The hookah, also known as a Turkish water pipe, arguileh, nargileh, shisha, among other names is an ancient water pipe used to smoke flavored tobacco.

How Does It Work?

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How to set up the hookah for a good experience?

Setting up the Hookah for a good time is easy but does require some experience, good technique, and a little luck at first. First the Hookah should be cleaned thoroughly, if not every time, then at least every few smokes and usually when changing the flavor of the tobacco. The base should be washed out and water should be ran through the Hookah pipe. Use the thin cleaning brush provided with the Hookah when purchased from Social Smoke. Initially the water running through the pipe will come out slightly yellow; continue until it is clear. Make sure that the ports for the bleeder valve and the hose are also washed out. A common mistake in the desire for the perfectly clean Hookah is to wash out the hoses. Most hookah hoses should NOT be washed, but instead they should be blown clean. The reason for this is that the water will either rust the hoses made with metal tubing or will cause the hoses constructed from composite fiber to begin breaking down. In either case this will eventually result in the need to replace the hose. Luckily, Social Smoke’s washable leather wrapped hoses are made specifically to allow you to run water through the hose and thoroughly clean them out before each smoke.

Once the base is clean put water to a level that will result in the hookah pipe being submersed in about 1.5 inches of water. Too much will result in the water bubbling up into the hose during the smoke. Once the water is placed into the base the top Hookah pipe can be attached. Sometimes it helps to wet the grommet that fits on the hookah pipe so that it easily slips into the base. After this is done the hose can be attached, and again it is sometimes better to wet the grommet.

After these steps are completed the next and most important step is the making of the tobacco "head". Before placing the tobacco into the bowl try to break up the clumps and remove any large pieces of leaf stem. The loose flake tobacco should be placed in the bowl ensuring it is evenly spread around, packed lightly, and not so high that the aluminum foil is in direct contact with it. Once this is done a piece of normal kitchen aluminum foil should be placed over the top of the bowl. The foil should be stretched tight to hold the weight of the coal and you should ensure enough foal is used so that it doesn’t easily start to become undone. After this use a toothpick to randomly place holes in the foil with a higher concentration in the center of the bowl. It is important to not make the holes too large or too small as both will result in an unfavorable smoking condition. After the bowl is made, moisten the bowl grommet and place the bowl on the top of the hookah pipe. At this point the Hookah is completely assembled and should look like the above photo.

The charcoal or coil should be lit outside or in a well ventilated area, otherwise you run a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Once the coal is fully lit, place it on top of the bowl toward the edges of the rim. This will prolong the life of the tobacco and will make the smoke more controllable. We recommend you start with two coals and then later transition to one coal to continue smoking. It is important to move the coals around the head to ensure that all tobacco is used evenly and to prevent it from burning. There is a very distinct taste different that will occur when the head is burnt. Some people have different thresholds before they consider it burnt. Find yours.

This should be used as a guide to help you set up the Hookah for a good time. Remember you will only get better by practicing and experimenting. We recommend sticking to one flavor and try smoking it various times so you can tell the difference in the smoke as a result of the way you set the hookah up.

GOOD TIMES!

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Origin and History:

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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Main types characterized by origin:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Premium Hookahs: Satisfaction guaranteed to be the highest quality hand made hookahs in the world. Our Hookahs Premium Hookahs are made by combing the best features of Traditional hookahs with the best features of Modern Hookahs. Hand formed stainless steel, mouth blown glass bases, washable hoses, and most feature a padded carrying bag.

4. 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.

Modern Hookahs

Premium Modern Hookahs

Premium Hookahs

Traditional Hookahs

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What to look for when buying a hookah (Which hookah smokes best?):

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Quality Hose: A quality hose can be of any origin and design. The key factors that make a good hose are flexibility, cleanliness, & airflow.

4. 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.

5. 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 Hookaholic Custom hookahs. They are practically indestructible, easy to clean, and come complete with a 1 year warranty.

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Other considerations:

1. 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.

2. 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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