A hookah is a device used in smoking flavorful tobacco, allowing for purification of the smoke with a water basin prior to inhalation. The components of a hookah are relatively simple and straightforward, yet the art of constructing hookahs has been improved over centuries in the Middle East, and the best quality hookahs are still produced in this area.
Structure
Essentially, smoke generated from the burning tobacco is passed down through the body, the end of which is immersed in the water jar. When the smoke exits the bottom of the body, it is purified by the water and stored in the air chamber right above the water. Another positive side effect of the smoke going from the water is that it is cooled to a temperature more comfortable for the lungs. At the top left section of the water jar in this diagram is the hose. It is not shown in the picture, but the length of the hose is approximately one meter. The smoker puffs on the hose and inhales the smoker from the air chamber. The smoke exhaled by the smoker is clean, thick and aromatic. Generally, people smoke hookah while sitting in groups with their friends on family enjoying their company.
What Do You Inhale from a Hookah?
Traditionally hookahs are used to smoke shisha, which is flavored tobacco. Nowadays the following things are used to make shisha: tobacco, treacle (uncrystallized syrup produced in refining sugar), honey, sugar, molasses, glycerin, nicotine, dried fruit and distilled water.
Shisha flavors normally have a fruity base like Apple, Banana, or Mango. However offshoots of fruity flavors are now gaining popularity among the smokers and producers likewise. These flavors include Peaches 'n Cream or Banana split, and so on.
These days, there is a wide array of shisha flavors available. Unique flavors are produced because basically every ingredient can be combined in dried, tobacco, glycerin and sweetener.
Where Did Hookahs Originate From?
The word huqqa is an indian word, which is called "hookah" in English. Abul-Fath Gilani who was a Persian physician built the very first hookah in the 1500's. After growing worried about the health risks of smoking, he produced a system where he passed the smoke through a water basin to be able to 'purify' it. However, it is said that even before he invented it, hookah existed in other parts of Persia. Once it become popular in India it spread all through Pakistan and Turkey. Hookah gained fame throughout the Middle East after getting to Turkey. As it spread through Middle East, it started to become popular in areas of northern Africa. Now, it has become very popular over the world.
As it journeyed from Persia to the rest of the globe, the hookah gained a lot of names.
Nargile (also pronounced Argilee) - Primarily used in Italy, Turkey and Israel
Narguile - used in Spain
Lula (or lulava) - used in Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina
Sheesha - used in Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Qalyan - used in Iran
Karim Khan - used in Russia, Belarus
Chillim - used in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
Huqqa - used in India and Pakistan
Gudugudaa - used in Maldives
Marra Pipe - used in the UK
I Want To Purchase a Hookah, Where Should I Go?
Just like a lot of consumer products these days, hookahs can be purchased in-person or online. Since the beginning of this century, the number of hookah shops and hookah bars in the U.S. has increased. People who live in the more populated urban areas can certainly find a hookah shop around them. In the Mediterranean nations and the Persian Gulf, hookahs have become a part of everyday life of the people. However, this isn't the case in the U.S.
If you are unable to locate a hookah shop or you like to shop from the convenience of your home then you can buy a hookah on the Internet.
What You Should Know About Health Hazards Before Beginning to Smoke Hookah?
The debate rages on about whether or not hookah smoking is less hazardous than cigarette smoking. People who are in favor of smoking hookah express that the smoke that comes from hookah is cleaner since it is purified through water and that the temperature of the smoke is also moderate. On the other hand, the people against hookah mention that it has all of the harmful and cancer causing chemicals found in cigarettes. Another factor is that a hookah session may last as long as 60 minutes and sometimes even longer while a cigarette goes for only 3-4 minutes. On the other hand hookah is not as addictive as cigarettes. People smoke hookah once in one week or bi weekly for fun while a cigarette smoker smokes cigarettes everyday, multiple times.
Structure
Essentially, smoke generated from the burning tobacco is passed down through the body, the end of which is immersed in the water jar. When the smoke exits the bottom of the body, it is purified by the water and stored in the air chamber right above the water. Another positive side effect of the smoke going from the water is that it is cooled to a temperature more comfortable for the lungs. At the top left section of the water jar in this diagram is the hose. It is not shown in the picture, but the length of the hose is approximately one meter. The smoker puffs on the hose and inhales the smoker from the air chamber. The smoke exhaled by the smoker is clean, thick and aromatic. Generally, people smoke hookah while sitting in groups with their friends on family enjoying their company.
What Do You Inhale from a Hookah?
Traditionally hookahs are used to smoke shisha, which is flavored tobacco. Nowadays the following things are used to make shisha: tobacco, treacle (uncrystallized syrup produced in refining sugar), honey, sugar, molasses, glycerin, nicotine, dried fruit and distilled water.
Shisha flavors normally have a fruity base like Apple, Banana, or Mango. However offshoots of fruity flavors are now gaining popularity among the smokers and producers likewise. These flavors include Peaches 'n Cream or Banana split, and so on.
These days, there is a wide array of shisha flavors available. Unique flavors are produced because basically every ingredient can be combined in dried, tobacco, glycerin and sweetener.
Where Did Hookahs Originate From?
The word huqqa is an indian word, which is called "hookah" in English. Abul-Fath Gilani who was a Persian physician built the very first hookah in the 1500's. After growing worried about the health risks of smoking, he produced a system where he passed the smoke through a water basin to be able to 'purify' it. However, it is said that even before he invented it, hookah existed in other parts of Persia. Once it become popular in India it spread all through Pakistan and Turkey. Hookah gained fame throughout the Middle East after getting to Turkey. As it spread through Middle East, it started to become popular in areas of northern Africa. Now, it has become very popular over the world.
As it journeyed from Persia to the rest of the globe, the hookah gained a lot of names.
Nargile (also pronounced Argilee) - Primarily used in Italy, Turkey and Israel
Narguile - used in Spain
Lula (or lulava) - used in Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina
Sheesha - used in Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Qalyan - used in Iran
Karim Khan - used in Russia, Belarus
Chillim - used in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
Huqqa - used in India and Pakistan
Gudugudaa - used in Maldives
Marra Pipe - used in the UK
I Want To Purchase a Hookah, Where Should I Go?
Just like a lot of consumer products these days, hookahs can be purchased in-person or online. Since the beginning of this century, the number of hookah shops and hookah bars in the U.S. has increased. People who live in the more populated urban areas can certainly find a hookah shop around them. In the Mediterranean nations and the Persian Gulf, hookahs have become a part of everyday life of the people. However, this isn't the case in the U.S.
If you are unable to locate a hookah shop or you like to shop from the convenience of your home then you can buy a hookah on the Internet.
What You Should Know About Health Hazards Before Beginning to Smoke Hookah?
The debate rages on about whether or not hookah smoking is less hazardous than cigarette smoking. People who are in favor of smoking hookah express that the smoke that comes from hookah is cleaner since it is purified through water and that the temperature of the smoke is also moderate. On the other hand, the people against hookah mention that it has all of the harmful and cancer causing chemicals found in cigarettes. Another factor is that a hookah session may last as long as 60 minutes and sometimes even longer while a cigarette goes for only 3-4 minutes. On the other hand hookah is not as addictive as cigarettes. People smoke hookah once in one week or bi weekly for fun while a cigarette smoker smokes cigarettes everyday, multiple times.
About the Author:
There is no doubt that hookah is a great leisure activity. If you wish to become a part of the hookah culture and if you wish to purchase a hookah, then you should learn more about hookah and its history.
