Hookah History

The Hookah is made up of a hollow bottom,

a long vertical pipe which is topped off with most commonly,
a clay or ceramic bowl head.
One or several hoses then branch off from the vertical pipe.
Water is placed in the base and tobacco in the bowl.
The smoker sucks on the hose, the smoke is drawn down through the water where it is filtered and cooled.

he smoke is then pulled up through the hose and into the smokers lungs. The act of pulling the smoke through the water causes a bubbling sound which is where the term “Hubbly bubbly” came from.
The water pipe apparatus or Hookah is used to smoke tobacco which is usually flavored.
It is mainly enjoyed for its flavor of the tobacco, and not for any effects.

The tobacco is a mixture of tobacco leaves stems and treacle, honey or sugar and distilled water. Fruit flavor or pulp can be added to for a desired taste.
This tobacco is very commonly preferred to over smoking cigarettes as it is less harsh and contains only 0.05% of nicotine and 0% tar. Many flavors can be found such as apple, strawberry, plum, melon, grape, watermelon, kiwi, vanilla, rose, jasmine and many more.

The origins of the Hookah can be found dating back to about a millennia ago in India.
It quickly spread to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and many parts of Asia, Arab, and several parts of Northern Africa.
When it found a home in Persia, a new concept of Tombeik was found.

Tombeik is a dark tobacco which is usually dry and unflavored.
This was rinsed and then packed and smoked by placing the coal directly on top of the tobacco with out any screen or foil in between as done today.
This was enjoyed for its powerful tobacco taste alone.

The first Hookahs were very primitive in style,
made from a rugged and archaic coconut shell and most
likely a bamboo stick.

The first bowl heads were known as “ghelune” amongst the Persians.
These bowls were crafted by hand and usually made from pieces of wood.
Simple in style, but still effective for all intense purposes. About 500 years ago, the Hookah made its way to Turkey and made a huge impact. It became an icon of fashion and symbol of high status.
Leaving the wood designs in the past, the Hookah was introduced to a new look using both brass and glass for the base, metal was used for the pipe, and the valve was added to allow the user to blow out stale smoke.

Some people added mosaic designs or painted the bases to add to the aesthetic appeal.
With its classy new appearance and its rising popularity, Hookah bars began creeping up amongst the Middle East.
Becoming the stylish place among men and woman alike, the Hookah bars were a place to gather and discuss anything from local chat, religion to politics. The Hookah frenzy continued on to Lebanon and Syria where it was given the name Nargile. From there it made its path to Egypt and Morocco where it is called Shisha.

Today the tradition of smoking Hookah continues to expand all over the world. As it reaches to new heights of demand, the Hookah’s appearance continue to grow more elaborate just as the tobacco continues to be experimented with. Many countries have set up their own Hookah bars and Lounges borrowing the tradition the Turkish had started.
Hookah bartenders are given the same status as a chef due to the extensive preparations required to setting up the Hookah.
Today you can still find groups of friends sitting in a circle, passing a hose and enjoying relaxing atmospheres, pleasant company and good smoke.