Hookah and Nargila Smoking!

• Introduction

• Different names by which the hookah is known 

• History of the hookah

• Hookah culture around the world

• Parts of a hookah

• How a hookah works

• Types of hookahs

• Getting started

•        How to set up your hookah

•        A word about the tobacco

•        About the hookah charcoal

•        A good smoke

•        Maintaining the hookah

• Tips and tricks for beginners

Hookah, or nargila, smoking is an art. Very popular in the Middle Eastern countries, hookah smoking is rapidly becoming common in the rest of the world. There are hookah lounges where people get together to enjoy a leisurely smoke. It is quite like relaxing with coffee, chatting with friends, and lazing around.

A hookah, also called “narghile”, “shisha” or “hubble-bubble,” can also be described as a “water pipe.” The tobacco used in hookah smoking comes in several flavors. The conventional way to smoke is to have long pieces of tobacco combined with sugar based syrup, fruit bits or fruit extract. The idea is to savor the flavors of these fruits, along with the hookah’s cooling action, to add smoothness to the experience. Hookah lounges add ice to the hookah water. Common fruit flavors are apple, peach, raspberry, mixed fruit, and many more, depending on which tobacco is being used. The combination of these flavors makes it a unique experience for the hookah smoker because the tobacco does not convert into ash; rather, it slowly cooks on the coals on the hookah. This makes for an exotic smoking pleasure. Around the world, sitting together and smoking a hookah is considered a sign of trust and bonding. 

Here’s a look at the different names a hookah is known by in different regions, the anatomy of a hookah, its types, setting up the hookah, getting started with smoking, basic maintenance of your hookah and some tips and tricks.

Depending on locality, hookahs or shishas may be referred to by many names: Arabic languages use Shisha (شيشة) or Nargeela (نرجيلة) or Argeela (أركيلة\أرجيلة) and they use it throughout the whole of the Arab World; Narguileh (but sometimes pronounced Argilah) is the name most commonly used in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria.

Narghile derives from the Persian word nārghile, meaning coconut, which in turn is from the Sanskrit word nārikela (नारिकेला), suggesting that early hookahs were hewn from coconut shells.

In Albania, Bosnia, and Croatia the hookah is called "Lula" or "Lulava" in Romani, meaning "pipe;" the word "shishe" refers to the actual bottle piece.

In Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in much of the eastern and southern former Yugoslavia, "Nargile" (Наргиле) or "Nagile" (Нагиле) is used to refer to the pipe. "šiša" (шиша) usually refers to the nicotine and tar free tobacco that is smoked in it. The pipes there often have one or two mouthpieces. They are usually shared between two people. The flavored tobacco is placed above the water and covered by pierced foil with hot coals placed on top, the smoke is drawn through cold water to cool and filter it. “Narguile" is also the common word in Spain, where hookah is also referred to as "cachimba," though Morroccan inmigrants in Spain use the word "shisha."

Shisha (شيشة), from the Persian word shīshe (شیشه), meaning glass, is the common term for the hookah in Egypt and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf (including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia), and in Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia and Yemen.

In Iran, the hookah is called قلیان "ḡalyān." The name of the implement for smoking, ḡalyān, was apparently derived from the Ar. √ḡlā (to boil, bubble up) which is believed to be the first name of the hookah, too.

In Uzbekistan, the hookah is called "Chillim." In India and Pakistan the name most similar to the English hookah is used: huqqa (हुक़्क़ा /حقّہ).

The commonness of the Indian word "hookah" in English is a result of the British Raj, the British dominion of India (1858–1947), when large numbers of expatriate Britons first sampled the water-pipe.

The exact date and place of the origin of the hookah is not known. According to Cyril Elgood (PP. 41, 110) who does not mention his source, it was Hakim Abu’l-Fatḥ Gīlānī (d. 1588), a Persian physician at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar I (1542 - 1605 AD).

Following the European introduction of tobacco to India, Hakim Abul Fateh Gilani a descendant of Abdul-Qadir Gilani, came from Gilan, a province in the north of Iran, to India. Gilani, who was later a physician in the court of Mughal, raised concerns after smoking tobacco became popular among Indian noblemen, and subsequently envisaged a system that allowed smoke to be passed through water in order to be “purified.”

Gilani introduced the ḡalyān after Asad Beg, the ambassador of Bijapur, encouraged Akbar to take up smoking. Following popularity among noblemen, this new device for smoking soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.

In North India, it is a great tradition followed among Jats, Bishnois, Rajputs and others. However, a quatrain of Ahlī Šīrāzī (d. 1535) a Persian poet, refers to the use of the ḡalyān (Falsafī, II, p. 277; Semsār, 1963, p. 15), dating its use at least as early as the time of Shah Ṭahmāsp I . It seems, therefore, that Abu’l-Fatḥ Gīlānī should be credited with the introduction of the ḡalyān, already in use in Persia, to India.

In the Arab world, people smoke a hookah as part of their culture and traditions. Social smoking is done with a single or double hose, and sometimes even more numerous such as a triple or quadruple hose in the forms of parties or small get-togethers. When the smoker is finished, either the hose is placed back on the table signifying that it is available, or it is handed from one user to the next, folded back on itself so that the mouthpiece is not pointing at the recipient. It has been recorded that the Arabs are the biggest shisha smokers in the world and have the most shisha cafes.

In Iran, the hookah is known as a ḠALYĀN (Persian: قليان, قالیون, غلیون, also spelled ghalyan, ghalyaan or ghelyoon). It is similar in many ways to the Arabic hookah but has its own unique attributes. An example is that the top part of the ghalyoun called 'sar' (Persian: سر=head), where the tobacco is placed, is bigger than the ones seen in Turkey. Also, the major part of the hose is flexible and covered with soft silk or cloth, while the Turkish make the wooden part as big as the flexible part.

Each person has his own personal mouthpiece (called an Amjid) (امجید), Amjid is usually made of wood or metal and decorated with valuable or other stones. Amjids are only used for their fancy look. However, all the hookah bars have plastic mouthpieces.

The smoking of hookahs is very popular with young people in Iran, and many young people can be seen smoking them in local tea shops.

The hookah was, until recently, served to all ages; Iranian officials have since passed a law forbidding its use by those under 20.

The Israeli term for hookah is nargila. Nargila smoking is prevalent among Palestinians and Middle-Eastern Jewish immigrants (collectively known as Mizrahi Jews).Nargilas are becoming increasingly popular in Israel, particularly among tourists. Shops selling paraphernalia can be found on most streets and markets.

South Asia

The concept of hookah originated In India. Once the province of the wealthy, it was tremendously popular especially during Mughal rule. The hookah has since become less popular; however, it is once again garnering the attention of the masses, and cafés and restaurants that offer it as a consumable are popular. The use of hookahs from ancient times in India was not only a custom, but a matter of prestige. Rich and landed classes would smoke hookahs.

In Pakistan, although traditionally prevalent in rural areas for generations, hookahs have become very popular in the cosmopolitan cities. There are a large number of cafes and restaurants offering a variety of hookahs. The practice is becoming more popular in Karachi and Islamabad.

Southeast Asia

Although hookah use has been common for hundreds of years and enjoyed by people of all ages, it has just begun to become a youth-oriented pastime in Asia in recent times. Hookahs are most popular with college students and young adults, who may be underage and thus unable to purchase cigarettes.

South Africa

In South Africa, hookah, colloquially known as a hubbly bubbly or an okka pipe, is popular among the Cape Malay and Indian populations, where it is smoked as a social pastime. However, hookah is seeing increasing popularity with white South Africans, especially young people.

United States and Canada

A hookah and a variety of tobacco products are on display in a Harvard Square store window in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.

From the year 2000 to 2004, over 200 new hookah cafes opened for business, most of which are targeted at a young-adult age group, and were particularly near college campuses or cities with large Middle-Eastern communities. 

The hookah can be made of glass, brass, gold, silver, wood, cane, or other materials, and you will find many decorative hookahs that are works of art.  The hookah has four main parts. In general, hookahs are made of the base that holds the water, the stem, hoses, bowl, coal tray, and the various rubber grommets that seal the hookah where parts join together.

Excluding grommets, a hookah consists of a number of components, four of which are essential for its operation.

The bowl

Also known as the head of the hookah, the bowl is a container, usually made out of clay or marble, that holds the coal and tobacco during the smoking session. The bowl is loaded with tobacco then covered in a small piece of perforated aluminum foil or a glass or metal screen. Lit coals are then placed on top, which allows the tobacco to heat to the proper temperature.

There is also a variation of the head that employs a fruit rather than the traditional clay bowl. The fruit is hollowed out and perforated in order to achieve the same shape and system a clay bowl has, then it is loaded and used in the same manner.

Bowls have evolved over the last few years to incorporate new designs that preserve the juices inside the tobacco. The Tangiers Phunnel Bowl and Sahara Smoke Vortex Bowl are two examples of modified hookah bowls.

Windscreen (optional)

A hookah cover windscreen is a cover which sits over the bowl area, with some form of air holes. This prevents wind from increasing the burn rate and temperature of the coal, and prevents ash and burning embers from being blown onto the surrounding environment. This may also offer some limited protection from fire as it may prevent the coal from being ejected if the hookah is bumped.

Hose

Technically, if the pipe has a hose it is not a "hookah"—the term historically referred to a straight-neck tube. Today the hose (one or more) is a slender flexible tube that allows the smoke to be drawn for a distance, cooling down before inhalation. The end is typically fitted with a metal, wooden, or plastic mouthpiece of various shape, size, color or material type.

Body and gaskets

The body of the hookah is a hollow tube. The bowl is attached to the top. Sometimes an ice bucket is attached between the body and the bowl to cool the smoke. At the bottom is a thin tube (the downstem) that is submerged in water. The point where the body meets the water jar is sealed with a gasket. Near there are at least two holes that open into the space above the water. One or more may accept a hose.

Purge valve (optional)

Many hookahs are equipped with a purge valve connected to the airspace in the water jar to purge stale smoke that has been sitting unused in the jar for too long. This one-way valve is typically a simple ball bearing sitting over a port which seals the port by gravity alone and will open if positive pressure is created by blowing into the hose. The bearing will be held captive with a screw-on cover. The cover should be opened and the bearing and seat cleaned of residue and corrosion regularly to ensure proper sealing.

Water jar

The body of the hookah sits on top of the water jar. The downstem hangs down below the level of the water in the jar. Smoke passes through the body and out the downstem where it bubbles through the water. This cools and humidifies the smoke. Liquids such as fruit juice may be added to the water or used in substitution. Pieces of fruit, mint leaves, and crushed ice may be added.

Plate

A plate or ashtray sits just below the bowl to catch ashes falling off the coals.

Grommets

Grommets in a hookah are usually placed between the bowl and the body, the body's gasket and the water jar and between the body and the hose. The grommets, although not essential (the use of paper or tape has become common), will help to seal the joints between the parts, therefore decreasing the amount of air coming in and maximizing the smoke breathed in.

Diffuser (optional)

A diffuser is a small perforated plastic device which connects to the end of the stem. Submerged in the water-filled base, it works to break up the bubbles produced from the smoke-filtering process, creating a cleaner smoke and a subdued noise. It is used as a luxury item for a premium smoking experience and is not a required component.

The jar at the bottom of the hookah is filled with water sufficient to submerge a few centimetres of the body tube, which is sealed tightly to it. Deeper water will only increase the inhalation force needed to use it. Tobacco is placed inside the bowl at the top of the hookah and a burning charcoal is placed on top of the tobacco. Some cultures cover the bowl with perforated tin foil or a metal screen to separate the coal and the tobacco, which minimizes inhalation of coal ash with the smoke. This may also reduce the temperature the tobacco is exposed to, in order to prevent burning the tobacco directly.

When one inhales via the hose, air is pulled through the charcoal and into the bowl holding the tobacco. The hot air, heated by the charcoal, vaporizes (not burns) the tobacco, thus producing smoke, which is passed down through the body tube that extends into the water in the jar. It bubbles up through the water, losing heat, and fills the top part of the jar, to which the hose is attached. When a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke passes into the lungs, and the change in pressure in the jar pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the process.

If the hookah has been lit and smoked but has not been inhaled for an extended period, the smoke inside the water jar may be regarded as "stale" and undesirable. Stale smoke may be exhausted through the purge valve, if present. This one-way valve is opened by the positive pressure created from gently blowing into the hose. It will not function on a multiple-hose hookah unless all other hoses are plugged. Sometimes one-way valves are put in the hose sockets to avoid the need to manually plug hoses.

You will come across different types and styles of hookahs. A majority of these are made in the Middle East and some in China. This means you have a lot of brands from which you can take your pick. 

The most common is the Egyptian style, which is considered the best quality and is mostly made of steel or brass. Egyptian hookahs offer a good, easy smoke. The stem is smooth and stylish. The glass base is of high quality and popular brands are Magdy Zidan, priced at $75, and Khalil Mamoon, priced from $120.

Syrian hookahs are made of brass and are the main competition to Egyptian hookahs. They have shorter stems and the base takes more water. Popular brands are Nour and Al Fakher.

Then there are the Chinese hookahs made of acrylic or aluminum. These are lightweight and less durable than the Egyptian and Syrian hookahs. They are popular because of their low prices and reasonable quality. The best-known Chinese brand is Mya Saray.

You will also see Turkish and Iranian hookahs, which are similar to the Syrian ones but not usually exported outside the Middle East. Iranian hookah stems are made of brass, steel or wood and the glass base feature gorgeous hand paintings.

So, when you go shopping for your hookah, be sure to find out about replacement parts. While the hose may fit universally, the parts must be easy to clean. Preferably, choose a hookah that has a separate tray on a platform rather than a fused one. Also check about exchange policies for defective pieces if you are buying online. If buying in a physical shop, inspect the hookah for cracks, chips in the glass, rust if any. Check whether the hose smells fresh or stale. Check the tongs, brushes and tray.

There are also different sizes available, with both a single stem and multiple stems. The size of the hookah depends on your budget and use. Small hookahs are good for personal use. Medium hookahs are ideal as they can accommodate one or two smokers for an hour. The large hookahs are good for parties.

Think about how many hoses you need – more than one means more than one smoker at a time.  Ultimately, you get what you pay for.

Now that you have a reasonable idea about the hookah and how it works, let us look at how you can get started with smoking one. It all begins with setting up your hookah.   

How to set up your hookah

Start by filling the glass base of the nargile with water. Don’t fill it up too much — just make sure there’s enough water to cover the tube from the top section, say by about an inch after you place it on the base.

Now, place the top part of the nargile over the base, the glass part. It should fit well and be airtight. Next, attach the mouthpiece to the top part and check to see that it fits airtight, just like the top over the base. This means the whole set up should fit snugly. You can check by resting your palm on the top of the hookah and sucking via the mouth piece. If your set up is airtight, you will feel a pull on your palm and see bubbles in the water. If not, obviously there is air escaping from one of the joints. Fix it by re-fitting it properly.

Once you do that, place a little of your tobacco on top of the water pipe. If you plan to add flavors to it, you will need to cover the tobacco with aluminum foil that has been pierced a few times.

It is now time to light the hookah charcoal and place it on top of the tobacco with a pair of tongs. Press the charcoal down gently and suck through the mouthpiece. You will see smoke building up in the base. In about three or four puffs, the slow taste of tobacco will fill your mouth.

If you happen to have a multi-hose hookah and you plan to smoke by yourself, you must remember to seal the unused hoses with rubber stoppers. Check and seal the grommet junctions.

A word about the tobacco 

You can use either tobacco or maassell, which is a combination of tobacco and a sweet substance such as honey or molasses or  partially dried fruits, in your hookah. This mixture need not be dry. In the old days tobacco and these sweet things were mixed to make “jurak,” which is a moist tobacco. It was only much later, around the 1980s, that fruit-flavored tobacco was inspired by Egyptian tobacco companies experimenting with the tobacco, so that people would cut down on cigarette smoking. Consequently, you now have shisha tobacco flavored with fruits like apple, strawberry, melon, mint, cappuccino and so on, further mixed with fruit extracts.

Sometimes, the juice from the tobacco-based molasses settles at the bottom of the hookah. So be sure to mix it before you add it to the clay bowl. Soon after you open your pack of tobacco, ensure that you store it in an airtight glass container so that it does not dry out. Glass jars also retain the flavor, making it easy to mix the tobacco before you use it.

Tobacco-based molasses looks shredded. You can use a medium-sized bit of charcoal with these, with thick foil.  There are various traditional tobacco brands like Nakhla, Afzal, Al Fakher, Al Masa, Al Waha, Al Jazeera, and others. Leafy tobaccos like Nakhla are much stronger. The flavor you choose is a matter of personal preference. Some appeal to some people, while others do not. U.S. maassell brands are Romman and Splash.
 

About the hookah charcoal

You will get different kinds of coals for your hookah. Some are self-lighting. The most popular are the quick light charcoals, especially with beginners, as they can be lit quickly.  You also get natural coals that are devoid of any chemicals and have no taste. Experienced hookah smokers choose these. The quick light charcoals come in boxes of rolls. For the natural coal, you will need a fire pit or stove.  You also get disc coals that are easy to use.

A good smoke

The best hookah smoke is that which is full of flavor and thick smoke, where you inhale effortlessly. When the coals burn, with the help of the tongs, tap the ash from the coals and move them to another area of the bowl. After half an hour of smoking, take off the screen and turn the maassell over, to move the fresh layer from below up on top. Then replace the screen and the coals. This will ensure continuous and thick smoke until you reach the end of the bowl.

Watch out for a burning flavor because that’s not so good. If you did not fill the bowl to the brim and you get the taste of burning, you probably have too much coal.  Sometimes, too much heat within a short time can also cause that burning taste. So, blow the burnt smoke out of the valve and do not inhale for a while. Remove a coal. The trick to adjusting the coal comes as you become more experienced with your own hookah. However, there are three things you can do to help: 1) Do not fill the bowl to its brim. 2) Make use of the foil that comes with your hookah. 3) In the bowl, put only one layer of coals. Don’t make a pile. And soon, you’ll get the hang of it.

Maintaining the hookah

Taking good care of your hookah can ensure that you enjoy the pleasure of smoking it for a long time.  Here are some tips:

• Cleaning your hookah pipe after each smoking session can help you get rid of any residual taste in it. With the help of a soft bristle brush, clean the pipe and the base. With a dry pipe and hose, each smoking session will be an enjoyable experience.

• After every five or six smokes, do the following - remove the exhaust valve and ball bearing, run water through the valve and clean the hole with cotton.

• Bring the shine back to your pipe stem by cleaning it every two months. To do this, soak it with some soda crystals and then clean it with a brush.

• Since not all hoses are washable, you need to check for a washable warranty when you buy your hose. While leather hoses can be washed, they are sometimes reinforced with steel coil that begins to rust in a short time.

When you start hookah smoking for the first time, take care to use very little coal. Break up the tobacco into smaller pieces and then place it in the clay bowl to avoid clogging the holes in the bowl.

In fact, you could even begin by trying molasses without tobacco until you get used to setting up the hookah. Molasses burns quite easily and you need to inhale cautiously.

Make sure that the tobacco you use is not caked; rather, it should allow the air to pass through it to give you that enjoyable smoke. Otherwise the smoke does tend to get too thick and taste burnt.

Add ice to the water in the hookah. This makes your smoke cool and smooth. If you don’t have ice cubes, ice cold water will be just as good. The water cools the smoke.

Experiment with flavors, mixing two or more and creating your own favorite flavor. Some suggestions are mint and rose, mint and melon, cherry and cola, mango and peach, and strawberry and banana. You can do the mixing in a jar and then place it in the bowl.

Add fruit to the base of the hookah to give it more flavor. Fruits with flavors compatible to the tobacco are better. You can add lemon or berries to the water in the hookah’s base to add to the flavor.

You can also add wine, juice or alcohol to the water in the hookah’s base. White wine is better for a smooth, cool flavor if you have mint. Red wine goes better with apple or red grape. If you are adding alcohol, vodka will match melon, apple, mint and apricot. Be sure to add only a little. After all, it is the hookah you want to enjoy, not the alcohol.

Remember to drink a lot of water when you smoke your hookah as it is known to make your mouth dry and lead to dehydration.

Some Hookah etiquette

There are some rules of smoking hookah that you must always remember: 

• Do not light a cigarette from the burning coal of the hookah.

• Do not place the hookah at al level higher than the level of your seat.

• The water pipe should never be directly passed to another person. It must be put down and the person to whom you offer it must pick it up.

Enjoy your hookah smoking experience!

The above article uses general information and content taken from the below WIKIPEDIA articles. As such this text is now available under the "Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike License". Anybody that wishes to reuse the content is free to do so as long as they attribute this article with a backlink.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah

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