Hookahs are already very firmly in our lives. And if earlier, about ten years ago, it was possible to smoke them only in specialized institutions, now this pleasure is offered in many cafes, home nargiles are no longer a rarity, and the market is littered with new offers. About how to choose the hookah and shafts for him, described in this article.
The history of the hookah
Hookah originated in ancient times in eastern countries. Then most often it was coconuts or pumpkins, into which tobacco smoked through straws. On the whole, hookahs of those times were more like, rather, larger pipes.
The main impetus for the development of hookah smoking occurred in Persia, where flasks were made from porcelain, and durable hoses instead of straws were made from snake skins. Over time, hookahs more and more took a modern look, spreading throughout the Middle East. Hookah smoking has become a national tradition in these countries. In recent years, this hobby has gained wildly popularity in Russia. Since now, many smokers are switching to hookahs, buying them at home, and the question of their correct choice 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 delivered mostly in prefabricated form. Most flasks, bowls and hoses are standardized - and this allows you to assemble them yourself from the components. And hookah gaskets of all shapes and sizes make this task even easier. So still, how to choose the hookah?
The main parameters when choosing a hookah
The most important thing when choosing a hookah is to determine its size. From this, its price will depend to a greater extent. It is logical that small hookahs will be much cheaper than large ones, however, their quality often leaves much to be desired.
The main detail is the hookah shaft. And it is worth starting from its size and quality. A good shaft is usually fifty centimeters high. It provides the passage of smoke from the bowl to the water, its partial cleaning and cooling.
Good mines are made of stainless steel, which will not spoil the taste of tobacco. At their end there may be serifs that provide percolation and silence when smoking.
Recently, glass shafts for hookahs have appeared on sale. They completely eliminate the effect of metal on tobacco, are aesthetically beautiful and cool quite well. However, such parts have drawbacks - their fragility and the fact that they do not fit all flasks. Glass shafts are not the best choice for a beginner.
Selection of flask, bowl and hose
The choice of a flask for a hookah should be based on whether the selected shaft is suitable for it. In general, the shape, color and other features do not particularly affect the quality of the device. The flasks are designed so that when the mine 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, it is worth choosing translucent or partially transparent - 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 a hose for a hookah is silicone tubes. They are easy to wash, they completely convey the taste of tobacco, cheap and suitable for any nargile. The choice of bowl depends entirely on how tobacco is smoked and which one. The art of choosing a bowl depending on the tobacco served is not something that can be covered in one article.
Hookah beginners are advised to take a few bowls of different shapes per sample to determine which one is the best at hooking up. In addition, the fruit will always play the role of the bowl. For this, oranges, mangoes, pineapples, apples, lemons, grapefruits and many others are suitable. The main thing is that it is possible to install them on the mine, and the rest is already 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 irrevocably ruin the taste of hookah smoking, and plastic pipes can not always be found at hand. Here foil can come to the rescue. If you wrap any tube of suitable size with foil, and then carefully remove it, you get a tube for a hookah shaft. The smoke through it will stretch perfectly and not have a metallic taste.
The only problem with such a mine will be that it will be very, very unstable. And to install a bowl on it will be problematic, especially if it will also be home-made or made from heavy fruit. However, home-made smoking devices are always a dubious pleasure. To avoid such situations, it is best to have a second hookah or at least spare parts for the first.
Conclusion
Hookahs are ancient smoking tools invented hundreds of years ago. Since then, they have changed a lot, but have remained extremely popular. And now, at their peak of popularity in Russia, it's time to master the complex culture of hookah smoking. The choice of a device and tobacco for it, its clogging and the time spent smoking, will certainly become a pleasant memory. However, it must be remembered that smoking has an extremely negative effect on human health. A hookah is far from a safe replacement for cigarettes and can often be much more harmful.