China Hookah Blog

Different names of Hookah

三月 4, 2010 – 9:14 下午

Depending on locality, hookahs or shishas may be referred to by many names: Arabic Language use it as Shisha or Nargeela or Argeela and they use it throughout the whole of the Arab World; Narghilè (but sometimes pronounced Argilah) is the name most commonly used in Turkey, Cyprus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. Narghile derives from the Persian word nārghile, meaning coconut, which in turn is from the Sanskrit word nārikela (suggesting that early hookahs were hewn from coconut shells..

In Albania, Bosnia, Croatia the hookah is called “Lula” or “Lulava” in Romani, meaning “pipe,” the word “shishe” refers to the actual bottle piece.

In Serbia, Srpska Republika od Bosna i Hercegovina, and in much of the eastern and southern former Yugoslavia, “Nargile” (Наргиле) or “Nagile” (Нагиле) is used to refer to the pipe. “šiša” (шиша) usually refers to the nicotine and tar free tobacco that is smoked in it. The pipes there often have one or two mouth pieces. They are usually shared between two people. The flavored tobacco is placed above the water and covered by pierced foil with hot coals placed on top, the smoke is drawn through cold water to cool and filter it.

Shisha (شيشة), from the Persian word shīshe (شیشه), meaning glass, is the common term for the hookah in Egypt and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf (including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia), and in Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia and Yemen.

In Iran, hookah is called غلیون “Ghalyoon”. In Uzbekistan, hookah is called “Chillim”. In India and Pakistan the name most similar to the English hookah is used: huqqa .

The commonness of the Indian word “hookah” in English is a result of the British Raj, the British dominion of India (1858–1947), when large numbers of expatriate Britons first sampled the water-pipe. William Hickey, shortly after arriving in Kolkata, India, in 1775, wrote in his Memoirs:
“ The most highly-dressed and splendid hookah was prepared for me. I tried it, but did not like it. As after several trials I still found it disagreeable, I with much gravity requested to know whether it was indispensably necessary that I should become a smoker, which was answered with equal gravity, “Undoubtedly it is, for you might as well be out of the world as out of the fashion. Here everybody uses a hookah, and it is impossible to get on without” [... I] have frequently heard men declare they would much rather be deprived of their dinner than their hookah.

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三月 4, 2010 – 9:03 下午

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Shisha

三月 1, 2010 – 11:37 下午

Shisha embroidery, or mirror-work, is a type of embroidery which attaches small pieces of mirrors reflective metal to fabric. The term “shisha” means glass in Persian, from where the word transferred to Urdu/Hindi and other related languages. Shisha embroidery was brought to India by the Moghuls and is now most common on the Indian subcontinent, especially in parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. This type of embroidery lends a sparkling appearance to the brightly-colored clothes worn in the region, and is very popular for use on clothing, hangings, and domestic textiles.

Shisha is also used to describe the small mirrors purchasable for use in embroidery, which come in varying shapes and sizes. Traditionally, shisha work was done using mica flakes, but was later subsumed by glass blown into large thin bubbles and broken into small pieces for this use. Contemporary shisha work almost entirely consists of mass-produced, machine-cut glass shisha with a silvered backing.

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Hookah

二月 2, 2010 – 12:49 上午

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Phuchka, chillah and hookah: Culinary highlights of the past week

一月 22, 2010 – 2:00 上午

From banana leaves and fingers on the floor, to gourmet dining at one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve been to, the past week has been an orgy of eating experiences. My gut is a little confused….but here are the highlights:

1. Invited to lunch at local villagers house. We ate fish and rice with our hands off banana leaves on the floor. The highlight for me were the sweets – Bengali sweets can be very nice – made from rice, sugar, coconut, sugar, banana, sugar and sugar. The trick it to pop the whole sweet in your mouth without letting sugar juice run down your chin.

2. More village snacks at a co-workers house – muri, coconut with sugar, and a spicy mix of nuts, dried peas and some yellow things. Actually it goes quite well with beer, if I had any.

2. Went for hookah and soft drinks with local Kolkatan college students. Finished off the night with street food – phuchka, chillah and kulfi.

3. Tried to get some western breakfast into me with bacon, eggs, sausages toast and coffee in one of the touristy/posh restaurants. The bacon and eggs were quite small and “Indian-style”, the coffee very weak, the sausages edible, just. Decided to stick to Indian food, which tastes much better. And tea instead of coffee – the tea is fabulous.

4. In an Indian restaurant full of Indian families, with Indian people waiting for tables, we ordered butter chicken, vegetable curry and some other dishes with the best naan I have ever tasted in my life. Finished off with kulfi. It was the best tasting meal I have had for 2 months. Very happy.

5. Back to home sweet home food at the NGO – rice, dahl, fish, potato and vegetable. It’s comforting, like mum’s cooking after you’ve been eating out for too many few days.

6. Two days of fever and gut “issues”. LOL serves me right. Probably the street food. Or the sausages. What did I expect?

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What Exactly is a Hookah?

一月 18, 2010 – 10:46 下午

The hookah has a long and storied history. Also known variously as a hubble-bubble, narghile, hookah shisha, or water pipe, among other names, hookahs have been used for a mellow tobacco smoking experience in Asia and the Middle East for centuries. Coming to the Middle East from India, the hookah started out as a humble coconut shell. In Turkey, it evolved into the true hookah, becoming a mainstay of coffee house life during the 17th century. Hookah smoking is still very common in cafes and restaurants throughout the Middle East.

Many rituals, of preparation, lighting, and smoking etiquette, surround the use of the hookah. People gathered in the coffee houses to smoke together, exchanging news and stories–or simply sharing quiet, meditative time. Recalling a more relaxed and unhurried past, hookahs conjure tales of journeys along the Nile, long nights in exotically scented gardens, the spice of the bazaar, and the sinuous music of the belly dance.

Hookahs were smoked by women gathered for tea, by students engaging in intellectual discussion, men playing games of chance, and simple gatherings of friends for enjoyment and relaxation. Offering a guest a puff at the house hookah, or narghile, was a sign of welcome and hospitality. Rather than a habit of nervousness, as many might classify the cigarette, the hookah is an entry to tranquility and reflection. It is a connection to the past and an oasis of civilized fellowship in the frenetic present.

With such a long history, it’s not surprising that the craftsmanship in a hookah approaches the level of art; most hookahs are exquisitely detailed and beautiful. At one time, each part of the hookah was produced by a craftsman specifically trained to produce just that piece. Materials used included silver, crystal, and amber. When you add in the centuries of tradition and ritual in which the hookah is steeped, it’s easy to see that this ancient water pipe represents the nexus of a singular and luxuriant experience in smoke and social interaction–and why it’s becoming so popular in the West.

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Hookah Bars: The Next Big Thing?(2)

一月 8, 2010 – 1:35 上午

The hookahs of today, while being modernized and updated, have remained true to their creator’s initial goal. Traditionally made of glass and brass, hookahs are now being produced of materials such as acrylic, crystal and steel. Also, the once hand-crafted art has transformed into a full-blown industry that is selling record numbers of hookahs. Hookah shisha has come of age, as well. Production of hookah shisha is at an all-time high and major manufacturers are creating more and more flavors to be consumed by customers worldwide. Flavors include everything from fruity apples and oranges to regional favorites like bubble gum and vanilla. In all, there are more than 50 different flavors to choose from and more are being added all the time. The precise mixture of ingredients has also yielded a tobacco with flavor that lasts longer. In fact, one person can smoke can smoke a bowl of tobacco for nearly an hour without having to change the tobacco.

A small number of entrepreneurs have recognized the potential of the hookah and have begun to open bars and cafes that are specifically-tailored toward the rental and sales of hookahs. In just a short period of time, they’ve proven that there is some serious money to be made in the hookah service industry for those willing to venture into seemingly unchartered territories. Most surprising is the low initial investment required to open a hookah establishment. For most locations, as little as 10 to 15 hookahs per 1,000 square feet of customer seating area is sufficient and will virtually guarantee that there are enough hookahs to go around. When purchased in larger lots, the cost of each hookah can run anywhere from $20 to $80 dollars and some wholesalers will even provide the hookahs for free if the bar or cafe agrees to purchase their hookah tobacco from the company. Rental fees for hookahs run anywhere from $10 in a hookah cafe to $25 in hookah bars! Of course, the rental plan is entirely up to the business owner and usually includes a single bowl of hookah shisha to smoke. Lower-priced refills of hookah tobacco encourage customers to stick around and socialize in the intimate environment. Most customers do not smoke by themselves, opting instead for groups of 3 to 4 people. This will reduce the longevity of each bowl of tobacco and increase the number of refills purchased by each group.

Before you can begin renting hookahs, you must first check with local, state and federal governments to ensure that you will not be breaking any laws or regulations. For most areas, a tobacco sales tax permit or license is all that is required to begin renting hookahs. Of course, this is supplemental to the typical state sales tax permit or license. You will also need to check local zoning requirements and determine the best location for your bar or cafe. There are a number of wholesalers available to get your cafe or bar up and running in the shortest amount of time possible. It is recommended that you opt for customer service and support over pennies saved, as it is often difficult to find companies that are in-tune with the American way of doing business.

In addition to hookahs, you will need to choose between a bar or cafe concept. Cafes are generally easier to open and require a minimal amount of additional capital. The largest expenditure will be the espresso machine and this will run anywhere from $2,000 to $14,000 depending upon the brand, model and, if used, the age of the machine. If you plan the cafe route, it is recommended that you pick up a copy of “Start and Run a Coffee Bar” (Matzen & Harrison, Self Counsel Press 2002). Although not hookah-oriented, it’s filled with the ins-and-outs of running a cafe and what is required to operate all of the various cafe machines. If you want to open a hookah bar that serves alcoholic beverages, it is definitely recommended that you open near a college or university campus. This will give you a steady flow of new, fresh bodies that will save your bar from going stale with the locals. The hookah bar concept, when coupled with college towns, has proven to be the most successful and profitable hookah business ventures. There are, of course, caveats to opening a bar of any type. You will have to cut through significantly more ‘red tape’ but the payoff should definitely be worth the time and effort. Hookah bars are one of the fastest growing concepts for college towns and offer a fresh, new environment for 20-somethings to hang out.

As you can see, hookahs have edged their way into the European and American lifestyle. The cigar bars of yesteryear have paved the way for a unique opportunity for the entrepreneurs of today. Hookah cafes and hookah bars stand to make millions by providing the public with something that they’ve been looking for and haven’t been able to find in the countless other cafes and bars. Hookahs bring back the social, intimate gatherings of friends that have long been lost to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Oh, and who knows? Your hookah bar or cafe could be the next big thing!

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Hookah Bars: The Next Big Thing?(1)

一月 3, 2010 – 8:17 下午

You’ve probably seen a hookah. Most children who grew up in the United States have almost certainly seen a hookah. But, like most people, you’ve likely forgotten what one looks like and what they’re used for. Think back. Recall the tale of a girl named Alice who seemingly stranded in a strange, imaginative world. In Lewis Carroll’s story, Alice in Wonderland, Alice stumbles upon an arrogant and inquisitive caterpillar. Perched atop a giant mushroom, and smoking what appears to be a strange musical instrument, the caterpillar asks Alice a quite memorable question– “Who are YOU?” The musical instrument is not really a musical instrument at all. It is, in fact, a hookah and this hookah-smoking caterpillar is how most children get their first glimpse of this curiously strange smoking device.

When Lewis Carroll wrote the story of Alice in 1865, hookahs had been in existence and in use for several centuries. Though never really popular in European countries, the hookah was and is still very popular in Eastern cultures like Egypt and India. So, how is it that this mysterious thing called Hookah Shisha has never seen its day in Europe or, in more recent times, the United States? Perhaps the time is upon us!

In the past, cigars have been the ‘gourmet smoke’ for those wishing to break out of the conventional, cigarette-smoking mold. Crafted from higher-grade tobaccos and hand-rolled in exotic lands, cigars have become a true contender to the additive-infused cigarettes of modern day. Cigars have become so popular, in fact, that they have cropped up an entire industry that is based around their existence. Cigar and specialty tobacco shops are evidence of the profit to be made from selling tobacco in a different form factor than that of the cigarette. In addition to cigar shops, cigar bars have proven that smoking-tailored establishments can be both socially-acceptable and huge profit centers for their owners. It is society’s acceptance of the cigar bar that makes hookah shisha bars and hookah cafes a possibility!

There is no doubt that the tobacco industry has seen better days and, from the aftermath of the Big Tobacco lawsuits, it’s a wonder that these companies are still around. Did you know that there are over 600 legally-allowed additives that tobacco companies can add to their cigarettes? That’s an amazing cocktail of chemicals that cigarette smokers are putting into their bodies every time they choose to light up! In comparison, today’s shisha tobaccos, commonly referred to as shisha, is comprised only of a handful of natural ingredients. These ingredients are typically tobacco, all-natural glycerin or honey, sugar and natural flavorings. That’s 596 additives short of what could be in a normal, run-of-the-pack cigarette! It’s facts like these that bring most people to believe that hookah smoking is a less-harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes. Unfortunately, no major study has been performed to evaluate the health effects of smoking hookah shisha. So, we’ll have to wait for a definitive answer to that question.

When the Turkish invented the hookah centuries ago, they did so with one goal in mind. Up to that time, tobacco had been smoked in pipes that are reminiscent of American Indian peace pipes. When smoking from these pipes, the smoke was at a temperature very close to the burning tobacco itself. Someone came up with the idea of filtering the smoke through water to cool the smoke to an enjoyable temperature. The simplicity of the hookah made it an instant hit and has been a major reason why hookahs are still prevalent in so many Eastern cultures. Though not originally planned when the hookah was invented, the water that the smoke passes through actually acts as a natural filter that helps filter tar and other impurities created when tobacco is smoked. Many years after the hookah was invented, someone would accidentally drop their shisha tobaccos into some molasses, thus paving the way for modern hookah shisha. It was the addition of molasses, now substituted by all-natural glycerin, which slowed the rate at which the tobacco burned and actually made it possible to heat the tobacco rather than burning it. Heating tobacco results in greater flavor potential and lowers the amount of nicotine that is released while smoking.

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Hookah Culture

十二月 30, 2009 – 11:13 下午

South Asia
India
The concept of hookah originated In India, once the province of the wealthy, it was tremendously popular especially during Mughal rule. The hookah has since become less popular; however, it is once again garnering the attention of the masses, and cafés and restaurants that offer it as a consumable are popular. The use of hookahs from ancient times in India was not only a custom, but a matter of prestige. Rich and landed classes would smoke hookahs. Tobacco is smoked in hookahs in many villages as per traditional customs. Smoking molasses in a hookah is now becoming popular amongst the youth in India. It is a growing trend amongst youngsters and adolescents. There are several chain clubs, bars and coffee shops in India offering a variety of hookahs. The new trends emerging are that of non-tobacco hookahs with herbal flavors.

Koyilandy, a small fishing town on the west coast of India, once made and exported these extensively. These are known as Malabar Hookhas or Koyilandy Hookahs. Today these intricate hookahs are difficult to find outside of Koyilandy and not much easier to find in Koyilandy itself. The government looks down on hookah smoking. There have been numerous raids and bans recently on hookah smoking, especially in Gujarat

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United States and Canada Hookah

十二月 30, 2009 – 12:46 上午

Recently many cities, states and counties have implemented indoor smoking bans. In some jurisdictions, hookah businesses can be exempted from the policies through special permits. Some permits however, have requirements such as the business earning a certain minimum percentage of their revenue from alcohol or tobacco.

In cities with indoor smoking bans, hookah bars have been forced to close or consider alternatives, such as offering flavored tobacco based maasel. In many cities though, hookah lounges have been growing in popularity. From the year 2000 to 2004, over 200 new hookah cafes opened for business, most of which are targeted at a young-adult age group, and were particularly near college campuses or cities with large Middle-Eastern communities. This activity continues to grow in popularity within the post-secondary student demographic.

In North America, the term ‘shisha‘ is not as commonly used as ‘hookah’. Sometimes ‘Shisha‘ can also refer to the Shisha Tobaccos inside the pipe as opposed to the Hookah pipe itself. In the middle east a “hookah” pipe does not have a hose–it only incorporates the straight neck.

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