Pleasurable smoke from your hookah

Although there are many different schools of thought on how exactly one should smoke a Hookah, Shisha or Narghile, many of them are correct all at the same time. Here are some steps for setting up a "proper" hookah to receive a pleasant smoking experience. Try experimenting with your own process. Not all hookahs are exactly the same, what with varying sizes and use of material. Furthermore, not all cultures smoke the same way: in Egypt they place coals directly on the unflavored shisha. So experiment and find something that works for you.

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1. 1
   Start by putting ice cubes, then water in the vase, filling it 1/2 inch above the tip of the stem that goes down into the vase.
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2. 2
   Take the tobacco (sprinkle it into the bowl. Be sure to not pack it too low to the rim, nor too high. It is important to take care when loading the hookah bowl to ensure that you do not overflow the bowl. If the Shisha is too close to the top, when the coal is applied it will burn the Shisha directly causing an unpleasant smoke. Be sure to not pack the Shisha into the bowl too tightly -- This will restrict airflow.
3. 3
   Put heavy duty only foil over the top of the bowl, shiny side down. Keep the foil tight as wrinkles somewhat distort the heat distribution. Poke about 15-20 holes with a toothpick (or anything with the same diameter..or even better get some glass screen material as a substitute and bypass the entire foil thing).
4. 4
   Blow through the hose to clean out any dust or particles that may have settled, don't wash the hose unless you know that it is washable.
5. 5
   Light the coal. Coals can make or break your hookah experience. Most experienced smokers enjoy the natural light coals instead of the instant-light coals. The reason being is that they ash significantly less, last longer, and do not have an aftertaste. Instant-light coals are good when the situation calls for it (i.e. No stove to light the natural lights, high winds, etc.)
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   Place the coal on top of the foil. If the coal is circular place it around the bowl in a circular pattern around the bowl allowing the tobacco to evenly burn. Let the coals sit on top of the hookah until every coal has ash all over. Failure to do this will result in you inhaling the chemicals that make instant-lights ignite so fast.
7. 7
   (Not a required step) Put ice in the base to make the smoke colder. Don't over fill, just enough to cover the bottom. Fill the vase with ice first, then add water. It is important to make sure that you only fill the vase slightly over 1/2" above the tip of the stem. The reason for this is because once the ice melts, the water level will drop to the desired level.
8. 8
   (Not a required step)Sometimes you can add items in the base to change the smoke. Adding a small amount of milk (a teaspoon works [for the average sized base] will make the smoke thicker.)
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      Assembly diagram
     Assembly and Maintenance Diagram to help understand the process
9. 9
   ( Not a required step) Many people believe strongly in what are called "diffusers." Diffusers work a lot like an aerator on a faucet. It is placed over the stem and submerged so it is around 1/4 of an inch below the surface. Diffusers allow for more smoke to accumulate more water vapor, creating a tastier, smoother smoke.

editTips

• Hookah smoke should be thick and white, such smoke indicates you have prepped and are smoking the Hookah correctly.
• If the smoke ever becomes harsh , take the bowl off with a towel (It will be hot), and blow into the hookah. This will clear the vase/chamber of the smoke. (Some hookahs come with purge valves, and another way to do this with a 2+ hose hookah is take a hose off and blow through.)
• A well packed bowl with good tobacco can last you a good 45 minutes, perhaps 30 minutes with some friends. The coals might last from 20 minutes up to an hour depending on type and brand.
• Try different flavours and brands of shisha tobacco, some give you a much more pleasant and thick smoke than others.
• Try different brands of shisha tobacco to find the one that you like best at a reasonable price, but don't be afraid to buy more expensive brands of the tobacco, particularly for special occasions.
• Feel free to mix different flavors together, mixing and matching flavors is one of the great joys of a true hookah aficionado. A few suggestions would be apple-mango, banana-mango-pineapple, and lemon-mint.
• To help in providing an even burn and avoid foil burn, try breaking the coal up into smaller pieces, place them on the outer edges and rotate them around the bowl while moving them steadily inwards. It can be a little tricky to break the coal up evenly but it is definitely worth the time and effort.
• Cutting up the tobacco may help a lot in packing the bowl correctly and maintaining an even burn, use a simple pair of kitchen shears. Not too fine or the tobacco will fall in through the holes of the bowl and can occasionally clog up the stem.
• If the tobacco is dry, revive it by adding some honey or molasses to it and mixing it in, good when you're in a bind.
• If you want to make your own shisha, check out the related wikiHow on how to make apple tobacco.
• For any of you who want to elevate your hookah experience, here's a tip: try using a piece of fruit for a bowl (such as an apple or an orange). It definitely boosts the flavour and, surprisingly enough, the session tends to last longer than it would with a traditional clay bowl. Here's a step by step guide:
  1. find a circular fruit such as an apple, mango, orange or whatever you can get your hands on.
  2. Cut the top of the fruit off and leave about 3/4 of the fruit.
  3. Dig into the fruit with a spoon till about 1/4 of the fruit is left intact. (leaving the sides thicker would be ideal for better taste and a better burn).
  4. Use either a corkscrew or any sharp and thin object to force a hole in the bottom.
  5. Now, within the core of the fruit, poke many holes through the hole in the bottom to make the smoke holes. the more you make, the easier it'll be to suck in later on.
  6. Stick the fruit on the stem, pack the fruit with shisha tobacco, and cover with foil.
• To clean your hookah, dip a rag into vinegar and push it through the stem with the lower half of a fishing pole or other stick. As for the vase, soaking it with warm water and soap for a bit, as well as a very thorough rinsing after wards is your best bet. Clean the stem around once a week and the vase once a month or so.
• For a different smoking experience, you might consider trying to use a glass bowl and screen. Using a glass screen between the tobacco and the coals eliminates the need for tinfoil and does not produce the metallic taste.
• A thicker grade of foil will distribute heat better throughout the bowl, the foil will also be less likely to burn.
• Try shopping around for a funnel bowl, it will lengthen the session and allow for a cooler and more flavourful smoke.
• Another great addition to your hookah accessory repertoire is a larger diameter hose, allowing for a more smoke to flow with less pulling
• Experiment with different coals to find the right configuration for you. Be it Japanese, quicklight or natural wood coals, each has their own advantages and disadvantages.
• In many Middle Eastern countries they will use a base of milk or juice to enhance the flavor and thickness of the smoke. Standard procedure at Ali Baba's Hookah Bar (est. 1760 in Istanbul) is 1/3 parts milk/juice to 2/3 parts water
• More smaller holes is better than fewer large ones. With smaller holes less ash falls in the bowl and you lower the chance of a burning piece of coal falling into your bowl which will cause it to burn. Use a pin or a thumb tack.
• before adding another piece of coal to add thickness to your smoke, place a windprotector/shield on the bowl first. This will evenly raise the temperature and lower the chance of the bowl burning too hot.

editWarnings

• Although a 45 minute hookah session is roughly equivalent to 2.5 cigarettes in terms of nicotine, the point here is that a hookah lasts 45 minutes, whereas a cigarette usually doesn't last for more than 5; you do the math.
• Do not use b.b.q. coals as they produce an excess amount of carbon monoxide which may cause headaches and can (unlikely though it may be) result in death. Use commercial hookah coals, either quick light or natural, for smoking a pleasant hookah.
• Always use the tongs that come with most Hookahs to light or move your coals, don't use kitchen tongs which may have been coated in a polymer to provide a non-stick coating for food prep and easy cleaning.
• Do not breathe in during the burning of the chemicals in quick-lighting coals. The chemicals contain various carcinogens and other unhealthy substances.
• Some flavours of shisha tobacco(like cappuccino) might be of such a strong flavour that the taste might stay behind in your hookah even after cleaning.
• Talk to the salesperson or someone you know who has experience and similarities in tastes about a certain brand or flavour.
• If possible, buy a small 50g pack to see if you like it.
• Shisha tobacco flavour may be completely dominated by other aspects of the shisha (such as the rosewater, true of many low-key flavours). With such shisha tobacco flavours, what you're left with is a soapy tasting smoke in your lungs and mouth.
• Watch excessive inhaling as a beginner, as you will easily become light headed from the smoke and/or start coughing.
• Hookah is not a safe alternative to cigarettes, cigars, or any other type of tobacco product. Use with your own discretion.

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  Hookah
• Water
• Shisha tobacco
• Ice can be used to make for a more pleasurable smoking session.
• Coals
• Tongs
• Foil
• Toothpick