Since those times when people liked to inhale the aromatic and intoxicating smoke, no more sophisticated and refined device for smoking than a hookah was invented. Let's understand the essence, the principle of the hookah and its main features.
The Long Way of Smoke
Hookah consists of several separate parts, so it is no coincidence that it exceeds the size of all other smoking devices. On top of the hookah there is a bowl - a kind of "hearth" where the tobacco smoke is born. The "body" of the hookah (or, as some say, its "heart") is the shaft - a rather long vertical tube. The lower end of the shaft is inserted into the base, which is filled with liquid and is the base of the whole construction. And to the shaft is attached a long hose with a mouthpiece at the end, from which we actually smoke.
As you can see, before reaching the smoker, the smoke has to travel quite a long way. It would seem - why complicate the process of smoking so much? Is it only for the sake of an amusing bubbling of bubbles in the base? Of course not! On the way from the base to the mouthpiece, the smoke has time to change significantly - and for the better. First, it cools down, becoming softer and more pleasant for your throat and lungs. Secondly, it is purified to a large extent, leaving on the walls of the hookah and in the base with liquid some of the harmful substances and impurities.
Principle of hookah operation: Taste and flavor
Of course, you can smoke anything with a hookah. However, as a rule, it does not use ordinary tobacco, but a tobacco mixture moistened with syrup and glycerin and containing various flavorings. As a result, hookah aficionados have at their disposal a wide range of flavors not available to other smokers. This can be the taste of apple, melon, grape, mint gum and so on, so on, so on ... For example, one of the most popular manufacturers of hookah tobacco - the company "Al Fakher" - offers more than 50 flavors.
Such tobaccos, reminiscent of the consistency of thick jam, are called muassels. Thanks to them, the banal process of smoking turns into a real gourmet feast. Plus, you can experiment with the flavors yourself. Try mixing different kinds of shisha in a bowl, adding other ingredients such as fruit flakes. You can also change the taste and smoothness of tobacco by adding milk, fruit juices, and even alcohol to the base. The main thing with the latter is not to overdo it.
It is important to note that the nicotine content in moissels is quite low which significantly reduces the risk to your health. Moreover, even ardent enemies of any nicotine can taste the charms of hookah smoking. After all, as already mentioned, you can smoke everything from a hookah - such as fruit, tea, etc. It is not without reason that the largest hookah tobacco manufacturers (the same "Al Fakher") include special - nicotine-free - mixes in their range.
Principle of hookah operation: no burning or bitterness
Moissel tobacco is moistened not only to preserve flavor. The fact is that unlike cigarettes, the tobacco in a hookah bowl does not burn. Only the charcoal burns, which releases regular carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and nothing else.
How is it so? - you ask. The thing is that the red-hot coals (top) and tobacco (bottom) are separated from each other by a partition. The partition can be made of foil or a special heat management devices. As a result, the heat passes through the holes in the partition, and the moist mass begins to evaporate. In essence, we get a smoke consisting of water vapor and glycerin with a mixture of essential oils and nicotine. This smoke is aromatic and has no bitter aftertaste.
How the process of hookah smoking takes place?
So, what does smoking a hookah look like in general terms? When the coals are lit and the tobacco is warm enough, you take the first puff through the mouthpiece. Here it should be noted that the base is not filled up with water and the base of the hose is attached to the top, free of liquid. As a result, when you puff, the air in the base becomes discharged, which creates a draft inside the hookah. The draft forces the smoke from the bowl into the shaft tube, where it loses most of its heat. In addition, it leaves a significant amount of harmful tar on the walls. Through the bottom end of the shaft, the smoke enters the water, causing it to bubble and gurgle. Additional filtration and cooling of the smoke occurs in the water. Then it fills the upper part of the base (free of water) and from there it is inhaled through the hose.
As a result, we get a weak, cool and fragrant smoke, which makes the smoking process is comfortable, pleasant and special.