Hookah 101
What is a Hookah?
Hookah (Hindi: हुक्का, Urdu: حقہ hukka) or shisha (Arabic: شيشة, Hebrew: נרגילה, Nargilah),(Ghalyan or Ghelyoon in Persian) or (Turkish: nargile) is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) water pipe device for smoking. Originating in Iran, it has gained popularity, especially in the Arab World. It had gained popularity under the reign of the Ottoman Dynasty. A hookah operates by water filtration and indirect heat. It can be used for smoking herbal fruits.
Depending on locality and supply, hookahs may be referred to by many other names (often of Arab, Indian, Turkish, Uzbek, or Persian origin). Arghile or Nargila is the name most commonly used in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Armenia, Albania, Kosovo, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Bulgaria and Romania, though the initial "n" is often dropped in Arabic. "Narghile" is from the Persian word "nārgil" or "coconut", from Sanskrit nārikela (नारिकेल)--as the original hookahs were made out of coconut shells. Shisha (شيشة) is from the Persian word shishe (شیشه, literally translated as glass and not bottle), and is primarily used for water pipes in Egypt and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf (such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia) as well as Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia and Yemen. In Iran it is called ghalyun (غلیون), ghālyun (قالیون), or ghalyān (قلیان) and in India and Pakistan it is referred to as huqqa (हुक्का /حقہ). The more colloquial terms "hubble-bubble" and "hubbly-bubbly" may be used in the region surrounding the red sea.[1]
How do you set up a Hookah?
1. Fill the glass base with enough water so that the stem is under water about one to two inches.
2. Attach the glass base to the Hookah stem. The stem grommet seals this connection in place. Note, this connection must have a tight seal in order for your Hookah to smoke properly.
3. Attach the hose to the Hookah stem. The hose grommet seals this connection in place. Again, this connection must have a tight seal in order for your Hookah to smoke properly.
4. Load the Hookah bowl with your favorite Shisha flavor, making sure that the shisha is evenly spread out and loosely packed for good air flow.
5. Place a piece of foil on the top of the bowl. The foil should be tight across the top of the bowl in order to hold the weight of the charcoal.
6. Using a toothpick, poke several tiny holes around the entire top of the foil.
7. Attach the Hookah bowl (along with the tray if applicable) to the Hookah stem. The bowl grommet seals this connection in place. Again, this connection must have a tight seal in order for your Hookah to smoke properly.
8. Light up your charcoal tablets before placing on the Hookah bowl. Once lit, carefully place the charcoal tablets around the edges of the Hookah bowl. If you place the charcoal in the center of the Hookah bowl, the shisha flavor will burn quicker and lose its flavor a lot quicker.
You and your friends are now ready to enjoy smoking from your Hookah.
How do you clean a Hookah?
It is highly recommended to wash your Hookah properly after every use, especially when you switching flavors. Some flavors are so strong that the remains affect the next smoking flavor. Disassemble the hookah carefully and empty out the used water. Using warm water and soap thoroughly rinse out the glass base. Repeat for the Hookah bowl. The Hookah stem requires a long brush. Run warm water and soap through the stem while using the long brush to clean the inner part of the Hookah stem. Blow air through Hookah hose, before and after every use, to properly clean it.
Should you run water through the Hookah hose?
No. You should never run water through the hoses of a Hookah. Unless the hose is washable, you will ruin the hose.
How do you clean the Hookah hose?
The best way to clean the hose is to blow air through the hose for a few seconds. You should repeat this before and after every use. When the hose is not being used, it is recommended to hang your hose. By doing this, it prevents the hose from clogging and allows any excess material to flow out of the hose. Also, if you have multiple hoses, you might want to dedicate a hose for a specific flavor, especially the strong flavors such as Mint or Double Apple. If you don't do this, you might affect the next smoking flavor.