Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Hookahs - The Fast Growing Trend

By Hookah Joe


A hookah is a device used for smoking flavored tobacco, allowing for purification of the smoke through a water basin before inhalation. The most high quality hookahs are found in the region of in and around Middle East, where the hookahs actually belong to. The components of hookahs are quite simple and constructed in a straightforward way.

Structure

The image here shows the key components of a hookah. Basically, smoke produced by the burning tobacco is passed down via the body, the end of which is immersed in the water jar. The smoke is stored in an air chamber above the water once it is purified by the water. Passing smoke through water cools down the temperature of the smoke and makes it much more appropriate for the lungs, which is an additional beneficial side effect of purifying smoke with water. On the top left section of the water jar in this diagram is the hose. It is not fully represented here, but the hose normally stretches 1 or more meters. The smoker smokes through the hose by puffing on it. The end result is an extremely satisfying, fragrant, thick, and clear smoke exhaled by the smoker. In general, people smoke hookah while sitting in groups with their close friends on family taking pleasure in their company.

What Is the Smoke Made of?

Ordinarily hookahs are used to smoke shisha, which is flavorful tobacco. Modern-day shisha consists of some or all of the following: tobacco, treacle (uncrystallized syrup produced in refining sugar), honey, sugar, molasses, glycerin, nicotine, dried fruit and distilled water.

Normally shishas have a base of fruit flavor like Apple, Mango or Peach. But, nowadays many of the popular manufacturers are testing with off-shoots of these fruity tastes, for example Peaches 'n Cream, or Banana Split.

The tobacco flavors have become significantly adaptable due to the ease of flavoring at the time of production. The dried tobacco, glycerin, and sweetener can be blended with basically any ingredients to produce special flavors.

The Original Source of Hookahs

The very first hookah was invented by a Persian physician called Abul-Fath Gilani in the 1500's. The word hookah comes from the indian name of this device "huqqa." He produced a system to pass smoke through a water basin to purify the smoke because he was concerned with the health risks of smoking. But, it is said that even before he invented it, hookah existed in other parts of Persia. Whatever the case, the popularity of the hookah grew throughout India and Pakistan, westward into Iran, Turkey, and Lebanon. When the hookah arrived at Turkey, its fame increased in the Turkish elite, and it swiftly spread through Lebanon and Syria to the rest of the Middle East and into northern Africa. Now, it has become very well liked over the world.

As it journeyed from Persia to the rest of the globe, the hookah gained a lot of names.

Nargile (also pronounced Argilee) - Generally used in Mediterranean countries

Narguile - used in Spain

Lula (or lulava) - used in Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina

Sheesha - used by countries in Northern Africa from Morocco to Egypt, and the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf including Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia

Qalyan - used in Iran

Karim Khan - used in Russia, Belarus

Chillim - used in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan

Huqqa - used in India and Pakistan

Gudugudaa - used in Maldives

Marra Pipe - used in the UK

I Wish To Purchase a Hookah, Where Should I Go?

Like many consumer products in the 21st century, hookahs can be bought in-person or on the internet. Hookah shops have grown with the popularity of hookah bars around the U.S. since the turn of the century. If you live in or near a more populated urban environment or college town, your odds of getting a hookah shop are far better. In the Mediterranean countries and the Persian Gulf, hookahs have become a part of everyday life of the people. But, this is not the case in the U.S.

If you do not want to wander around looking for a hookah, then you a purchase one on the Internet from a number of shops online that provide high quality hookahs and shishas.

What Are The Health Threats Here?

Whether smoking hookah is less hazardous than cigarette smoking is still not known. Inhaling any type of smoke is detrimental for lungs but the people in favor of hookah say that the smoke is cleaner and as compared to the smoke of a cigarette. Detractors say that hookah contains more harmful toxins as compared to cigarettes. It contains compounds such as tar, carbonmonoxide and heavy metals. One more argument is that hookah smoking sessions last 60 minutes or longer, so the amount of smoke breathed in is way greater than cigarette smoking. On the other hand hookah seems to be less addictive when compared with cigarettes.




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