In recent years, hookah smoking has become a pleasant pastime for millions of people around the world. Many people choose to smoke scents after a hard day’s work to relax and during gatherings with close friends.
What is a hookah and how does it work?
The hookah is a device of oriental origin, which is used for smoking tobacco with different flavours. Also called a bottle, it has the following parts:
At the top, there is a removable ceramic, glass or metal cup. It is heat resistant and contains hookah tobacco with aroma and charcoal. It is usually covered with a perforated aluminium sheet on which the charcoal that ignites the tobacco is placed.
A good cup will be able to hold enough tobacco and will allow several people to smoke. It must also be able to heat the tobacco evenly or maintain the heat of the coal for a longer time.
The saucer is wider than the cup and collects the ashes from the coals that may fall. It is recommended that it be made of stainless steel so that it is durable and easy to clean.
In turn, the tube is a narrow part, which has a ball inside, which regulates the movement of air. This type of valve serves to clear the stagnant air in the vase, and this is done by slightly inflating.
The base is made of clear glass called a beaker, jar or vase, which contains a liquid filter (usually water, but can be another liquid according to the user’s wishes).
Finally, the hose is the suction line that reaches the user’s mouth. It is usually made of rubber with a small aluminium part at the end where the mouthpiece is connected, which is disposable. A quality hose is easy to wash and is long and flexible enough to risk turning the hookah over.
Remember that hookah smoking is not healthy!
What are the best hookahs?
To make sure you make the right choice when looking to buy a hookah, see our selection of good models available in online stores. We have included only products with an excellent price-quality ratio. Whether you are looking for a cheap hookah or a more expensive model, these are just a few.
WANGP Hookah Complete Set with 4 hoses
With ideal size, high-quality materials such as aluminium and glass, a clean, modern design, and 4 hose outlets, WANGP is ideal for group smoking. Extremely modern and futuristic, this model meets the requirements of all profiles of smokers with significant technical aspects.
Minkah shisha Set with Silicone Pipe Hose
One of the most stylish models Minkah. Very stable with its massive jar and flat base. This Minkah model comes with a closed purge valve with a closed jar and a hose with a long mouthpiece.
2 Hose Hookah Complete Set
HKYMBM is a compact model. With good quality and lower price! Very suitable if you want to take it with you on every trip. You can smoke wherever you are without any problem.
EPISENT Hookah Set
With its shiny colours and patterns reminiscent of cartoon characters, EPISENT is a more unusual offer in our selection! Stylish, it is suitable for two people. It is offered fully equipped and ready for use!
GaoYunQin Hookah Shisha Gun Shape
Are you looking for an original, stylish model as a gift for a special person? GaoYunQin is for you! Its tube is produced in the form of a gun. Available in four colours: gold, silver, black and pink.
Aufworld hookah Set 20 inch
Perfect size, neither too big nor too small, sober design and especially aesthetic, Aufworld should be part of the party! Designed with high quality materials, glass vase and PVC hose with metal tip.
ANTOPY
Known for its increasingly innovative designs, the ANTOPY brand introduces its model. Completely personalized, this modern hookah has a flawless look.
M. ROSENFELD Protos Shisha Set
This model comes with a silicone hose, mouthpiece and clear vase. This original metal shisha is designed for individual use.
GSYH Aluminum Hookah Set
A very light and compact model with a height of only 35 cm, GSYH is undoubtedly one of the best portable hookahs of medium size. Made of steel, it comes fully equipped with a silicone hose and even includes a clay cup, which is good for this price.
TOSHIN Shisha Hookah
Recognized for the quality of its glass products, the TOSHIN brand develops new designs and modern hookahs. TOSHIN is made of durable glass with a beautiful blue colour. This model is 55 cm and comes with two hoses.
Tips for choosing a hookah
To be satisfied with your purchase, you need to know how to choose a hookah. It is good to choose a larger model, as the small ones are not as high quality and reliable. Here are some aspects to look out for.
The size
It all has to start with choosing a size. Today on the market there are models of different sizes, and it can be said that the best is between 50 and 100 cm.
A larger device can make the smoke thicker, with a good texture and strong taste. Often many smokers are interested in how to make the most of smoking, but owners of low-quality devices will not be able to take advantage of this.
Attention should be paid to the size and the materials from which the product is made. It is better to choose a model that is made of high-quality materials.
We must also pay attention to the hose, as its design features eliminate the possibility of smoke leakage.
Glass bowl or vase
Often the answer to the question of how to choose a good hookah can lie behind choosing a model with a beautiful jar. There is no denying that visual features are of great importance, but it is good to pay attention to a few details.
When making your choice, you should carefully check for cracks, chips or other defects in the bottle.
Remember that any glass can break, so it is recommended to choose a model with thick walls, which will theoretically be able to withstand a certain number of bumps or falls during use.
Make sure that the jar of your chosen model stands firmly on a flat surface. Unfortunately, models with rounded bottoms have begun to appear that cannot stand firmly on the table in recent years. Such a device will fall during active smoking, which can become a big problem.
Cup
The cup has a direct effect on the quality of smoking. You may know how to make a perfect hookah, but it is unlikely to do so with a poor quality cup.
Fortunately for many, today, the market offers a great variety, which leads to what cup to choose. The main feature you need to pay attention to is the material from which it is made. It is advisable to choose clay because it retains heat well, but you can also find glass, ceramic, steel, and others on the market.
The number of hoses
The number of hoses is also a feature that must be taken into account, depending on your usage habits. If you mainly plan to smoke on your own, you can take a model with a hose or an electronic hookah.
On the other hand, if you plan several people, choosing a model with more outputs will be much more practical. This will allow everyone to have their own hose, which is preferable in terms of hygiene and user convenience.
Accessories
You will find many different accessories for your hookah on the market. You can buy a charcoal burner and tongs to move it without getting burned. Also, a testamentary accessory when using it outdoors. You will prevent the scattering of coals and ashes on your friends.
There are also mouthpieces with valves to regulate the flow of smoke to provide the best possible comfort to the user. Finally, don’t forget to buy disposable mouthpieces (they are more hygienic, especially if you smoke with more people).
How to choose accessories?
Hookah smoking depends a lot on the quality of tobacco and coal. Today on the Internet, you can find many tips on how to choose charcoal and tobacco.
Online stores have a large selection of tobacco with different flavours, which will take some time to try them all. There is tobacco that contains nicotine, as well as one without this ingredient.
Coal also plays an important role. In stores offering these goods, you will find fast-igniting as well as harder ones like coconut. You have to decide because it all depends on the effort you are willing to put into the preparation. Coconut charcoal will allow you to enjoy thick smoke for hours, which is excellent for large groups. But unfortunately, it takes a little longer to ignite.
It may seem that choosing and smoking a hookah is easy, but it is not. True masters have taken several years to understand all the secrets. Only after you get a great experience, then you prepared it perfectly. So all your friends will be able to enjoy it.
Price
The prices of hookahs vary considerably depending on the quality of the materials, their capacity and size. You can find prices that range from 20 to over 3000 BGN. The main factors that affect prices are:
- The size: you can find 15 cm tall for one user, and between 30, 50 and even 10 cm for more users.
- The quality of the materials: there is stainless steel and ceramics, and also cheaper than plastic.
- The brand of the manufacturer and the original design of the model.
- The capacity of the vase or water jar, which will determine the number of users using the device simultaneously.
- The length of the hoses.
Steps to follow when cleaning
- The cup: The first step is to completely disassemble the hookah so that you can start cleaning from top to bottom. Then clean the cup with a sponge soaked in hot water and liquid dish soap. It is preferable to use warm water during cleaning. This will remove residues and odours. Finally, the fireplace should be rinsed with clean water.
- Tube: To clean the tube, it will be necessary to use a brush specially designed for this. To facilitate the work, it is good to soak it in a solution of water and vinegar for 5 minutes. This will help make it easier to remove dirt by brushing. Finally, rinse it well with clean water.
- The vase: Once you have disassembled it, you need to put water and faith inside it. Then clean the bottom with the brush designed for this use before rinsing. The use of warm water is always recommended.
- Hose: There are two options for cleaning the hose, depending on the material. If it can be washed, its end should be placed directly under running water. The water should flow through the inside for at least 30 seconds so that it washes well. Then you have to keep it upright to drain all the liquid from the inside. Finally, the hose should be hung in space to hang both ends until it is completely dry and ready for use again. If the hose is one that cannot be washed, hold both ends by hand and tap them gently on a soft surface to push the debris inside. Then you need to blow hard with your mouth, use a vacuum cleaner or compressor to achieve better efficiency.
- Small parts: The seals must be rinsed with hot water. Just wash them gently with your fingers to remove anything stuck to them. Finally, let them dry on a clean cloth. The same procedure should be done to wash the air control valve. For the ashtray, do not hesitate to rub it with a sponge moistened with water and detergent to restore its shine.
