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44 tobaccoasia pean Union at large, Planta decided it was high time to join the bandwagon. The "steam stones" that had been in the market for some years seemed a good place to start. They basically were baked clay pebbles impregnated with flavored shisha mo- lasses and were supposed to bestow on the con- sumer a new shisha smoking sensation as the fluid contents evaporated during heating. That concept simply wouldn't do for Planta, though. Something more sophisticated and improved was needed, particularly also under the aspect of ever-stricter smoking regulations in Germany and elsewhere. So the firm's development department geared up, put in some overtime and was soon able to present a totally revamped version of steam stones, which Planta decided to grace with the brand name Xill iStone. While at first glance Xill iStones may not look markedly different from other similar products currently in the market, the secret is of course hid- den in the details. "The stones themselves consist of a completely natural carrier substance, the exact composition of which we cannot disclose," said Dr. Ellen Stiller, c.e.o. of Planta Tabak-Manufak- tur. "But it is able to entirely absorb the fluid com- ponents and release the aromas and vapors gradu- ally and consistently once the shisha has reached a certain temperature." It is exactly this gradual and continuous release together with the fact that the generated "smoke" is not simply evaporated fluids but rather "a fine mist" that distinguishes Xill iStone from other products. "The carefully selected carrier substance and the quality of the added flavors deliver much better results when compared to other brands marketed as steam stones," asserted Dr. Stiller. Another novelty is that used stones can, in fact – and for lack of a better word – be "re-charged". While one filling of Xill iStones lasts as long as a corresponding amount of regular shisha tobacco, exhausted stones can be immersed in molasses of the same flavor (also supplied by Planta) and then be re-used several times over. "This way the aroma can also intensify over time," explained Dr. Stiller XEO Shisha Bowl and Sweet Red Apple Cartomizer The XEO booth at the 2014 InterTabac Launched at InterTabac in 2014, the Xill iS- tone range immediately attracted great customer interest, perhaps also because Planta operated a testing booth where potential buyers could con- vince themselves about the product's ease of use and outstanding aroma release properties. Dr. Stiller said, "After initial test orders we have since received a steady stream of repeat orders." Targeting consumers who prefer to enjoy their shisha without nicotine but generally also markets with increasingly strict anti-smoking laws, Planta expects to capture a 20% total sales volume share in this particular shisha accessories segment in Germany, but of course also hopes on a healthy market share in other countries. The available flavors of Xill iStone at the mo- ment comprise Blueberry Ice, Ice Lemon Mint, Ice Apple, Ice Grape, Watermelon Mint, Tropi- cal Dream (a fruit medley), and also some rather unusual aromas like Mint-Gum and even Cola- Lemon, the latter two especially popular with younger consumers. Flavorsome Shishapresso Earlier this year, Lebanon-based company Shisha- presso SAL introduced its truly revolutionary, globally patented, award-winning Shishapresso product. Being marketed under the extremely snappy slogan "It's all in the Head!", the ground-breaking product system features a unique ceramic bowl that fits onto any shisha model and is loaded with an even more innovative aluminum capsule which contains tobacco and ingenious agitators that pre- pare the tobacco and ready it for smoking. Com- pletely taking the mess out of the traditional shisha preparation procedure, Shishapresso caught on like a storm among consumers in the Middle East. Now the company has also started to tackle the European and North American markets with an expanded range of flavors that it is convinced will appeal to Western consumers. "Western coun- tries are not like the Middle East where shisha lovers are very loyal to certain core flavors," rea-