Knowledge Base
Hookah Information Center
What is a hookah?
A hookah, also known as a water pipe, arguileh, nargileh, or shisha, is an ancient
water pipe used to smoke flavored tobacco.
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What is the origin of the Hookah?
Although the hookah is widely believed to have originated in India, there is
still much debate on this issue. Some researchers contend that hookahs may have
originated in Persia or even Africa and point to a variety of evidence to support
their claims. One thing for certain, is that the hookah had humble origins and
was developed to its current state over hundreds of years and across varying
continents, countries, people, and cultures.
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What are the main types of hookahs?
Modern Hookahs: Mass produced using modern manufacturing techniques and
typically made from solid or hollow Brass Stems that are Chrome, Black Nickel,
or Brass Plated. Great starter hookahs, travel hookah, or hookahs on a budget.
Some Modern hookahs made by our competitors such as animal shaped models may
be more ornamental than functional even considering their relatively high quality.
These stems are next to impossible to clean which over time degrade your smoke
quality and overall enjoyment of the hookah. Most Modern Hookahs include convenient
carrying case.
Premium Modern Hookahs: High quality hookahs produced using modern manufacturing
techniques and typically made from solid or hollow Brass Stems that are Chrome,
Black Nickel, or Brass Plated. Feature beautiful hand made, hand cut glass bases
and unique stem designs. Most Premium Modern Hookahs include convenient carrying
case.
Traditional Hookahs: Hand Formed or Hand Carved Stems, assembled and
hand welded on a 1 or 2 piece center rod. Typically Traditional Hookahs are
made in the Middle East hookahs and are known to be some of the longest lasting
hookahs on the market. Typically preferred by hookah lounges because of their
quality and cost. Warning, due to their hand made nature; quality varies from
manufacturer to manufacturer. In short, not all Traditional hookahs are created
equally.
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What should I look for when
purchasing a hookah?
We get this question often from both experienced and new hookah smokers. And
while achieving a great smoke depends on more factors than simply the hookah
itself, look for these traits in your new hookah for the best smoke possible.
Large Smoke Chamber & Properly Matched Stem and Glass: There is an abundance
of new modern hookahs on the market today. Many of these hookahs are mixed and
matched hookahs that feature custom glass bases matched to generic stems. When
considering hookahs such as these pay special attention to the shape of the
glass base as well as the position of the down stem in the base. Very often
you will find that the upper half of these glass bases are very narrow and long
and the down stem going into the glass is very short. What you have here is
a combination that will not perform well as there is an inadequate smoke chamber
in the neck of the vase to cool and refine the smoke and the short down stem
prevents the water level from being reduced to a normal level.
Large Diameter Down Stem: Another key factor in a hookahs performance
is the diameter of the down stem or the center tube of the stem. Our hookahs
have very large internal diameter tubing to ensure proper flow and easy effortless
draws.
Quality Hose: A quality hose can be of any origin and design. The key
factors that make a good hose are flexibility, cleanliness, & airflow.
Wide Stable Base: Although this does not directly affect the hookahs
ability to perform, a wide stable hookah base will make your hookah less susceptible
to tipping or falling over and therefore make your smoking session more relaxing
and enjoyable. It will also reduce smoking downtime due to breakage which in
turn should also improve your general satisfaction and happiness.
Sturdy Shaft: Similar to a wide stable base, a sturdy hookah shaft does
not usually affect the hookah’s performance day to day. However a sturdy shaft
will reduce the likely hood of downtime due to stem damage or failure and remain
beautiful and lustrous for years to come. We recommend our Hand Formed Stainless
Steel Stems as featured on our Egyptian and Social Smoke Custom hookahs. They
are practically indestructible, easy to clean, and come complete with a 1 year
warranty
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Other considerations
Tradition: The hookah rich in history and tradition is much more than
a simple smoking device. For many it is a daily ritual, part of a sacred culture,
respected and honored by millions of people around the world. It comes complete
with etiquette and culture surrounding its use that in many places in the world
is held in such high esteem, that violating it, intentionally or unintentionally
can create quite a commotion or possibly more severe problems. With that said,
carefully consider the importance of hookah tradition in your next hookah purchase.
Authenticity: Hookahs are now being manufactured in all parts of the
world. While no one country has right of ownership on the hookah, there is something
that should still be said about the importance of the authenticity of the hookah
pipe. While the vast majority of hookahs being manufactured in the world are
true or relatively true to the original authentic hookah, there has been an
emergence of new Modern hookahs that feature appalling designs that more closely
resemble underground culture or illicit drug culture. While we are not passing
judgment on anyone’s preferences and believe in freedom of choice in their decisions,
these hookahs are often of poor quality and feature cheaply made multi-colored
stems. Sometimes these hookahs will be sold incomplete unknown to the buyer
who then has to purchase the missing hoses or accessories separately. In addition
these hookahs often send a wrong message about the legitimacy of traditional
hookah smoking.
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