The term "hookah" means the water pipe which is normally also called shisha. In countries that are not part of the Middle East this tool is indifferently called "shisha", "hookah" or even "hookah". It is not necessary that you know the history of this word to enjoy some free time by smoking, but you will need some information that you will find in this article.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assemble the Hookah
Step 1. Learn how this pipe works
Thanks to an overview of the mechanisms behind a water pipe you will be able to understand how to smoke. Words in bold describe the main elements of a hookah.
- The brazier in the upper part of the hookah is the plate in which the tobacco is placed and on which the glowing coals are placed.
- The air is sucked through the pipe, feeds the coals that burn the tobacco, and the generated smoke descends through the main body.
- The smoke leaves the hollow cylinder which is located at the end of the main building and enters the ampoule.
- The smoke passes through the water and air present in the ampoule, where it cools and is diluted.
- At this point the smoke is aspirated from the lungs thanks to the tube.
Step 2. Clean the hookah
It is important to do this after each use and even before smoking from a new pipe, to eliminate any taste extraneous to that of tobacco. Wash all items with soapy water except the pipes. Most of these rust or rot on contact with moisture.
Clean each glass component with warm or cold water, as the very hot one could break it
Step 3. Pour the water into the bottle
Check the fully assembled hookah and make a mental note of where the hollow cylinder ends inside the bottle. Now you can detach the main body and pour the cold water directly into the ampoule. When reassembling the pipe, the tip of the hollow cylinder should be submerged about 2-3 cm.
If you overdo it with the water, it could get to the pipes and damage them, so remember to always leave some air space in the bottle
Step 4. Assemble the hookah
Insert the body into the ampoule and the tubes into the appropriate attachments on the sides of the body. Each connection should have a rubber or silicone "gasket" to ensure a tight fit. Don't forget to also check the junction point between the brazier and the upper part of the main body and, for the moment, detach the brazier.
Always connect all the tubes, even if you plan to use only one; this way you can be sure that the main body is hermetically sealed
Step 5. Check the airflow
Place one hand on the upper part of the main body blocking it from opening. Try to inhale through a tube; if you hear a noise louder than a simple drip, then there is a leak in the hermetic seal. Check all connection points and make the following changes:
- If a gasket doesn't fit properly, moisten it and try again.
- If the connection between the main body and the ampoule is not airtight, wrap the body with adhesive paper tape at the fixing point. Keep adding layers of tape until the seal is perfect, but don't overdo it, or you won't be able to take the hookah apart later.
- If the leak is elsewhere, wrap it with aluminum foil or damp paper towels. If you have to use wet paper near the pipes, remember to dry them carefully after smoking.
Part 2 of 3: Smoking the Shisha
Step 1. Add the shisha tobacco to the bowl
Open the tobacco container and stir it until it becomes completely moist and free of lumps. Drop a pinch into the brazier without blocking the holes. Keep adding a few pinches at a time until the bowl is about three-quarters full. Eventually compact the tobacco lightly to make the layer even, but don't overdo it, otherwise the air won't be able to pass through.
If you notice a few stalks of tobacco in the mixture, remove them by hand, but if there are really a lot of them, pour the tobacco into a plate, remove all the stalks and then return the mixture to the brazier, taking care to compact it slightly
Step 2. Cover the bowl with wire mesh or aluminum foil
Some models are equipped with a grill or a "net" that rests on the brazier and does not require any preparation. However, most experienced smokers prefer to use a sturdy piece of aluminum foil, which reduces overheating and allows for greater combustion control. Wrap the aluminum foil over the brazier by pulling opposite sides, so as to best seal in the container. When the foil is taut, secure the edges by wrapping them under the bowl and make sure the surface is smooth and flat. The foil must be firmly fixed on top of the tobacco.
- Make sure the mixture level is low enough not to come into contact with the aluminum foil, otherwise the smoke will have a burnt taste.
- If you don't have sturdy aluminum foil, use two layers of regular kitchen foil.
Step 3. Drill holes in the foil
The greater the number of holes (or their diameter), the greater the amount of air that passes through the tobacco. You will have to proceed by trial and error until you find the right balance between the amount of smoke you want to inhale and the sour or burnt taste that overheated tobacco takes. Here are some guidelines you can consider to get started:
- If you drill holes with a toothpick or the tip of a paper clip, start with 15 holes. If you have decided to use charcoal tongs or a fine-tipped pen instead, try 4-7 holes, as they will be larger in diameter.
- If you are using a circular brazier (some online stores refer to it as "Egyptian" or "Aladdin"), start drilling holes starting from the outer edge and approach the center following a spiral trajectory. If your hookah has a "funnel" brazier, where the tobacco is arranged "like a donut", then arrange the holes along 3 concentric circles between the outer and inner edge of the "donut".
- If you can't breathe in enough smoke, drill more holes in the foil. Some smokers go as far as making 50 or more small holes, especially if they are using thick, sticky tobacco.
Step 4. Set a couple of pieces of charcoal on fire
The pieces of natural charcoal or the quick-start charcoals are available in various shapes and sizes, all designed for the water pipe. Standard hookahs typically need two medium-sized pieces of charcoal, but you can also use one and a half or three, depending on how much smoke you want to get. Never use smokeless charcoal, self-priming charcoal, compressed charcoal pellets or other barbecue products that must be ignited with a flammable liquid, as there is a risk of poisoning. There are two types of charcoal suitable for hookahs, both of which should be handled with tongs over a fireproof surface and lit as follows:
- Quick-start charcoals ignite in 10-30 seconds after being exposed to the flame of a lighter or match. When the flames have stopped flickering, let them burn until the charcoals turn gray-white ash. Blow on them to turn them into hot embers.
- Chunks of natural charcoal hardly give off a sour taste to smoke, burn tobacco or cause headaches. To light them, place them over an electric stove or an open flame until they are incandescent (about 10 minutes). Blow on the embers and swirl them while they heat up evenly (do not use induction and gas stoves where ash can fall into the methane duct).
Step 5. Heat the brazier
Connect it to the top of the central body and place the embers on top of the aluminum foil, near the edge. Try to distribute the charcoal as evenly as possible. If you want to get a good result, wait for the tobacco to heat up for a few minutes before you start smoking.
Step 6. Smoke gently
Breathe in the air through the tube with a deep breath, respecting a normal rhythm. If you inhale too hard, you overheat the tobacco blend and you will get a smoke with a burnt aftertaste. To avoid the discomfort some people experience when they first smoke a hookah, wait a minute or two between each inhalation. Also, follow these tips to avoid unpleasant nicotine reactions:
- Drink plenty of water before smoking. Water or peppermint tea will keep your mouth hydrated and "wash" it of the smoke flavor.
- While you smoke, have a light snack, such as bread and dried fruit.
- If you are a beginner, do not smoke more than one bowl per day.
- Avoid exercising just before and immediately after smoking.
Step 7. Adjust the heat
Most braziers last 30-45 minutes, but the smoke loses quality before this time has elapsed and even if you smoke too quickly, if the pipe is of low quality or simply because of bad luck. The following tips will help you heat the mixture slowly and evenly so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest:
- Move the charcoal every 10-15 minutes. Tap it with tongs to drop the ash and turn it so that the opposite side makes contact with the foil.
- If you notice smoke coming out of the brazier before you inhale, remove the embers and wait for the pipe to cool.
Part 3 of 3: Try New Techniques
Step 1. Change the water temperature
Compare the smoke that has passed through an ampoule filled with cold water and ice cubes with that which has come into contact with hot water. Most people consider cooled smoke to be sweeter, but hot water can hold back the harsh particles; for this reason not all smokers agree on what is the best solution.
Step 2. Add other ingredients to the ampoule
To try out new flavors, you can put fruit juice, wine, pieces of frozen fruit, flavorings or even some breath mints in the water of the cruet. If you are using a liquid flavoring (except extracts for which only a few drops are enough) you can add as much as you like, from a squirt to completely replacing the water.
- Milk and fizzy drinks tend to make a lot of bubbles and increase in volume until the tube gets wet and the tube could become irreversibly impregnated, leaving a bad smell. If you have decided on a fizzy drink, wait until the carbonation has finished before adding it to the bottle. If you want to take a chance and try milk, just pour a squirt into the water.
- Never eat or drink the contents of the ampoule because the liquid has filtered out many toxic chemicals.
- Immediately after use, always clean the hookah with great care, using only water.
Step 3. Try different blends
Shisha tobacco comes in many different flavors and it's all about personal taste. You can also determine how the mixture will burn based on the consistency:
- Herbal molasses are tobacco-free. They are great products for beginners, as they do not contain nicotine and are unlikely to burn. The burning of molasses is much faster, so you have to use fewer coals than usual (or place them much farther from the center of the brazier).
- Shisha tobacco with a "stripe" appearance is standard and is smoked as described above.
- Tobacco that looks like a sticky "puree" requires larger pieces of charcoal and longer heating time. Once it has reached the right temperature, this blend produces a thick and pleasant smoke.
- Leaf tobacco has a very intense flavor. Most of these products are dedicated to a niche audience with special tastes. Ask an experienced hookah smoker for some more information.
Step 4. Change brand of coal
Most beginners start with quick-start charcoals which are very comfortable. As you become more experienced you should switch to natural charcoal. This is made from lemon wood, coconut fiber, bamboo and other types of materials that release their aroma.
Step 5. Try different types of hookahs
Experienced smokers always try to find the right balance between tobacco blend, equipment and smoking techniques to find the combination they prefer. Since there is no universally valid "right" way to smoke, you can compare yourself with other smokers or join an online forum. These people can recommend various brands of bowls and ampoules, based on the blend you want to use and your smoking technique.
Advice
- Do not compress the tobacco excessively, you would risk losing all the aroma, unless you have a model with a particular brazier.
- Consider heating the aluminum foil with a lighter flame to burn off the aluminum oxide that coats it. Just hold the flame under the sheet until it stops emitting smoke, but be very careful not to burn yourself during this operation!
Warnings
- The smoke emitted by the hookah contains nicotine and other toxic chemicals such as those produced by any other tobacco burning technique.
- The coals are extremely hot. Always handle them with pliers and avoid contact with flammable materials.
