A hookah is known by countless names around the world. Among these are nargile, shisha, hubbly-bubbly, and waterpipe. There are also a variety of different designs, such as multi-hosed hookahs, but the basic function is the same for all.
The primary focus of this manual is to document the parts of a hookah, things to check when buying a hookah, and how to assemble and smoke a hookah for the first time. Towards the end, it also contains some additional information about shisha tobacco, pertinent comments about shisha culture, and where to obtain supplies.
The following details are important things to check when examining a hookah, especially before purchasing it.
| Instructions | Additional Information |
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Base:
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Pipe:
| If the ball bearing is missing, air will come in through the valve. This will dilute the smoke. |
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There is usually a good quarter inch of space between the pipe and the inner rim of the mouth of the base. This space will be filled later with either tape or a rubber collar. |
Hose:
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Place a finger over one end and attempt to inhale strongly through the other end. If you can properly inhale, the hose has an air leak. (NOTE: New hoses often contain gritty dust. It may be a better experience if you check a new hose by blowing into it.) |
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Bowl:
| Most bowls have five small holes in them. These bowls are recommended. Other bowls have only one large hole. |
| Chips are very common, but only affect a bowl's appearance. A chipped bowl will still function properly |
Coal tray, tongs, and accessories:
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It is a good idea to assemble the entire hookah in the store to be sure that all the pieces are included and that they all fit together.
Once you have examined all the component pieces and found them to be in good working order, you need to assemble them. When you set up your hookah to smoke it, it is important to check that all seals are air tight. While it is not required to have a perfect seal in every case, tight seals will keep your smoke concentrated and more flavorful.
Follow these steps:
| Instructions | Additional Information |
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| Do NOT fill to the top! The water should cover approximately one inch of the bottom of the pipe when the hookah is assembled. You may try adding things to the water to change the taste or consistency of the smoke. Example additions include ice cubes, mint leaves, lemon slices, alcohol, fruit juice, or milk. |
| Tape is the method preferred by experienced smokers. Once it is in place, it is generally less cumbersome than the collar. Masking tape works very well for this. |
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For comparison, try this test again without sealing the end of the pipe. You should notice a big difference in the amount of air you can inhale. If you hear bubbles when performing this test, it is probably because you are not sealing the top of the pipe tightly with your thumb. If you do not have a good seal, try:
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| If it does not fit snuggly, use a plastic collar, aluminum foil, or moist paper to improve the seal. |
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For comparison, try this test again without sealing the end of the pipe. You should notice a big difference in the amount of air you can inhale. If you hear bubbles when performing this test, it is probably because you are not sealing the top of the pipe tightly with your thumb. If you do not have a good seal, try:
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| This is the joint that is most likely to need padding. Use a plastic collar, aluminum foil, or moist paper. |
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If you hear bubbles when performing this test, it may be because you are not sealing the top of the pipe tightly with your palm. It may also be because the seal between the bowl and the pipe is not tight. For comparison, try this test again without sealing the end of the pipe. You should notice a big difference in the amount of air you can inhale. You should also hear bubbles when the pipe end is not sealed. If you do not have a good seal, try:
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| A little shisha can last a long time, so a large pinch will do in most cases. |
| Some smokers like to cover their shisha tobacco with a layer of aluminum foil. This reduces the amount of ash that gets into the hookah and makes changing the coals easier. |
| Use self-lighting, smokeless coals. These are of the same type as those used to burn incense. |
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| As you smoke, occasionally check that your coals are still red hot. If not, either blow gently on them or replace them. The most common cause of light smoke is cooling coals. If your coals are hot and your smoke is still very light or if the smoke begins to cause a bitterness in the back of your throat, then your shisha is probably used up. |
Eventually experience will allow you to skip some of these steps. For example, you may connect the base, pipe, and hose before checking that all the seals are airtight.
Some smokers clean their hookah after every use. Other will not even change the water for months. How often you clean your hookah is a matter of personal preference. You can generally get your hookah clean enough just by rinsing the parts in water. If you do use soap, however, be sure to rinse the parts very thoroughly.
The basic steps are as follows:
| Instructions | Additional Information |
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| The exact order of dismantling is not as important as the order of setting up the hookah. Simply separate all the pieces you connected during setup. |
| Hot water helps soften burnt tobacco. |
| If the inside of the pipe looks clogged and water alone does not work, you may need to clean it with a long test-tube brush. |
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| You will probably not need to wash the inside of your hose. You may wish to wash the mouthpiece, however. |
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Properly maintained, a good hookah will last for years.
Above all, respect your hookah! Treat it gently. That said, it is still enjoyable to take deep inhalations from the hose and to listen to the furious bubbling. Whenever you clear the base of smoke by blowing it out through the release valve, blow gently. Otherwise you can force water up the pipe or blow hot coals out of the bowl.
It is wise to always keep your hookah on the floor. This way it is less likely to get knocked over. Carrying a lit hookah is like running with scissors--it's a bad idea!
A relaxed atmosphere is an essential part of a good shisha experience. In the US, there is frequently a limited number of hookahs available and so not everyone can have their own. When sharing a hookah, it is important not to rush the experience. Unlike the quick personal "fix" of a cigarette or the "puff-and-pass" of marijuana, smoking a hookah takes time. A smoker should not feel rushed to pass the hose along to the next person. Take two or three slow puffs. Converse between puffs. A bowl of shisha can last an hour or more. Enjoy it!
Once you have tried smoking shisha, you may be curious to know more about it. Despite its widespread popularity in the Middle East--from Morocco to Turkey to India--there is very little published information on the topic.
In the Middle East, shisha smoking is a very social activity. People often meet at outdoor cafes and will sit for an hour or two, casually smoking a hookah and drinking coffee or tea. There is usually at a lot of pleasant conversation at these cafes. The smoke smells so good that some people like going to shisha cafes even if they don't smoke shisha! Though smoking shisha has traditionally been a male activity, women are an increasingly common sight at shisha cafes.
Shisha tobacco is made from tobacco, molasses, and fruit or flavor extracts. There is a huge variety of brands, strength, and flavors. Flavors include molasses, apple, strawberry, grape, rose, melon, mint, lemon, orange, coffee, mango, banana, grape, cappuccino, and more. There is even a cola flavor!
It is debated by smokers as to whether shisha is more or less healthy than cigarette smoking. On one hand, there are no filter tips and the tobacco is very raw and unprocessed. Also, even the "smokeless" coals produce some carbon monoxide. On the other hand, the smoke is filtered and cooled through the water in the base; the tobacco does not have any of the numerous chemical additives present in store-bought cigarettes. Shisha smoke is also much smoother than cigarette smoke. Shisha does contain nicotine, but does not contain tar.
Please visit the SnarkDreams Shisha Exports website for more information or to purchase hookahs, shisha, or coals.
For other directions for setting up your hookah, see:
For advice on etiquette, see:
For tips from other hookah smokers, see:
May you smoke in good company and peaceful times!
| ~ztomasze Index: LIS: The Hookah Manual http://www2.hawaii.edu/~ztomasze |
Last Edited: 13 May 2002 ©2000 by Z. Tomaszewski. |