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Hookah

The hookah originated in India around the 1600s.  Its unique system was thought to purify the smoke of the tobacco through water before it entered the body.  Hookahs have recently become widely popular in the United States.  Smoke shops now carry hookahs, their equipment and their tobaccos.  Hookah uses a flavored tobacco called shisha which enhances the smoking experience for many people.  Hookah can be smoked indoors or out because its tobacco does not leave a potent scent on clothing, walls or furniture.  It may seem elaborate to new comers but hookah is actually an easy and exciting way to smoke tobacco. 

The hookah consists of 4 main components; the jar, the bowl, hoses, and the body.  The jar at the base of the hookah is filled with water so that when the base is attached it sinks about an inch into the water.  Hoses are attached to the base and a bowl full of tobacco is placed at the top.  The tobacco is heated by a coal which sits above it but not directly on it.  When the shisha tobacco is heated one can inhale the tobacco through the hose. 

This one bowl of tobacco can be used for a substantial amount of time.  Unlike other tobaccos the coal allows the tobacco to be heated but not burned so that it can last longer.  When a person inhales air is sucked through the tobacco, which produces smoke.  The smoke passes through the tube and into the water in the jar at the bottom.  As the bubbles of smoke pop they rise and are inhaled through the hose. 

There are hookah accessories that can be purchased at smoke shops as well.  Coals are mandatory to heat the tobacco.  A screen can be purchased to go on top of the shisha this allows the coal to be above the tobacco but not directly on it. Tongs can be used to move the coal and the shisha without burning or staining your hands.  The flavored shisha tobacco can also be purchased at a smoke shop.

 

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