In the XXI century hookah has experienced a real renaissance. The most amazing thing is that now it is smoked not only by archaic Asian beards in turbans, but also by young, quite modern and successful young people. Why do people smoke hookah? It would seem that what good is this unwieldy construction, which takes a lot of time and requires constant care? Cigarettes are much more convenient...
Be special!
Indeed, many young people were attracted to hookah because of its exoticism. A young man who smoked hookah could stand out among his peers, feel special - different from everyone else. But what is wrong with that? After all, we are always trying to show our individuality - whether it's clothing, food, music selection, different hobbies...
No rush and no fuss
Another peculiarity of hookah smoking added to the exoticism. In contrast to the banal hurried cigarette smoke, it is a real ritual, something akin to the tea ceremony. The things that seem troublesome to others - preparing a bowl, filling up tobacco or mixes, kindling, maintaining heat, the long process of smoking - are especially valuable for a waterpipe fan.
Not without reason, many researchers believe that hookah fashion has become a kind of response to the hustle and stress of modern life. It is the thoroughness and slowness of the process allowed a person to find inner peace and relax fully.
Social communication
It is no secret that hookah culture developed in the Middle East three centuries ago. There hookah quickly became a peculiar means of communication. People gathered around it not only to smoke together, but also to discuss the news, drink coffee, play narts or chess... They smoked either one by one from a single hose, or used a special model with several hoses at once.
If a guest came to an Arab or Turkish home, the host would offer him a hookah. It was a traditional sign of respect and trust. But to refuse a hookah or not to offer it could be perceived as an insult.
For example, this happened in 1842, when the French ambassador was not offered a hookah at a reception with the Turkish sultan. The ambassador was terribly offended and, they say, almost broke off diplomatic relations between the countries...
The hookah has not lost its social function today. Moreover, it is not smoked alone very often. After all, this is a great excuse to get together in a friendly company, to participate in the same ritual, relax and have a quiet conversation. Especially since you can get together not only at home, but also in any bar that serves hookah (thankfully there are plenty of them now).
Smoke can be cool and delicious
Now let's leave psychology behind and move directly to physiology. Even an inveterate cigarette smoker gets a whole range of pleasant and unexpected sensations when he gets acquainted with hookah. Firstly, he finds that waterpipe smoke doesn't burn or dry his throat at all. After all, one of the main purposes of hookah is just to minimize the temperature of smoke. Secondly, the source of smoke is not usually the usual dry tobacco, but muassel - a wet mixture with flavorings. At the same time, each variety of moissel has its own special flavor - apple, mint, grape, cherry...
For example, one of the leaders in the production of hookah tobacco - the company Al Fakher - offers more than 50 completely different flavors. That is, the smoker can try something new every time. Moreover, the hookah device allows you to mix yourself different tobaccos in the bowl and add your own ingredients (for example, pieces of fruit). In addition, you can additionally experiment with the liquid in the hookah base. For example, add there fruit juice, milk, mint leaves, and even alcohol. As a result, the possibility to diversify the flavor spectrum is truly limitless.
Why do people smoke hookah and how harmful is it?
Why smoke hookah if it's harmful? Of course, any tobacco contains nicotine, so to claim that hookah is virtually harmless would be a deception. Hookah opponents also point out that a hookah smoker inhales much more smoke in a single session than a cigarette smoker. However, let's look at everything with a sober, realistic perspective.
No matter how you look at it, the smoke that passes through the shaft and bulb of a hookah is indeed purified and filtered - primarily from harmful tar. Anyone who has cleaned a hookah at least once in his life knows this very well and has seen how much tobacco residue is left on the walls. In addition, waterpipe tobacco - muassel - consists of only 30% tobacco (and purified and with a low nicotine content). The rest is syrup, glycerin, and flavorings. You won't find anything lighter in a cigarette. Also, thanks to the consistency of the moissel, a specific technology (the tobacco in a hookah is not burned, but rather evaporated) and the liquid in the flask, the smoke is very moist, soft and does not irritate the throat.
Finally, the hookah is smoked much less frequently than cigarettes or a pipe. Still it requires special comfortable conditions and a sufficient amount of time for preparation. Of course, there are avid hookah smokers who smoke several times a day. But it is rather the exception than the rule. Simply in any hobby it is necessary to know a measure.
If you do not accept nicotine in any form, then you can score a hookah without nicotine mixes. These are also sold, or you can make your own from fruits and berries. Of course, the relaxing effect in this case will be reduced. But the pleasure of the aroma and the very process of inhaling the smoke will remain the same. Moreover, cigarette smokers who decide to get rid of their harmful habit often switch to a nicotine-free hookah. That's why weaning is easier (at least psychologically).