Hookahs are already very firmly established in our lives. And if earlier, about ten years ago, it was possible to smoke them only in specialized establishments, now this pleasure is offered in many cafes, homemade narghiles are no longer a rarity, and the market is littered with new offers. How to choose the right hookah and shafts for it is described in this article.
History of hookah
Hookah originated in ancient times in Eastern countries. Then most often it was coconuts or pumpkins, into which tobacco was stuffed, smoking through straws. In general, the hookahs of those times looked more like oversized smoking pipes.
The main impetus to the development of hookah smoking occurred in Persia, where they began to make flasks from porcelain, and durable hoses instead of straws from snake skins. Over time, hookahs increasingly took on a modern look, spreading throughout the Middle East. In these countries, hookah smoking has become a national tradition. In recent years, this hobby has becomewildly popular in Russia. Since now, many smokers are switching to hookahs, buying them at home, and the question of choosing the right one is more acute than ever.
The device of a modern hookah
Modern smoking devices most often consist of a flask, a hose, a bowl and a hookah shaft. They are supplied mostly assembled. Most flasks, bowls and hoses are standardized - and this allows you to assemble them yourself from the components. And hookah seals of all shapes and sizes make this task even easier. So, how to choose the right hookah?
Main parameters when choosing a hookah
The most important thing when choosing a hookah is to decide on its size. From this, to a greater extent, its price will also depend. It is logical that small hookahs will be many times cheaper than large ones, however, their quality often leaves much to be desired.
The main part is the hookah shaft. And it is worth starting from its size and quality. A good mine is usually from fifty centimeters high. It ensures the passage of smoke from the bowl to the water, its partial cleaning and cooling.
Good shafts are made of stainless steel, which will not spoil the taste of tobacco. They can be serifed at the end to provide percolation and silence when smoking.
Recently, glass shafts for hookahs have appeared on sale. They allow you to completely eliminate the effect of metal on tobacco, are aesthetically beautiful and not badcool. However, such parts have drawbacks - their fragility and the fact that they are far from suitable for all flasks. Glass shafts are not the best choice for a beginner.
Choice of flask, bowl and hose
The choice of a flask for a hookah should be based on whether the selected mine is suitable for it. In general, the shape, color and other features do not really affect the quality of the device. Flasks are designed so that when the shaft is immersed in water, there is enough space for smoke in them - so you can choose absolutely any model. However, for the convenience of pouring water, you should choose a translucent or partially transparent one - this will allow you to see the water level and how deep the mine is immersed in it, which is one of the very important indicators.
The most optimal choice of hookah hose is silicone tubes. They are easy to wash, they fully convey the taste of tobacco, they are cheap and suitable for any narguile. The choice of bowl depends entirely on how the tobacco will be smoked and what kind. The art of choosing a bowl based on the tobacco being served is not something that can be covered in one article.
Beginners in hookah smoking are advised to take several bowls of different shapes for a test to determine which one is best for hookah. In addition, the role of the bowl is always perfectly played by fruits. Oranges, mangoes, pineapples, apples, lemons, grapefruits and many others are suitable for this. The main thing is that it should be possible to install them on the mine, and the rest is a matter of technology.
Homemade hookah with improvised means
There are situations when a hookah or part of it urgently needs to be replaced with something. And if everything is clear with a flask that can be made from any container, only by ensuring tightness, then the question of how to make a hookah shaft with your own hands is already much more serious.
Metal pipes will irrevocably spoil the taste of hookah smoking, and plastic pipes can not always be found at hand. This is where foil comes in handy. If you wrap any tube of a suitable size with foil, and then carefully remove it, you will get a tube for the hookah shaft. Smoke will flow through it perfectly and not have a metallic taste.
The only problem with such a mine would be that it would be very, very unstable. And installing a bowl on it will be problematic, especially if it is also homemade or made from heavy fruit. However, homemade smoking devices are always a dubious pleasure. To avoid such situations, it is best to have a second hookah on hand, or at least spare parts for the first one.
Conclusion
Hookahs are ancient smoking tools, invented hundreds of years ago. Since then, they have changed a lot, but have remained extremely in demand. And now, at their peak of popularity in Russia, it's time to master the complex culture of hookah smoking. The choice of device and tobacco to it, its clogging and the time spent smoking will definitely become a pleasant memory. However, it must be remembered that smokingextremely negative impact on human he alth. And hookah is far from a safe substitute for cigarettes and can often be much more harmful.
