How to Use a Hookah Pipe

Also called shisha or narghile, a hookah is a type of water pipe traditionally used in the Middle East and Asia. Hookahs can be used to smoke tobacco, but fruit-flavored tobacco-free hookah material has made this smoking implement increasingly popular in cafes in US cities with indoor tobacco bans. Hookahs can have one or more hoses with mouthpieces, and the sweet tobacco mellowed by the water makes it a relaxing, meditative smoke that goes nicely with coffee or tea.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hookah
• Hookah tobacco (also called shisha)
• Tinfoil
• Toothpick
• Water
• Coals
• Lighter
• Small torch
• Barbeque
• Tongs
• Soap

1. Pull the hookah's stem off the glass vase and fill the vase about halfway with cold, fresh water. When you replace the stem, it should be about an inch underwater.

2. Set the bowl on the top of the stem. Break up the tobacco and sprinkle it into the bowl, almost to the top. The tobacco should be loose enough for air to pass through easily.

3. Attach the metal tray to the top of the bowl. This tray will hold the lighted coals that burn the tobacco. Some hookahs don't have a tray. For this type, put a piece of tinfoil over the bowl and prick a few holes in it with a toothpick.

4. Use a lighter to light instant-light coals (these are sold in smoke shops where hookah equipment is sold). Hold the coals with tongs and put the flame to them until they burn red-hot and stop sparking, and then lay them on the tray. If you don't have instant-light coals, you will have to burn them with a small torch until they're lit. Traditional hookah coals are heated in a barbeque and placed on the tray with tongs.

5. Suck on the hose gently to smoke the hookah. You may have to suck it harder for a few minutes to get the tobacco burning, but once it's lit you can inhale normally on the hose.

6. Replace the coals if they go out before the tobacco is finished. One bowl of tobacco should last about half an hour for a hookah with a single hose. Multiple-hose hookahs will be finished faster.

7. Clean your hookah after every two or three uses to prevent build-up of tobacco residue. Take the hookah apart, wash out the vase and stem with warm, soapy water and rinse it well. Wipe any residue out of the bowl.

Tips & Warnings

• Try mixing other liquids like cola, fruit juice, or wine in the hookah water for interesting taste variations. Check the rubber gaskets on your hookah periodically and replace them if they're rotting. A hookah must be perfectly airtight to work properly.
• Hookahs are no safer than cigarettes. Even though the water filters the tobacco somewhat, you are still taking tobacco into your lungs and holding it there. Tobacco-free hookah material is not good for you either because of the inhaled carbon monoxide and other chemicals.

References

• Hookah Setup
• Hookah Tips

Resources

• Tobacco-Free Shisha

[Magentaslb]

on 10/21/2009 Hookah bars are popping up all over NYC... good place to give it a try. Great article, 5*s