The tradition of the Hookah Pipe
A hookah pipe, commonly referred to as a shisha in Arabic, is a water pipe that has either one or more stems for smoking.hookah pipes were originally developed in India, but its popularity quickly spread throughout Asia and the Middle East. In addition, thanks to travellers in these areas, the hookah pipe is also gaining a following in western countries, such as the US, the UK and Canada.
The hookah utilises water to filter smoke from herbal mixtures with indirect heat, thus creating a unique and enjoyable legal smoking experience.
The hookah has a range of titles depending on where in the world it is being used. For example in Turkey and most of the Middle East it is called a nargeela. Alternatively, in Egypt it is called a shisha and the content is referred to as moassel.
Throughout the Arab world the hookah is smoked as part of the region’s culture and tradition. Hookah smoking in social settings is very common in these areas and is often done with single or double hoses. Hookah smoking in Arab social settings carries with it certain social niceties that are observed, such as placing the hose on the table after smoking to signal to the other smokers that the pipe is available. Alternatively, if the pipe is simply being passed from one smoker to the next, it is handed with the mouthpiece folded back, and not pointing in the direction of the recipient. The recipient takes the hookah and gently slaps the person he received it from as a sign of respect and thanks.
Hookahs are great; i used them a lot whilst i was on holiday over in the east