Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Ascension Of Hookah Pipes Through History

By Adriana Noton


Hookah pipes, otherwise known as a Nargile, Arghileh, and Shisha, are most commonly referred to as a wate rpipes. By definition, it is a single or multi-stemmed instrument with a glass base used for smoking tobacco. The smoke is cooled by water. Its origin can be traced back to India.

The very first water pipes were used to smoke opium and hashish and were made from a coconut shell. In the fifteenth century, an improvement came along when glass manufacturers started exporting glass to India. The coconut shell was replaced by wood with a glass base.

Working its way first through the Arab and Persian countries, the Argile landed in Turkey about 500 years ago. Smoking the Nargile is one of oldest traditions in Turkey. It brought great pleasure to both men and women alike. An overwhelming surge in popularity among intellectuals and the upper crust inspired a design change. The result is what we have today.

Hookah coffee shops were all the rage. A bar waiter at this type of shop was treated like a modern day chef because of the great skill used to prepare for smoking. Getting the packing and moisture right was a skill and it was considered rude to touch the coals. Today, these types of coffee shops are social places where people go to discuss politics and social events. In countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, hookah bars are a men only scene. Some Muslim countries believe that hookah is completely forbidden.

Popularity became so intense that etiquette rules were developed for usage. Here are just a few. It was considered rude to light a cigarette from the hookah coals and could possibly taint the flavor. Whenever passing the hose, fold the handle so the tip is pointing at you. Failing to do so, will be seen as a sign of disrespect and hostility. Do not bogart (keep to yourself) the hose when talking; pass it to another.

Water pipes of the past were only manufactured by hand. Each pipe is constructed of four basic pieces. Each piece is made by a craftsmen skilled in making only that piece. Those four pieces are the mouthpiece, the top of the Nargile, the tube, and the body that gets filled with water. Today, this can all be done in the blink of an eye on an assembly line.

If you are a novice to hookah pipes and are interested in buying your own, do a little research and gain some knowledge. Compare traditional and modern designs. Look for the origin where it was made, the material it was made out of, height, and hose options and price.

Traditional water pipes are handmade and distinguishable over modern due to the construction, styling and performance. They are usually made out of heavier metals and combination's of metals. Brass is used at critical points like hose ports and the check valve.

Modern water pipes are generally manufactured in China by US based companies and are cranked out in assembly line fashion. They are constructed with lighter weight materials and have no weld lines. They are commonly comprised of threaded screw together components which conveniently, unscrew as well to fit inside a carrying case.




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