His previous tobacco, Smoke Angels, was produced at Darkside. For DEUS he built a production facility of his own.

DEUS is a hookah tobacco made in Russia and blended with TPD-compliant flavors from Europe for the German market. Delivery usually takes 1 to 2 working days.

What makes DEUS special?

DEUS is a high-quality Russian hookah tobacco made exclusively from burley leaves of the highest grade.

No additives such as liquid nicotine go into the production process. All of the nicotine comes from the tobacco leaf itself. That keeps the smoke smooth and pleasant despite the strength. The throat hit is far gentler than with other dark blends of comparable strength, provided you give the tobacco enough heat. The nicotine also takes effect more slowly and builds up over the first minutes of the session. Brand founder John Calliano puts it like this: "You smoke for a few minutes, you stand up, and only then do you realize what you have been smoking."

That is exactly why a relaxed start pays off. Hitting the tobacco with constant aggressive heat to release more nicotine mostly costs you flavor. The trick here is hot, but not too hot. As long as you do not overdo it, the taste stays stable across the whole session. Experiment a little until you have found the sweet spot for yourself.

Where does the name DEUS come from?

The name plays on several things at once. Deus is Latin for god, it sits inside the phrase deus ex machina, and it is also the title of a well-known cyberpunk game series. On top of that there is the Australian motorcycle and clothing label Deus Ex Machina. What the team was looking for was a short word that works in every language, and that idea of an international product shows in the brand's minimalist black look as well.

How strong is DEUS?

DEUS hookah tobacco sits at roughly the level of Must H, which puts it in the very strong category of our dark blend guide. In character though it is closer to Blackburn. Experienced dark blend smokers get a tobacco that adds real range to their shelf and holds its strength across the entire session. For Virginia lovers it is less of a match. If you still want to give it a try, start with small amounts in a mix.

Where is DEUS produced?

DEUS is made in Russia, in a facility built specifically for this tobacco. The flavors come from Europe so the product meets the requirements of the European Tobacco Products Directive. The burley comes from Tuscany, from a small farm that deliberately plants with wide spacing between the plants and harvests entirely by hand. That effort shows in a particularly even leaf and a consistent taste.

Which DEUS flavors are available?

We are starting with 15 DEUS flavors. Alongside the classic fruit notes, what stands out is how many floral ones there are. Peony, jasmine and yuzu tea are hard to find in any other dark blend.

• Black Ji: Saffron, ice
• Blackmerry Win: Blackberry, wine
• Jazzmin Pear: Jasmine, pear
• Peonies: Peony
• Pashin: Passion fruit
• Pin Go: Pineapple, mango
• Pink S: Colorful chewy sweets
• Rasmerry: Raspberry
• Red: Floral perfume
• RozGrap: Pink grapefruit with a fine rose note
• Trpic Coda: Tropical soda
• Ultima: Walnut, ginger
• Wanmerry: Vanilla, raspberry
• White P: White peach
• Yzu: Yuzu tea

How do you pack the perfect bowl with DEUS?

DEUS is pleasantly easy to work with. The cut sits in the medium to fine range and does not stick to your fingers. The molasses is matched perfectly to the texture of the tobacco, so barely anything settles at the bottom of the tin. Stirring it through is not strictly necessary, though it will not hurt either.

Fill the tobacco loosely into the bowl and leave a little space to the rim. Avoid light contact with the foil or HMD, it makes DEUS considerably stronger than most people expect.

In a phunnel the smoke turns soft and round, in a multi-hole bowl more intense and more powerful. Both work equally well, so go with your own preference. Use an HMD and let it heat through with the bowl, after that three coals are enough. DEUS runs properly after about five minutes and then lasts around 40 minutes, depending on your bowl.