Hookah and
Sheesha
A hookah is an Arabic water pipe. It is also known as a shisha (or
sheesha - the name is derived from the namesake tobacco it uses),
kalian, or hubble-bubble, or argileh. It is a traditional Arabic
device for smoking hashish, marijuana, and later tobacco, or indeed
any other smokeable substance, operating on the principle of a
water pipe.
Substances used for smoking must not be completely dry - an example
of commonly used substance is a mixture of shisha tobacco with
semi-dried fruit. (Shisha tobacco comes in various flavours, and
usually tastes like fruit, because the tobacco leaves are mixed
with dried fruit extracts. Flavours include apple, strawberries and
mint.)
Instead of being ignited, the substance is heated to a very high
temperature - traditionally with the help of an ember. When the
user inhales, the substance fumes, but doesn't burn. The water pipe
produces smoke from a small lump, placed on a small grid on top of
the pipe and covered by a piece of aluminium foil, on top of which
burning matter is placed. The smoke then goes down into a pipe and
passes through a glass or crystal bottle at the bottom of the
shisha. This bottle is filled with water, or diluted wine, and is
used to refine and cool down the smoke. Sometimes a type of syrup
(or serum) is mixed in, to give it an added flavour. The water also
removes much of the tar and nicotine coming from tobacco. The
smoker inhales the smoke that has passed through the bottle through
a long hose with a mouth piece.
Hookah are traditionally decorated. They have a very distinctive
appearance, and bear similarities to the American Indian pipe of
peace.
Compared to a cigarette, shisha is much smoother and more
flavorful. Shisha smoking is generally considered less damaging to
the health than cigarettes, particular when the smoker does not
inhale the smoke into the lungs. However there is a misconception
that there are no health risks associated with shisha
smoking.
