Hookah Culture - World's largest hookah culture resource and hookah lounge directory

Welcome to the HOME of hookah culture! Dedicated to bringing the resources of the growing hookah / shisha / nargileh industry, culture and society together in one place. The hookah is the apex of smoking pleasure!

As we venture forth into a new millennium, we're stressed out from normality, seeking a new niche and behavior to reinforce our potential sophistication. When we feel sophisticated, we have more potential for success. To achieve success, believe you are already there! We all seek a culture more liberating and better than our own. In the case of hookah culture , we may add this pleasure to our lives in order to help free our minds, surround ourselves with luxury, and integrate an extraordinary cultural element. With growing acceptance of this concept, we may cause a cultural and psychological shift among an elite group of bold voyagers...... Join us!

Read more in our MISSION STATEMENT.

The tobacco made available for hookah smoking comes in a variety of flavors. Traditionally, it is long pieces of tobacco mixed with a sugar-based syrup mixture and fruit bits or extract. The fruit flavors really come out in the smoke, and the cooling action of the hookah provides added smoothness. Usually hookah lounges add ice to the hookah water. Flavors include apple, peach, raspberry, mixed fruit, orange, and MANY more. Combining flavors makes for a unique experience. The tobacco isn't burned to complete ash, but rather it is cooked by the coals that sit on top of the hookah.

The flavor and method of the hookah is the most eloquent and exotic in the world. It provides the maximum smoking pleasure and the highest conviviality. Traditionally in many parts of the world, smoking a hookah with someone expressed a gesture of trust and bonding. The ceremonial gesture has translated to our society in that the elevated status of smoking a hookah has been preserved, and that people who smoke one are above and beyond the norm of society. It is a complete experience.

In general, hookahs can be disassembled into its various parts: the base that holds the water, the stem, hoses, bowl, coal tray, and the various rubber grommets which seal the hookah where parts join together.

There are many different types and styles of the smoking instrument, but many retailers are selling the standard models similar to those imported by Hookah Brothers. They are of high quality, durable, and have standard replacement parts which are easily obtainable.

It remains to be seen whether parts from Hookah Bros. can be fitted on more unique hookahs; many seem compatible from photos I've seen with similar parts, but some hookahs are VERY different. Try to find out about the availability of replacement parts; this should be a concern when making a hookah purchase. It's a pretty safe bet that hoses fit universally. You also want seperate parts for easy cleaning. Reports and photos are welcome!

Sure you might find some inexpensive wooden and brass hookahs on the net, but remember - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! Having a beautiful and functional hookah is a source of pride and contributes greatly to the smoking experience. I've seen some pitiful excuses for hookahs on the net (and in lounges), and I know that if I had guests over for a smoke I would be ashamed to offer. In some cases these look like desperate tools for drug addicts.

"Hookah" is the most common term. Originally, hookahs came from India as a form of coconut waterpipe, and is more aptly termed toward the implements from that region. "nargileh" is the Turkish term ("arguileh" in Lebanon), while "shisha" remains the term popular from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. I spoke to an Iranian, and he told me "shisha" is a term for "glass." In the early 90's I knew some American brothers who lived in Saudi Arabia because their parents were working there, and they brought a shisha back to America with some traditional apple flavored tobacco, and that was my first exposure to what they called a shisha.
Often, people call the tobacco "shisha" and this is TOTALLY INCORRECT!
A common term for the tobacco is maassell.
Say NO to pseudo-authority. Say YES to authentic Arabic nomenclature.

Some terms below are unique to certain regions of the Arabic speaking world, and there are other terms in other areas. These are not the only terms. Hookah Culture is considering compiling a list of terms and their regions of origin.
We welcome your comments!

Hookah: Also called shisha, nargileh, nargila, galyan, argila, boury, gouza. Although "hookah" is not Arabic, it is the most common term.

Maassell ("mah-sell"): There are many different Anglicised spellings for this term, just like there were different spellings for Khaddafi. It refers to the tobacco mixed with a sugar and flavor extract that is smoked in a shisha.
Brief descriptions of the various brands, as well as a storage tip is at the top of the Hookah Retailers page.

"Argila / Shisha is in fact the name for pipe itself. Nowthis does not mean you cant go to Egypt and order an apple perfectly acceptablesince what it basiclly means with flavored maasel. The tobacco though is not called shisha, I dont care what country you are in the tobacco itself is not shisha or argila but ma'asel, and this is the only word for it. In Saudi Arabia when ordering you usually order "ma'asel tufah" or "ma'asel 3inab" for example when ordering the fruit flavored tobacco, this does not mean that the whole thing including pipe is ma'asel, simply the tobacco you are ordering in your shisha is called that. There are so many words used for shisha though, it's called argila in Syria and Lebenon, shisha in Egypt and the Gulf, nargila in Turkey. Here it the States it's called hookah, sometimes hubbly bubbly, no matter what you call it, its the same thing so just enjoy yourself." -- Ahmed, a long time HookahCulture.com reader

There have been some studies regarding smoking shisha and health, but most of the controls have been unrealistic, uncontained, or not fully explained at all!
Yes, if you burn completely your mahsell in your bowl through a carcinogen measuring device, the readings will go through the roof, but the researcher must understand the method of smoking flavored mahsell - in short, it is not constant smoking but rather controlled, casual intermittent smoking with the flavor regulated with techniques to PREVENT burning. Cigarettes BURN DIRECTLY, carcinogens and all, while the contents of a flavored mahsell bowl do not because it is smoked at a lower temperature! Overall, it is the opinion that moderate and occasional (non-habitual) hookah smoking with normal ma'asell is NOT a totally serious health risk compared to a pack of cigarettes.

However as everyone knows, tobacco consumption poses certain health risks.
Smoking is an ADULT choice. Be responsible, make your own choices. Enjoy in moderation.
You might find that after a shisha bowl, a cigarette tastes awful! Ask yourself which you would rather experience.

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