Hookah Pipes - Tobacco and Charcoal of todays market

Posted by Martin Buitrago on Dec 18th 2019

Hookah Pipes - Tobacco and Charcoal of todays market

A hookah is one of the oldest smoking tools that still remain in use today. There's a good reason that people still turn to this simple device when they want to share a good smoke with friends. Even though completely new and novel ways of obtaining a nicotine fix have emerged in the last few decades, people are still discovering what makes hookahs so special. Their stalwart and glassy aesthetic is reminiscent of times long passed, yet simultaneously invokes a futuristic feeling. Now, hookahs have never been easier to enjoy thanks to consumers' ability to buy hookahs online. People can also buy shisha online and keep their hookahs filled with a myriad of delicious flavors. The evolution of the hookah started many centuries ago, and is still continuing to this day.


Traditional Hookahs

The first waterpipes were crafted in the 16th century, which coincides with the arrival of glassmaking technology in India. Whether hookah originated in India and spread to Persia, or vice versa, remains a matter of debate; regardless, hookah was, and still is, used in Middle Eastern and Indian communities as a means of socializing. Business deals, new friendships, celebrations, etc., were all consummated with a genial hookah session. Part of its widespread use was due to doctors recommending it as a healthy form of smoking. These days, no sane doctor will tell a patient that inhaling the combusted smoke of a plant, in any form, is healthy for the lungs, but back then it was viewed as a safer alternative to smoking from a dry pipe.
These original hookahs of medieval times were often grand and ornate, because they represented the wealth of the owner. Only someone affluent could afford a glass hookah, as well as have the time for a long smoke.
Soon, the tradition of the hookah became a social norm for citizens of the 17th century similar to drinking or cigarette smoking in the 20th century. It was not just a fashionable habit, but an almost obligatory social expectation. It was felt that sharing a hookah with someone expressed a mutual respect--rejecting a hookah ran the risk of implying insult. There are a few countries that still retain a close connection to the hookah, and immigrants from these countries can be credited with promoting its popularity across the world. Before the introduction of tobacco to hookah-loving cultures, several substances were smoked such as opium and cannabis. Although people now exclusively smoke flavored tobacco out of their hookahs, its function as a social hub hasn't changed.

Popular Hookahs of Today

Although hookahs aren't household fixtures like they were in ancient times, more people are buying quality hookah pipes as an addition to their arsenal of smoking apparatuses. Hookah pipes are appealing to young people because they can be easily shared with a group, making them perfect for party situations. New flavors of hookah tobacco are capturing the attention of a generation that's turned away from the cigarette-smoking culture of the 20th century.
Shisha tobacco can come in many different styles, depending on the manufacturer and flavor. Most shisha tobacco is steeped in a mixture of molasses, which transfers its essences into the cured leaf. The result is a sticky, colorful mass of finely cut tobacco and flavorings. Take a look at Starbuzz hookah tobacco products to get an idea of how many choices are available in terms of style and taste. Starbuzz hookah tobacco is one of the top brands for all kinds of hookah products, which means they carry everything a hookah aficionado needs. Overall, the breadth of these choices can be daunting to a newcomer; however, experience is the best teacher when it comes to finding the best hookah product for each setup. Start with some well-established flavors and be sure that you know how to properly set up the hookah.

The shisha tobacco is packed into a chamber at the top of the hookah, then the bowl is covered with a piece of perforated aluminium foil, and finally topped off with a hookah charcoal. When someone draws from the hose, air is pulled through the hookah charcoal and lights the tobacco. This smoke travels into the main chamber of the hookah, through some water, and finally to the hose where it can be inhaled.
Beyond the basics of the hookah, there are design details that can alter the quality of use. Most importantly, the size of the water base will define how much can be smoked at once. If there are too many hoses attached, and not enough available smoke, then it may become difficult for each person to get a good draw. The shape of the downstem can also be improved by adding a diffuser, which further cools the smoke. The design and quality of the bowl will have a serious effect on how easy the hookah is to clean, as well as how messy the ashes become throughout the smoking session. A plate or ashtray should be placed under the hookah in order to help catch some of these falling ashes. Optional additions, such as a windscreen or grommet, should also be considered. Remember to invest in a good butane lighter, and to keep a pair of tongs on-hand for moving the red-hot charcoal.
While hookah tobacco tends to have less nicotine than the untreated plant, their capability to constantly smoke without end can lead to extreme couch-locking buzzes. Someone who has never tried hookah before should be warned not to take too many puffs, or else they could end up feeling extremely sick. All of the preparation that goes into hookah denotes the ease with which one should smoke. A hookah is geared towards finishing the bowl or getting a nicotine rush, but instead it is made to be slowly enjoyed while relaxing. Our fast-paced society doesn't promote this kind of leisure, but times may change.

Hookahs of The Future

Hookahs may not enjoy the same explosive trendiness as other recent products have, but they will definitely be around for much longer. While many smoking implements are becoming more compact, or turning electric, hookahs inherently retain their form. No matter how cultures change, the simple design of smoke being cooled through water and then spread to multiple hoses has no need for improvement. Hookahs still remain a fairly expensive investment, although affordable hookahs can be found which may sacrifice aesthetic or durability. As time goes on, improvements in the manufacturing process will hopefully make them more affordable to people that want to try owning one.
Many bars and restaurants have started offering hookah tables as a way to bring in customers. Some of these hookah lounges use vaporizers disguised as hookahs, but a real hookah requires the use of heated charcoal to ignite the tobacco. It's been found that most of these hookah spots have opened around university campuses, likely to offer college students a unique way to hang out. Whether this will lead to lifelong hookah smokers is not certain, especially since many colleges are banning all tobacco products from their campuses. In fact, it's recently been announced that the legal age for buying tobacco in America is increasing to 21 years old, which will make it even harder for people to try a hookah. Despite this, legal cannabis, which is believed to have been one of the original ingredients of shisha before tobacco was introduced, may also contribute to a resurgence of hookah-lovers. Regardless of where the future takes the tobacco industry, the hookah is a legendary piece of technology that continues to fascinate and attract people all over the world.