The Hookah and Shisha Guide for Beginners
Do you want to buy your own hookah? If so, you need to understand the basics. Knowing what a hookah is and how it works is the key to a good smoke. This article will tell you everything you need to know about hookah and shisha, including the differences between the two, a little bit of history, and how to set up, use, and maintain your hookah. Don’t forget the most important part: having your friends over to smoke with you!
The Difference Between Hookah and Shisha
Shisha and hookah are terms often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of the same thing. It can be confusing but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here’s the difference between hookah and shisha.
What is Shisha?
Shisha is a tobacco mixture. It’s made from tobacco leaves, molasses, or honey, usually sticky and moist. It comes in many flavors: fruits, herbs, spices, and so on. You can try different flavor combos for just the right taste. Some of the most popular flavors include mango, strawberry, apple, mint, chocolate, and floral flavors like rose.
What is a Hookah?
The hookah is a device to smoke shisha. A hookah usually has a water basin, a vertical pipe with a bowl for the shisha tobacco, and a hose or multiple hoses to draw the smoke. The water in the hookah’s basin cools and filters the smoke before it gets inhaled through the hose. Hookah pipes come in tons of sizes, styles, and materials.
The Roots and History of Hookah Run Deep
Water pipes have been used to smoke flavored tobacco since ancient times. The first hookah-like devices were found in Persia from wood, metal, and coconut shells. In the Middle East, hookah became an integral part of the culture as it spread to Egypt, Turkey, and Syria. India and Pakistan were the next places to adopt hookah, which became deeply ingrained in their cultural traditions.
Fascinated by exotic cultures, Europe eventually adopted hookah as a fashionable and trendy pastime by the nineteenth century. Hookah lounges and cafes started to pop up across cities, with intellectuals, artists, and social elites frequenting them. As tobacco became more accessible and devices improved, hookah smoking gained popularity throughout the nineteenth century, both in the Middle East and Europe. Hookah smoking has remained a cultural tradition, and social activity enjoyed worldwide for thousands of years, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
How to Use a Hookah
There are lots of hookah lounges and cafes out there, but you can always buy your own hookah pipe and shisha tobacco in your local smoke shop. However, you need to know a couple of things before you start. Use these steps to get the perfect hookah experience the first time.
1. Set up the hookah.
Start by assembling the hookah correctly. Insert the stem into the base and ensure it fits securely. Attach the bowl on top of the stem, and place the tray on the stem above the base. Make sure all the components are tightly connected.
2. Prepare the shisha.
Take a small amount of shisha tobacco and break it apart with your fingers, removing any large stems. Fluff it up to create airflow. Fill the bowl with the prepared shisha, making sure not to pack it too tightly or loosely. Leave a small gap between the tobacco and the top of the bowl.
3. Cover the bowl.
Put aluminum foil over the bowl and press the edges around it to secure it. Make small holes in the foil using a toothpick or a small pin. This lets the heat pass through and evenly cook the shisha.
4. Light the charcoal.
Hold the charcoal using tongs or a special hookah coal carrier and let it heat up until it is reddish or ash-gray. This usually takes a couple of minutes.
5. Position the charcoal.
Place the heated charcoal on top of the foil-covered bowl. You can use a wind cover to ensure the charcoal isn’t blown away. Let the charcoal sit for a few minutes to warm up the shisha.
6. Take a hit
When the charcoal is ready, grab the hookah hose and take a slow, steady draw. The smoke will pass through the water in the base, causing it to cool and filter. Always inhale gently to avoid harsh smoke, and exhale through your mouth.
7. Stir tobacco and maintain smoke.
Draw from the hookah at your own pace, savoring the flavors of the shisha. Rotate the bowl to expose fresh tobacco if the smoke gets thin or flavorless. Add more charcoal if needed. Also, be sure your smoking in a well-ventilated area.
The Best Way to Clean a Hookah
The best way to clean a hookah is after every use. Plus, if left uncleaned, it can get pretty gross. Here’s how to do it right.
You’ll have to disassemble all the parts, including the stem, base, bowl, tray, and hose(s). Be sure to rinse the stem and base with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap with a brush or pipe cleaner to scrub away any residue or buildup.
Then clean the bowl and tray separately with hot water and soap to get rid of the shisha and ash. If the hoses are removable, you’ll want to rinse them thoroughly. Make sure the purge valve isn’t blocked and all the threads and connections are clean.
You can also find special cleaning solutions at smoke shops or online that are safe for hookahs and other water pipes. After letting every part of the hookah dry thoroughly, reassemble and boom! It’s good as new.
Visit World of Smoke and Vape for all Your Hookah Needs!
There you have it! Now you know everything you need to know about hookah and shisha to enjoy a relaxing session with your friends! World of Smoke and Vape carries a ton of beautiful hookahs in different designs and styles and only the best quality shisha you can find. Check out our selection at one of our shops in Florida, Oklahoma, or Texas near you!
