If you’ve just started to look into
hookah smoking then you’ve come to the right place. With celebrities such
as Rihanna
and Miley Cyrus frequenting shisha lounges, the fuss has to be about
something.
Whether you’re looking to kick back
and relax at home or socialize with friends and meet new people at the nearest
shisha cafe, the hookah pipe is a fast-growing hobby all over the world.
Let’s take a look at everything you
need to know about hookah smoking and
its culture.
What
Is Shisha
Traditionally, shisha was just raw
tobacco that was mixed with water and then squeezed to drain the excess water.
Then it would be pressed into shape and dried before smoking. Shisha has come a
long way since then!
In the early 90s, the new generation
in the middle east decided to put their spin on things. The shisha we smoke
today is still made of tobacco, but this time it’s fermented with molasses,
fruit essence, glycerin, and flavoring. Flavors range from traditional tobacco
flavor to pretty much any fruit you can think of.
There are also several tobacco-freeshishas available. These often use dried herbs and fruit instead of tobacco.
Is
it Safe?
Sadly, smoking is smoking, and
shisha tobacco poses similar health risks as smoking cigarettes. Due to the
large of amount smoke that is inhaled in a normal shisha session (about 60
minutes), it’s quite possible that regular smoking of shisha could be more detrimental
than cigarettes.
What
Is a Hookah
The hookah is the smoking device
used to smoke shisha. Hookahs originated in India but very quickly spread to
the rest of the middle east. Although mainly used for smoking shisha, hookah
pipes are also used for smoking cannabis and even opium.
When you smoke with a hookah the
smoke travels down a stem into a reservoir of water, which is often iced to
cool the smoke. The smoke is then inhaled through a hose. Some hookahs that are
made for social use come with multiple hoses so that more than one person can
smoke from the hookah at the same time.
When looking to buy hookah
pipes it’s important to know whether you’re going to be someone who kicks
back at home alone or prefers to invite their friends round to share some
shisha.
Hookah
Smoking Tips
If you’re thinking about dabbling
into the world of hookah smoking, then these few tips will help not only help
you to get started. They’ll have you looking like a pro!
- Never leave water in the hookah base after you’ve
finished smoking - Wash your hookah after every use
- Use ice in the hookah water for a cooler smoking
experience - Keep your shisha in the refrigerator, but never freeze
it - Add juice to your hookah water for a fruitier flavor
- Add wine to your hookah water for an intoxicating
effect - Experiment and mix shisha flavors.
Remember, smoking shisha tobacco is
a personal experience, so take the time to find what works for you.
You’re
Ready for the Shisha Bar
This brief introduction should set
you up nicely for your first hookah shisha smoking experience. If you need any
more information then there are plenty of hookah forums on the internet where
you can find out valuable information from experienced hookah smokers.
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to check out the rest of our site.
