Hookah: history, types and how it works
18.04.2023
Hookah is a traditional tobacco use device that has a long history of use in different cultures around the world. In this article, we will look at the different types of hookahs, their history, and how these smoking attributes work. We will discuss what materials are used to make hookahs, how to properly prepare and use these devices, and much more.
What is a hookah?
Hookah is a device for smoking. The hookah is designed in such a way as to cool and purify the smoke entering the lungs. Cooling occurs when the smoke passes through the water in the base. At the same time, some of the heavy particles remain in the water and on the walls of the stem. Hookah is no more harmful than cigarettes. When smoking, other chemical processes occur, unlike cigarettes. The main harmful element is carbon monoxide, which emits coal during burning. It is possible to minimize the amount of carbon monoxide released by completely warming up the coal from all sides.
The materials from which the stem is made and accessories play a major role. Hoob products use only food grade stainless steel and anodized aluminum. All the processing methods used are similar to those used in the food and medical industries. This increases the service life of the products and minimizes additional harm when smoking.
How to prepare a hookah?
This method is suitable for those who have been smoking hookah not so long ago.
First you need to put the coal to heat up. For this, a hot plate with a heating spiral is often used. And in nature, coal can be heated on a campfire or with a gas burner. Make sure that the coal burns evenly from all sides, otherwise it will emit a lot of carbon monoxide. Which can cause dizziness and headaches.
The next stage is important from the point of view of a comfortable smoking process and smokiness. To properly pack the bowl, you need to adhere to several rules. Keep some space between the tobacco in the bowl and the heat management device. Try to “fluff” the hookah blend, making it more airy so that hot air passes through the leaves and the syrup evaporates evenly.
Follow these rules regardless of the bowl you are holding.
We advise you to watch our video, which clearly shows how to pack a delicious and smoky hookah yourself at home.
When the bowl is ready, install the Hoob Pyro charcoal screen on it. This accessory is made of aluminum and, according to its technical characteristics, is close to the classic smoking on foil. You can use foil, but it will be more convenient and faster to put the screen. Put the charcoal to the screen and let the bowl warm up for 3-5 minutes. After that, you can start smoking.
History of a hookah
Hookah as a means for tobacco consumption appeared in Persia. And it gained worldwide popularity in India in the 17th-18th century. The progenitor was “goza". This is the structure through which tobacco and hashish were smoked. Goza differed from our usual hookah in that a coconut or a clay base was used instead of a glass. There was no hose, a smoking pipe was sticking out of the base. Goza was popular with the poor. Especially after the appearance of cigarettes. The cost of which made them inaccessible to the poor. And it was easier to buy tobacco or other smoking herbs. Later it was transformed into a version with a glass base and a bending hose. At that time, the hoses reached 3 or even 4 meters in order to enjoy a hookah in a comfortable position.
"Goza"
It was a fashionable attribute of a self-respecting person at that time. Thanks to the hookah, they emphasized their status. And on the contrary, if a person did not smoke a hookah or somehow spoke badly about him, this could negatively affect the attitude towards this person and cause distrust.
The hookah that we know or strongly resembles, a descendant of the modern one, appeared in Persia. The name from Persian sounded like “shisha" (shisha) which meant “glass". "Glass", which replaced coconut and clay bases. Now you know what shisha is.
This name is still found in eastern countries. In Turkey, Egypt or other Arab countries you can smoke shisha. Another popular name sounds like “hookah" (hookah). This is an Indian interpretation that has gained popularity in Europe and North America.
The name familiar to Russia comes from the Persian "qalyan" derived from Arabic. "ghalyan" ("galian" to boil, to boil). This name has taken root on the territory of the CIS (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine). Now you can use the correct name depending on the location of your stop. And calmly smoke hookah, smoke kalyan or smoke shisha wherever you want.
What is smoked in a hookah?
A special blend is smoked in the hookah. Consisting of several components:
| Base |
This is a raw material that is a necessary element that absorbs syrup and other additives. The base most often consists of a tobacco leaf. Since 2020, tea leaf base options have become popular. Mixtures based on various herbs, fruits, etc. are less common. |
|
Syrup |
Gives moisture and viscosity to the base, preventing the mixture from burning quickly when exposed to elevated temperatures. |
|
Food preservatives |
They are necessary to preserve the desired shelf life of the product. |
|
Food grade glycerin |
This additive increases the amount and density of smoke. |
|
Flavors |
Add the taste and smell of the blend. |
The ingredients of the hookah blend differ from the composition in the cigarette. The number of components in the smoke of the hookah mixture is 142, and the smoke of the cigarette contains 4700. This does not mean that the hookah is harmless. But the amount of some harmful substances and carcinogens in a hookah is lower than in a cigarette. The burning temperature in a cigarette is much higher than in a hookah blend. And it plays a role.
One of the misconceptions. The more smoke, the more harm to health. Hookah smoke consists of glycerin vapors. If you remove food glycerin from the mixture, then there will be less smoke than from a regular cigarette. And due to the fact that smoke passes through the mine and water, heavier particles remain in the hookah and enter the human body to a lesser extent.
The risk of cancer in people who have bought exclusively hookahs for more than 10 years is lower than in traditional cigarette smokers over the same period.
Cocktails in Hoob Atom hookahs from TimeLess lounge space
Why smoke hookah?
This is a great companion for gatherings with friends or relaxing alone with your thoughts. Today, a huge number of flavor blends for hookah are presented on the market of Russia and the world. With and without nicotine, where tobacco or tea leaf is used, etc. For each "pleasure" to smoke a hookah of his own. Someone likes to smoke “delicious smoke”, for others it is nicotine, and for others it is a way to get rid of a bad cigarette habit. The process of hookah smoking has been greatly modernized. Previously, it was a personal remedy for smoking tobacco and hashish. Later it became an accessory for rich people. Nowadays, friends meet over a delicious hookah. They play board games and spend time in pleasant company.
ARTICLE AUTHOR
ILYA ULANOV
Co-founder of Hoob company, designer of many popular hookahs and accessories with 10 years of experience. Participated in the formation of the hookah industry at the stage of its active development since 2013. Speaker of thematic exhibitions. A professional user and a keen lover of hookah culture.
Questions and answers
What is more harmful than a hookah or a cigarette?
One of the theses that a hookah is smoked for 40 minutes, and a cigarette for 3-4 minutes at the first presentation is deceptive. There are 20 cigarettes in a pack and an average smoker smokes 15-20 cigarettes. Multiply by an average of 3.5 minutes and you get almost 60 minutes of smoking a day. But this is one example, and if you dig deeper, there are many discrepancies. Hookah is no more harmful than cigarettes and vice versa. There is harm in both cases, and it is different.
What is a hookah made on besides water?
Different liquids are used in the base, mainly fresh juices and fruit puree. This type of base filling adds the taste of the fruits to the hookah blend main taste. You can find very interesting matches combining different base fillings and hookah blend flavours.
How to understand that the hookah session is over?
The aroma decreases and a burning taste appears. At the moment, the average hookah smoking rate is 40-50 minutes.
Does the size of the hookah matter?
There is a myth that the higher the hookah stem, the better the smoke cools. The smoke cools by passing through the water. This is the main and only way of cooling. The size of the hookah does not really affect its smoking properties. The smoking properties are influenced by the design features of the hookah and the quality of the packed bowl.
How much water do you need in a hookah?
The downstem tube of the hookah should be immersed in water for 2-3 centimeters. Hoob hookahs have a special water line thanks to which you can pour the water level in the base.
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