How to Smoke Shisha (How to smoke Hookah)
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Shisha - a long, slow pleasure
One of the pleasures of living in the Middle East is to pass an evening in congenial company while enjoying a shisha of your preferred flavour. Shisha is the traditional Arab water pipe, sometimes called a hookah (but not by the locals).
I've never been a smoker in the conventional sense. Cigars have little or no appeal for me, and cigarettes I actively dislike. But shisha is a different animal altogether. Of course it still counts as smoking, and yes, it's bad for the health, but the social and ritualistic aspects of the custom are irresistable.
I've met many Western visitors to the Middle East who wanted to try shisha at least once, even out of curiosity, but missed out because they were just not sure what to do. That seems such a shame. To counter this, I'm now going to talk you through the whole experience of my typical shisha evening.
First, I choose my companion for the evening. This is important (and not difficult!) We'll be together for a couple of hours at least. Slow, relaxed, unpremeditated conversation enhances the pleasure, while nervous or point-scoring talk is simply joyless. Ah, but isn't that always true...
Next, we select our shisha venue with care. Many of the better shisha cafes have outdoor tented booths that are open to the street, but offer privacy from neighbouring tables. For most of the year, in the Gulf States, we can sit outside comfortably through the long, warm evening. Souq (market) areas with no motor vehicles are best. Or a rooftop shisha garden, if we can find one. Indoor cafes are OK, but the smoke of many shishas together can build up to an impressive heavy fog.
Once seated, we'll ask for the shisha menu. The most popular flavours, available almost everywhere, are apple, rose and grape. Mint is common too. Among the more exotic flavours I've seen are banana, liquorice, strawberry, vanilla, and even chocolate. More traditional menus will also include one or two plain tobacco shishas without added flavours.
So, what to order? We steer clear of the exotics; they are only there for novelty. Most shisha waiters will recommend apple for beginners, but I've found it can be quite sharp on the throat. Grape is much smoother, if sometimes a little bland. Rose is my normal choice, with mint a close second. We would normally have eaten first, but, if still peckish, a little hummus served with the local flat bread fits the bill, but nothing hot or heavy. Cool fresh water is a must, and maybe a glass of tea with mint. (Be aware, though, that in the Gulf, tea and coffee are always served sweet, unless you specifically ask for no sugar).
One shisha each, or one between two? For a shisha to work properly, it has to be smoked fairly steadily to keep the coals and tobacco at optimum temperature. Unless you're normally a heavy smoker, this can be quite taxing. For that reason, I prefer to 'share the load' and order one for the two of us. There's a delicious intimacy in sharing shisha. But this is not for business meetings - be sure of your company before sharing :)
Usually, the waiter will bring our shisha and set it down before going off to get a scoop of smouldering charcoal. He'll then place two or three coals on top of the perforated foil and take several long draws on our pipe to get it started. We all know this is one of the perks of his job, the first few draws on every shisha he serves. Once it's smoking freely, he'll fit a new plastic mouthpiece (hygiene, ok?) before handing it to me, rather like a wine waiter, for approval. Of course, it's always perfect!
Now, how do you smoke a shisha? Deeply, m'dears! It's the only way. It's a big piece of equipment, and drawing on it from the cheeks is just not going to make any impression. You've got to inhale. This is what we're doing tonight, for an hour or two, and maybe not again till next weekend, or the weekend after. Feel as guilty as you like, but enjoy it. Life's too short anyway.
You might be wondering exactly what you're smoking. Needless to say, it's possible to put any smokable substance into a shisha pipe in your own home, but commercial establishments will only ever serve tobacco shishas. The tobacco is blended with molasses, glycerine and the extract of rose, grape, etc. The charcoal is not in direct contact with the tobacco; it is separated by a perforated metal foil (though some traditionalists dispense with this). The smoke is drawn through water, which cools it and even removes some of the water soluble nicotine. Having said that, it's still bad for you, but so is worrying!
After maybe 15 to 20 minutes, the flavour will start to change. Often, the smoke becomes too hot. Then we simply use the coal tweezers (always provided!) to remove one of the charcoals. Or maybe the taste tends towards sooty or dirty. Then we'll pick up the charcoals (with the tweezers) and drop them into the metal coal tray to shake off the ash coating, before placing them back on top of the foil. A little later, maybe after half an hour, the coals will be exhausted. When that happens, we catch the waiter's eye and he comes by with a hopper of fresh burning charcoal. The shisha can be refreshed with new coals once or twice, before the smoking mixture is used up. When that happens, it's time to go home!
I would recommend trying shisha in several cafes before deciding to buy your own. Small 'souvenir' shisha pipes are about as useful as a chocolate fireplace. Don't be tempted to buy anything that the cafes would be ashamed to present. And remember there's quite a lot of technique involved in preparing a shisha. My next hub might explain how to do it at home. But there's no hurry, is there? We're relaxing.
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Comments
Hi Marisa - that's all true. It is certainly not good for you. But because it is such a ritual, one every few weeks is enough for me and is a genuine pleasure. And it's very much part of the Middle East. When home in UK I have no interest in going to the shisha cafes in London's Arab quarter.
Nice to read a piece on shisha from the source! It has indeed become quite popular here in the US, and, unfortunately, the popularity of it among college kids, and youth old enough to smoke, but not legally old enough to drink, has come along with poor manners, a complete lack of knowledge, and rather embarrassing "hookah habits". Thank you for reading my blog, and I enjoyed reading yours. Hopefully things will catch on here, and bad habits won't get too deeply entrenched.
Thanks DrMakuku - I learned something from yours, the kitchen foil danger. I use mine at home very rarely, as part of the pleasure is the evening out, but I'll bear it in mind.
My favorite flavor is mix of grape and mint, it gives you a cool feeling in the throat and mouth. But I really don’t know the dangerous of smoking shisa regularly. In Indonesia, since we have a lot of shisa stall, I think most of the city teenagers smoke it at lease once a week, is that dangerous? Anyhow, I think you need to publish this in some teen magazines in Indonesia so they'll aware, that’ll also help them to understand things not just becuz it’s popular. J O, thank you, the way you wrote this article is cool!
Hi Lolo - thanks for visiting. I think, as with any smoking, it's dangerous to let it become a habit. I like to keep it as an occasional pleasure to share. And yes, the grape/mint blend is very pleasant :)
question.................is it possible to make shisha withought tobacco if so how and will it still be dangerous for you?
There has to be something in the cup. If not tobacco, something else. But I think doctors would tell you that the only thing you should ever inhale is clean fresh air!
You mentioned in your article that there is no point buying a small shisha pipe, how big is "ok". i have seen seveal near to where i live that are abour 40-60cm tall. Is it worth getting one of those?
Max - extra height in the stem doesn't make much difference either way, but be looking for a heavy, wide-based flask (for stability) and a smoking bowl that's about 3 inches diameter at the top.
I have never had the opportunity to enjoy this pleasure, except now, vicariously through your words. I almost felt as though I were there with you.
The feeling and meaning of a ritual are lost when the ritual is morphed into a fad or rebellion. What is true for shisha used this disrespectful way I imagine is true for tea, feng shui, and other ritualized pleasures and disciplines.
Walking across the street in heavy traffic in New York City is bad for your health.
Thank you for a delightful and informative journey into a different arena of the Gulf States.
Hi Sally - if you're ever passing through Doha, you're very welcome to join me for your first shisha :) I've heard of the rise of hookah bars in the US, with none of the 'reverence' for the ritual. As you say, that is definitely against the spirit.
Paraglider, thank you for your invitation to join you for my first shisha. I assure you, should I find myself on the way to that part of the world, although it is not likely, I will email you. Meanwhile, because of your Hub, I feel I will not make the wrong choices of place or partner should I find an opportunity here.
And that reminds me, if you don't mind if I take up a little more room in your comments section, about a fascinating middle-Eastern restaurant in Philadelphia, where, years ago, the only way to patronize was through a friend of a friend of a friend. Once seated, we would ask the waiter, *Do you mind if we smoke?* The waiter would give the sign of monkey sees, hears, and speaks no evil, and we would bring out the weed. This was a very special place that existed in a time and space warp of sorts...weed was illegal, of course, but somehow this restaurant managed to survive this way for many years because of its trust, given and received.
Now that I'm thinking on it, I guess that might be a Hub some day.
Heightening or altering the senses, done the right way, makes for good memories for a lifetime.
I bet the food was good too :) Thanks for the story.
Thanks Paraglider for this hub!
I always have seen people smoking this (on TV) and was not sure about what its all about! ,,,,,Until now;)
What a nice hub and memories... Thanks Dave for writing it, and thanks Compu-smart for leading me here :)
Compu-smart & Misha - most welcome. Thanks for the visit.
I got my first shisha today from an online store. It came with some apple hookah tobacco which was real tasty
Leila - apple is a good standard. Glad it was a success :)
Actually if visit the website www.sacrednarghile.com, nobody knows how harmful shisha is in the long-term. But in short-term with shisha all you do is warm the tobacco up until the flavour is gone and with cigarettes you are burning the tobacco. It is a fact that tar is created when tobacco burns, it is also a fact that when "BURNING" tobacco harmful carcinogens are created, with shisha you are only warming the tobacco. So I am not saying it is not harmful, infact the most harmful thing about shisha is the coals that are used (use natural coals not quick lites). So in my opinion and backed up by (valid research) shisha is no were near as harmful as cigarettes. The other researchs that suggest it is are biased, and the tobacco is completely burnt, these scientists dont know what shisha is or how to smoke it, they use smoking machines to judge how harmful it is!
hey thanks for that i had shisha about 5 times a week for about a year but my mum found out and im not aloud it...now im seeing all the bad things about it...is it ok for me...im 14 by the way
Farooq and Danny - I am not willing to get into how harmful it is. The only thing we are designed to breath is fresh air. Anything else is potentially harmful. My own use is occasional. I would have thought daily use was not sensible.
I certainly would not recomend shisha to minors so I guess that means you Danny. Wait until your that bot older and then give it ago.
Hello, there is a major difference between shisha, cigarettes and cigars. This difference is that Shisha Tobacco has 0% Tar! and only 0.05% nicotine. Therefore, the two dangerous and toxic subtances in shisha, is the smoke emitted from the coals (which is filtered through water, and the only dangerous smoke from coal is the inital start up smoke i.e. the smoke from the inital start up of quick lite coal caused by black powder.) The dangerous subtance is the nicotine, however, this simply is the substance which causes an addiction.
Therefore, yes shisha is bad for you (as with alcohol, and any other subtance which affects your mental and physical health.) However, it is probably the least dangerous form of smoking. Something which you should all think about is, its the liver or the lungs, (liver - drinking, lungs - smoking.) They are equally as bad as each other, its just a personal preference.
To conclude, shisha is not as bad as people say, yes it is bad, but its not THAT bad for the occasional smoke (2-3days a week), just think that people that drink, generally drink to get drunk, and with shisha, the only thing you get is a SLIGHT high but only when you take massive puffs every minute.
P.S: You can buy tobbaco free shisha molasses, simply research on 'Herbal Shisha Molasses'.
Regards, Enjoy Responsibly
Umm, E.R. - did you read the article or did you just drop in to post your own? Not sure ;)
Nice and relaxed Hub, Paraglider - that sounds like a divine experience. We have similar nights in Greece, with the slow and unhurried conversation, but without the Shisha. I look forward to trying it, one day
Sufi - go for rose shisha, fresh water, flat bread and hummus. Late nights outdoors in hot countries - that's living :)
Hummus.........my favourite. You can get it on Crete, but not the mainland, so I have to make my own.The evenings certainly are the best part of Middle Eastern life, and I have even started playing Backgammon, albeit very badly.
I hope to visit Iran in the next couple of years, and will follow your Shisha recommendation! Thanks for the tip :)
Write about it, OK? And if you ever come East to the Gulf States, let me know!
I certainly will - as well as wanting to sample the culture, it has long been a dream to visit Persepolis. Just have to raise some finance, first! Maybe one day we will visit the Gulf - if you know any good Scuba spots there, my partner could be persuaded ;)
Likewise, if you are ever in Greece, give us a shout!
But make it a winter break. Temperatures today are expected to reach 46, and for diving, the sea temperatures also get far too high, well into the thirties, like a warm bath.
hi mike,
gr8 article...especially the way u wrote it. congrats!!!
i lost my shisha virginity yetserday, was good fun, double apple flavour, will try grape next, shished for 3 hrs, gr8...
the belly waitress said to start with apple (like u said)... does that mean it doesnt have tobacco???if thats the case why worry as it is harmless...!
just curious to know more about shisha...googled it and found ur interesting experience...good luck mate...enjoy...cheers
Tabitha - thanks for the visit. They all have tobacco, together with molasses and flavouring. Enjoy the grape! (Mike? no!)
Thanks to Sally's Trove for having pointed out this very nicely written hub. In India, where I live, the local name is hookah and it is an age old custom in parts of Northern India. The plain tobacco variety is smoked by village elders of rustic rural villages when they sit out in the evenings on jute strung cots to discuss where the world is going and what should be done to set things right!
I have visited Shisha Bars in Dubai during visits there. And you have described the ambience, the relaxed atmosphere, and the way to do it so very well.
One of my sons has recently added a hookah bar (as it is called here) to his tattoo centre and cafe in New Delhi. And I got to sample a green apple cum cinnamon one at its innauguration. Great flavour!
We got one as an anniversary gift from our daughter a few months ago - smaller than the ones at the shisha bars but big enough for an evening of lazy pleasure. Right now, the choice is between mint and cinnamon.
Jaspal - thanks for that description of the hookah tradition in India. In fact the first time I saw it smoked (except on film) was in Mumbai many years ago, but never tried it until coming to the middle east.
Shalini - cinnamon is a new one on me. I must try it some time, but not this month, as Ramadan has just started.
What a wonderful Hub. I am glad I stumbled upon it. You made it feel as though we were there.
My son has a hookah. It is really quite beautiful. (his father is from India - Madras). Perhaps he would allow me to teach him how to do these rituals. They especially sound enjoyable with Hummus and flat breat (a favorite of mine)!
Thank you very much Praglider.
Moonchild - good luck in trying, and remember - it is entirely social and non-competitive! :)
Great article for the beginners on smoking hookah. Apple was the first flavor I have tried at the hookah lounge and fell in love since. Definitely try hookah at the hookah bar or lounge first (usually much better-tasting than at your friend's house), but if you are serious about buying one and making sure it tastes VERY good, you can check out a guide about smoking hookah at http://howtosmokehookah.com/how-to-set-up-smoke-ho - many details which matter and will deliver the best results out of your hookah. Hookah is about the EXPERIENCE and Atmosphere, not the smoking itself.
Hookah-lover - thanks for the read and comment. I visited your site too. It's well set out and informative.
Thanks Paraglider!
OH no!!!
just thiz nite i went out 2 ma friendz b'day party..
He offered me a smoke he said it was just strawberry juice.
n now i found out it still tobacco..
n i'm only 12!!!!
i hate it!!!
u think i shouldnt try it anymore??
:(
Olivia - I would leave it well alone for a good few years. Nicotine in any form is highly addictive. You can do without that. Friends shouldn't lie to you either.
hi paraglider! now I know what shisha is, have been wondering what its all about, maybe it is that good because you like it too,
I'm going to start calling you PDH - is that ok? From what I've read, American hookah bars are pretty far removed from the middle east shisha tradition. All I'd say is if you find a place full of noisy kids, avoid it like the plague!
Wow I wish there was places like this around america. I love smoking, but not regularly, once a month or so. Do not let the picture deceive you, i threw out the cigarettes after a few years of torment. But there is much to be said about true smoking. I believe you live longer if you smoke occasionally then if you don't smoke at all. It is a unique and enlightening experiance, and I would wager that shisha is the way to do it. Visiting one of these places has become a life goal. Thanks Greatly.
Stolas - Are there no such places in America? I know there is a 'hookah fashion' among the young in some cities, but are there no older shisha cafes in more established immigrant communities like Turkish or Lebanese? I wish you luck in finding an amenable relaxed and knowledgeable venue. It really does make all the difference.
Ahhh, shisha! Tried it first in Egypt some time back and loved. Two years ago, in Krakow we found a tea room. It serves about 300 different types of tea and has a separate room for shisha. We were there for a couple of hours on two occasions and it was heaven. I wouldn't get one for home use, though, because I'd never do any work! It will just have to be something to anticipate with pleasure until my next opportunity.
WriteAngled - for similar reasons, I no longer have one at home! Thanks for the visit :)
Marisa Wright says:
2 years ago
Good explanation of the shisha! I'm glad you mention it's not good for you. There's a myth that because the smoke passes through water, all the bad stuff is filtered out. Not so - in fact, because you inhale shisha so deeply and smoke it over such a long time, the toxins penetrate more deeply into your lungs and probably do more harm than a normal cigarette.
I believe the myth and tried it during a visit to Egypt last year - it was actually quite fun, but I won't risk it again!