Its smells captivate you and you have always wanted to know how it works. The perfect article to know what a hookah is and how it works!
What is a hookah?
A hookah, more commonly known as Chicha, is a water pipe designed for smoking sweetened, flavored tobacco or herbal molasses.
The hookah originated in the Middle East and the Persian Peninsula, where smoking a hookah was considered a sign of prestige. Natural cured tobacco was commonly used until the early
Components and operation of a Hookah
The different components of a Hookah are all important to be able to use it correctly. We will discuss each component of the hookah below.
The bowl (also called hookah head or shisha head) is a major element which allows the proper functioning and smoke production of a shisha session. It is the support for the tobacco or the shisha taste and it is also the thermal insulator which allows the shisha to be heated to create smoke. The methods of filling the hearth generally determine the flavor outcome in the session. Aluminum foil or a shisha heater (see below) is placed or wrapped on top of the bowl to act as a heat conductor.
Heating system
A heating system, the best known being the Kaloud Lotus, is a new modern instrument for 21st century hookahs. The heating system is usually a metal component that is placed on top of the firebox to conduct and transfer heat to generate hookah smoke from the tobacco.
The heat transfer from the heating system to the hearth is done by inserting lit natural coals into the device, which allows the heat to heat the flavor for shisha. A heating system, like the Kaloud or the Provost, includes openings to allow transfer between the two parts
Coals
Coal is the heat source used to heat shisha. Shisha coals come in different sizes (extra-large, large, small, mini) and shapes (cubes, flats, quarter circles) and are produced by various manufacturers. The charcoal is lit using a lighter or a mechanical heat source such as a charcoal lighter. Hookah coals are produced either from natural organic coconut materials or from combustible chemicals. These two variants are respectively called natural coal or self-igniting (quick-igniting) coal. Hookah charcoal should be fully lit until it turns amber for proper use and full release of carbon monoxide.
Hookah plate
The plate is an ashtray which is located under the hookah bowl. The charcoal tray is placed on the hookah stem to prevent the charcoal from falling or being misplaced on other surfaces. The charcoal tray is also used to ash coals during a Hookah session.
Never neglect plates, they have already saved many lives!
The hookah column is the main component that generates the smoke of shisha tobacco. Its sole purpose is to transfer the smoke vapor from the hookah bowl, which is the carrier of the shisha substance, to the smoker. The initial transfer of smoke begins from the bowl, once heated and travels downward into the shisha vessel. Once the smoke has been transferred into the hookah base, when inhaling, the smoke will be transferred through the shisha hose!
The bottom section of a shisha is called the base or vessel. The base of the hookah contains water to help filter the shisha smoke which is produced by the bowl and transferred through the column. The base is also the support for the hookah column and maintains the balance of the hose. The column fits directly into the glass base of the hookah and is secured with a rubber or silicone gasket.
The shisha hose is the component used by the end user to inhale the shisha. The pipe contains three sections. The first part of the pipe is the pipe adapter which is inserted directly into the pipe chamber of the stem. This part is also held together using a silicone pipe gasket. The gasket prevents the hose from pulling out and seals the hose adapter to prevent air leaks. The second section of the pipe is the flexible, that is to say the “tube” which allows the transfer of smoke during inhalation. The third section of the pipe is the handle, which is the part in direct contact with the smoker during inhalation.
Shisha coal tongs are used to transport, transfer and adjust hot shisha coals. A simple product that is included with a shisha set to maintain heat throughout the shisha. Hookah tongs are also used to reduce the coals to ashes throughout the duration of the hookah.
Smoking a shisha is common in parties these days, but what exactly are the effects of a shisha? Well, long story short, there is no shisha high that immediately alters or distorts you, unlike other social vices like drinking or smoking marijuana. When it comes to hookah smoking, you may experience a bit of a nicotine high if the hookah tobacco you are using contains it. Hookah is by no means a safe alternative to smoking, but it is simply a little more pleasant. Smoking shisha can cause headaches if the hookah is not prepared properly or if the person is not hydrated and has not eaten before smoking shisha. It is recommended, before and during your smoking session, to snack on light foods and drink enough water. Another effect that hookah smoking can have on you is that if the coals are not lit properly, it can cause C02 poisoning. The coals of your hookah should always be fully lit until they are amber in order to use the shisha properly.