What is Hookah & What Do You Need To Get Started?
If you are looking for a fun and unique smoking experience, then you should definitely try out hookah! Hookah is a type of water pipe that is used to smoke tobacco. You can enjoy it with friends or by yourself, and it is a great way to relax after a long day. In this blog post, we will discuss what hookah is, the hookah components and what you need to get started. We will also provide some tips on how to enjoy your hookah experience!
What is shisha smoking?
Originating from India, shisha smoking, or narghile, water pipe, shisha pipe, hookah or hubbly bubbly smoking has recently gained popularity all around the world, particularly with younger individuals.
It is a way of smoking tobacco through a hookah system.
What is a hookah?
A hookah is a water pipe that has been used for centuries, allowing you to enjoy flavorful tobacco smoke in style and luxury. The hookah comprises three main parts: a head, body, and water chamber. The head holds the hookah tobacco and charcoal, while the body houses the smoke as it passes through the water chamber and up to the mouthpiece.
How does a hookah work?
Depending on your experience with hookah, you may wonder exactly how it works. In the simplest of terms, a hookah is a device that uses pressure differences and water to cool and filter the smoke produced from cooking shisha tobacco.
The smoke is generated at the top of the hookah in the bowl, where the tobacco gets cooked, and passes down through the stem into the base where it is filtered by water before being sent back up through the hose for inhalation.
Note that there are many styles of hookahs available, however, their basic parts and function remain unchanged. From traditional Egyptian models to more modernized hookahs, the way a hookah works remains the same.
However, not all hookahs function in the best way possible. There are a few models in the market, like the Kaloud Krysalis hookahs, that offer a superior smoking experience. The overall design, aesthetics, airflow, and cooling system of these hookah models are what makes these the best in the market.
Hookah parts and vocabulary
Now that you have a basic understanding of what goes into a hookah, let’s take a look at the various parts and some vocabulary that comes along with them.
Hookah bowl
The bowl is what holds the burning charcoal and shisha tobacco. It usually sits atop the hookah and is what you will use to cook the tobacco. It is essential to pick a bowl that fits snugly on top of your hookah. However, this should not be your only concern. Hookah bowls vary in size, shape, material, design and quality. So, it is important to be capable of finding the right one for your needs.
If you need help, check out the article "A Comprehensive Guide To Hookah Bowls".
Hookah hose
The hose carries the smoke from the bowl through the body of the hookah and up to your mouth. It is what you will use to inhale the smoke generated from your hookah. Hookah hoses are usually made from leather, silicone or plastic and come in many shapes and sizes. However, what matters most is the quality and design of the hose.
Therefore, if you wonder what type of hose should you get or how to choose one, take a look at the article "Hookah Hose: How To Choose & Use The Best One?".
Hookah tips
The tips are what you use to inhale the smoke generated from your hookah, without touching the hose itself. It is important to have a few of these on hand, as they usually come in different shapes and sizes. Additionally, it is important to always use a new or clean tip every time you are smoking from the same hookah.
Wondering what type of tips you should get? Take a look at the article "Hookah Tips: How To Choose & Use Them?".
Hookah shaft
This connects the body and bowl of the hookah to each other. This is where the smoke travels down to pass through the water chamber before heading back up through the hose. The hookah shaft comprises a metal rod, usually referred to as the down stem, running through the center of the glass base and is an essential component of a hookah. While it often comes with the hookah set or the shaft, it is important to make sure that the down stem you buy is of high quality.
To learn more about how to pick a down stem, take a look at the article "How To Choose The Perfect Downstem For Your Hookah?".
Hookah diffuser
One of the most important and often underappreciated components of a hookah is the diffuser. It fits in between the bowl and the down stem and is what helps to break up the shisha smoke into smaller particles, thereby cooling it down. This helps to filter out impurities from the smoke and produces a much more enjoyable smoking experience. To filter your hookah smoke even more and reduce the harmful particles, consider using a carbon filter.
If you are looking for more information on what diffusers to use and how to pick one, check out the article "Hookah Diffuser: What It Is & How to Use It?".
Water chamber
The water chamber, also called hookah base or water bowl, is what filters the smoke and cools it down before it passes up to the hose. It is what makes the smoke smoother and cooler by filtering out any toxins or impurities. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you are using clean water in the chamber, and a hookah base that is of high quality.
Are you ready to replace your hookah base and want to know what to look out for? Check the article "How to find the right base for your hookah?".
Hookah tray
This sits on top of the bowl and it's what holds the charcoal. In a typical hookah, it is what prevents the charcoal from landing on the ground in case it falls off the bowl. People also use them as a tray to hold the charcoal tongs and extra coals.
These trays come in different shapes and sizes, some with more complex designs than others. To learn more about what type of hookah tray to get, take a look at the article "How To Choose The Perfect Hookah Tray For Your Needs".
Charcoal
Hookah charcoal helps you heat the tobacco. It is what generates the heat needed for the hookah to function properly. There are different hookah charcoal out there, so it is important to choose the right one for your hookah.
Do you need more information on what type of charcoal to choose? Read the article "Charcoal for Hookah: How & Where To Spot The Best Coal".
Heat Management Device
Heat management devices allow you to control the temperature of your hookah sessions. By controlling the amount of heat produced by your coal, you can enhance the flavor and smoke production of your hookah.
The best heat management device (HMD) you may ever possess is the Kaloud Lotus. This device helps to disperse the heat around the bowl and creates a much more consistent smoking experience, while it eliminates harmful particles from entering your lungs.
If you need more information on which Lotus HMD you should choose, check out the article "Lotus HMD: The Best Accessory You'll Ever Own".
Tongs for charcoal
A complementary tool for the hookah is a pair of tongs. These are what you use to handle the charcoal and move it around on top of the bowl. Tongs come in different sizes, quality, designs and materials, so it is important to choose the one that best fits your needs.
For more information on what type of tongs to choose and what to look out for, check out the article "Hookah Tongs: The Best Way To Handle Charcoal".
Coal burner
You can use a coal burner to light the charcoal. It is what generates the heat needed to heat the coal before you place it on top of your hookah bowl. Coal burners come in various shapes, types and sizes, so you should choose what works best for your needs.
Do you want to learn more about what type of coal burner to use and what to look out for? Check the article "What Is A Coal Burner & How To Use One?".
What do you need to get started?
Now that you know what a hookah is and what components you need, you can start gathering the items necessary for your hookah sessions. To get started, you will need a Kaloud premium hookah set or/and:
- A tray,
- A hookah hose,
- Quality hookah tobacco,
- A carbon filter and a carbon filter adapter,
- A hookah base,
- Tongs,
- Charcoal,
- A hookah bowl,
- A coal burner,
- And a Kaloud Lotus HMD.
At Kaloud, we have all the essential hookah items available in our online store, so you can get what you need in one click.
Once you have all the pieces together, you can enjoy the wonderful smoking experience of a hookah.
Tips and tricks for a great hookah session
Getting the right components for your hookah is the first step to ensuring you have great sessions. But how can you overcome a merely great or typical hookah smoking session and make it a superb one? There are a few hookah tips and tricks that you can use to make sure that you are properly enjoying what is arguably one of the oldest forms of smoking. Some of these are the following.
Make sure you connect all the parts properly: This is essential to ensure an airtight connection between the bowl, stem and hose.
Preheat your coal before adding it to the hookah bowl: This will help heat the shisha tobacco evenly and save you time in between sessions.
Keep hydrated: Smoking hookah can be quite dehydrating, so stay hydrated throughout the session.
Clean your hookah regularly: This will help ensure that all components are in good condition and that your hookah is ready to use whenever you need it.
Use a glass or metal bowl instead of a regular ceramic bowl: Unlike Kaloud Lapis, ceramic bowls can easily break when heated and they absorb the tobacco juices. If you want to try a ceramic bowl, Kaloud Samsaris Lapis is a superb choice for any hookah session.
Don't overpack your shisha tobacco: Too much tobacco in the bowl can cause uneven heating, resulting in an unpleasant smoke session.
Try experimenting with different charcoal brands and types: Different coals have different burning characteristics, so try a few to find what works best for you.
By following these tips and tricks, you can ensure that your hookah experience is enjoyable every time! With the right components, preparation and know-how, you can learn what it takes to be a hookah master.
Last thoughts on what hookah is & how to get started
Hookah smoking is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy a special experience with friends. It is important to have the right components and know what to look out for when setting up your hookah. With the proper preparation, you can ensure that each session is enjoyable and memorable. To get what you need to get started, Kaloud offers a wide range of hookah sets and hookah products for all types of smokers. So, what are you waiting for?
Get what you need to get started and enjoy the world of hookah!