How to Set a Hookah up

Hookahs are a beautiful type of tobacco pipe which originated in the Middle East but are gaining popularity around the world. Hookahs use a special type of tobacco which must be prepared carefully and burned in with a piece of charcoal, as the molasses-soaked leaves will not burn with a lighter. A few tips can teach you how to prepare your hookah to smoke.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hookah tobacco
• Aluminum foil
• Toothpick
• Charcoal
• Metal tongs
• Long-stemmed lighter

1. Remove the head of your hookah. The head is the bowl shaped piece with many small holes which is the highest piece of your pipe. Fill the head with a ball of moist hookah tobacco, simply resting the tobacco into the bowl. Do not pack the tobacco down, as it will clog the holes and prevent smoke from entering the base of your pipe.
2. Cover the head with a small square of aluminum foil, making sure it is shiny-side down. Wrap the edges of the foil around the bowl so that it does not come free. Place the head back onto your hookah, inserting the base of the bowl into the hollow tube on the hookah tray. Use a toothpick to poke about a dozen holes in the aluminum foil so that air can enter the head.
3. Hold a piece of charcoal with a pair of metal tongs and using a long-stemmed lighter, begin to burn the charcoal. Once the charcoal begins to burn freely on it's own, place it on top of the head in the center of the aluminum foil. Make sure that you purchase chemical-free charcoal, as you will be inhaling some of the smoke from the charcoal as well.
4. Wait just a few seconds for the charcoal to begin burning the tobacco and your pipe is prepared for smoking. The charcoal and tobacco both burn slowly, so you should be able to enjoy a long smoke session. If you are finished smoking but tobacco remains, simply use your tongs to remove the charcoal and place it in the hookah tray.