Hookah beginner smokers sometimes encounter all sorts of problems. No wonder, a water pipe is a complex tool and practically every part of it more or less translates into the quality of the smoking experience. For this reason, we decided to compile answers to the most common questions, such as smoking length or the possibility of using multiple hoses at once. We hope that with this guide your next sessions will be even better and more satisfying.

I am looking for a hookah for a beginner. Which one should I choose?

As a simple starter set, we recommend Aladin Alux series water pipes or YKAP brand hookahs. If you purchase an Aladin set, it’s worth replacing the included bowl and cap with higher-end products, such as FUGO, HYPE, UPG or SOLARIS brand bowls. We recommend replacing the cap with a Kaloud heat management system, which will contribute to a significant improvement in the quality of flavor and quantity of smoke. To start the session, apart from the tobacco itself, you will only need coals and a charcoal starter. We can confidently offer you Cocoloco coals and a basic electric stove from Esperanza.

What components does a hookah consist of?

The Hookah consists of a vase, body, hose, mouthpiece, cigarette holder and heat management system. Necessary accessories include tongs for interleaving coals, while tools such as a charcoal starter and a poker for stacking tobacco make preparing a session much easier.

Does the height of the hookah matter?

In the case of high water pipes, the smoke has a longer path to travel from the bowl to the mouthpiece, resulting in more resistance to inhaling and a slightly less plentiful, but cooler smoke. In higher-end Hookahs, the difficulty of pulling is mitigated by the use of higher diameter inner tubes – it is worth checking this parameter before buying. In the case of very low water pipes, micro type, temperature dissipation is less effective and the water in the vase heats up quickly, which contributes to a slight deterioration of taste over time.

What kind of bowl is best?

There is no single best bowl, it all depends on what kind of tobacco one intends to smoke. Cymbals differ not only in the material of construction (clay, stoneware, glass and others), but also in the type of construction (masta and phunnel) and the depth of the bowl. All of these are suitable to a different degree for different tobaccos. A good choice for starting are bowls from UPG, Fugo, Solaris or Hype, as well as phunnels from Oblako, HC, KS and Telamoon brands. It is also a good idea to buy a Kaloud heat management system for the bowl, which will be especially useful for beginner smokers.

What accessories are worth buying for a Hookah?

Among the must-have accessories are tongs (sometimes included in the set with the hookah), a charcoal starter and a poker for stacking tobacco, which will make preparing a session much easier. Other useful extras include a charcoal carrier, hygienic mouthpieces for guests, and for hookah care, a set of snips and cleaners.

What is the purpose of a diffuser?

The diffuser is designed to break up the bubbles coming out of the dip tube during a pull. This results in muted bubbling, which is useful when smoking a Hookah and watching movies or working at the same time. It also contributes to the sensation of an easier pull.

How to properly light a Hookah step by step?

A detailed guide to lighting a Hookah can be found on our website: How to light a hookah? General Guide

Can anything other than tobacco be smoked in a Hookah?

Alternatives to tobacco are nicotine-free products. In them we distinguish gels, gels, herbals, pebbles and pastes. Of these, we particularly recommend herbals, which have the most natural and intense flavor.

You can read more about tobacco and nicotine-free Hookah cartridges in the article: Hookah tobacco and its substitutes

Can flavors for Hookah be mixed together?

As much as possible, but you need to remember to choose the right flavors. As with alcoholic drinks, not everything goes together. You can also mix light and dark tobacco.

Hookah is said to be as harmful as forty cigarettes. Is this true?

Hookah and cigarettes cannot be compared because they involve a different heating and burning process. In the case of cigarettes, it is full combustion. Hookah, on the other hand, has a roasting process, after which the tobacco is roasted. The main harmful factors when smoking cigarettes are tar, carcinogenic compounds and carbon dioxide. In the case of Hookah, it is mainly carbon monoxide coming out of the glowing coals.

Does the brand of carbs matter?

First of all, you should avoid the so-called. self-burning carbs. Instead of them, it is advisable to choose natural (coconut or nut) coals of the best possible quality. In particular, we recommend coals from the companies Cocoloco, Crown and Black Coco’s. Unlike their cheaper counterparts, they do not emit an unpleasant odor during lighting, do not distort the taste of the smoke, and glow for a long time without leaving large amounts of ash.

You can read more about the types of hookah coals in the article: Hookah carbons without secrets

What effect does milk have on smoke?

The milk in the vase makes the smoke thicker during smoking and imparts a milky flavor. For this reason, it is a good supplement for tobaccos and nicotine-free cartridges with vanilla, coffee or even milk and rice flavors. Milk is not always a suitable additive, and for some tobaccos it is better to use simply cold water, better conveying the natural flavor.

Hookah loses its taste after some time. What am I doing wrong?

The following factors can contribute to the lack of flavor in the Hookah
– low heating temperature of the bowl
– insufficiently heated or low-grade coals – use coconut coals with high caloric value
– poor quality smoking product with low flavor content
– burning too much in the initial stage of smoking – you need to let the bowl warm up for the first few minutes.

Hookah burns out in less than an hour. How to extend the session?

To extend the smoking time you should:
– increase the amount of product to smoke in the bowl (fill to no more than 1 mm below the top of the bowl)
– properly scoop the product to smoke in the bowl – we suggest to do it as fluffily as possible
– equip yourself with a bigger capacity bowl
– use coconut coals with high caloric value
– take care not to burn the Hookah – intensive enlisting in the first minutes of smoking is a recipe for instant burning of tobacco and premature end of the session
– add new coals after approx. an hour and a half of smoking

It should also be remembered that in an intense session, such as for several hoses, the product in the bowl burns out much faster.

How can I enhance the smoke flavor?

To make the smoke flavor as intense as possible, the tobacco or other smoking product should be applied loosely to the bowl and the smoking temperature should be kept high. Also note that some types of tobacco give an unpleasant taste when loosely applied – they should be gently whisked or a different type of bowl should be used.

How to make the smoke thicker?

To make the smoke as thick as possible, care must be taken to vaporize the molasses as much as possible at any given time. This is influenced by a number of factors, such as the quality of the smoking product, a fluffy fill, a high temperature, a good throughput of the hookah bowl and the proper selection of a bowl and a particular cartridge, tobacco or nicotine-free.

How to make the smoke cool?

Hookahs with a high body (from 45 cm upwards) naturally affect the temperature of the smoke. In addition, it helps to have a vase with a larger capacity, into which you can pour a large amount of cold water, which will effectively absorb the heat from the bowl. There is also another immediate alternative in the form of a Bazooka-type cooling mouthpiece with a thermal gel cartridge inside, which can be placed in the freezer before a session.

The hose breaks at the connection and makes it difficult to draw in the smoke. How to prevent this from happening?

To do this, you need to install a stiffening spring at the hose adapter, which is the most vulnerable place to breakage. There are also special types of hoses whose cross-section prevents kinking and clogging.

Is it possible to smoke hookah on more than one hose?

Some water pipes have more than one hose connection, allowing as many as four people to smoke at the same time. Unfortunately, this is not the most convenient solution. For more on this topic, see our article: Multi-person session, or smoking on more than 1 hose

I have a headache after smoking hookah. How to avoid it?

Always use the best quality coconut coals possible. They not only affect the taste of the smoke, but also your health. You should only light them in a ventilated room, as dangerous carbon monoxide is released from the coals as they heat up. In addition, you need to avoid burning the tobacco and regularly puff the hookah during a session from the lingering smoke. It is also important to replenish fluids, as smoking hookah dries and dehydrates the body.

How to clean the hookah and accessories?

The method of cleaning depends primarily on the material from which a particular hookah or accessory was made. For example, aluminum pipes should be washed only with warm (not hot) water and citric acid. Stronger agents can cause discoloration of the metal and the formation of an ugly tarnish. Hookahs made of stainless steel can be cleaned with stronger products designed to remove odor, taste and residue. We recommend Schmand Weg powder and a set of squeegees – one flexible for cleaning the vase and one for the body. The bowl and the heat management system can be simply washed with water alone.

You can read more about proper Hookah care in the guide: Cleaning Hookah and accessories

How often should a hookah be washed?

Hookah should be surface washed after each smoking. It is enough to rinse with warm water all those parts through which the smoke has traveled. About every fifth session the Hookah should be cleaned more thoroughly with the appropriate preparations. After a while you will find it difficult to get rid of the smell from the silicone hose, it is worth replacing it every six months or so.

My hookah does not appeal to me. Are there any options for changing its appearance?

Although there are no special decorations for water pipes, there are several accessories to enhance their appearance. In addition to accessories such as a cigarette, hose and mouthpieces, for example, a molasses catcher can be installed, or ice cubes and pieces of fruit can be placed in the bowl. There are also water dyes available on the market, which can dramatically change the appearance of a Hookah during a session. If our hookah is mounted on a seal in the jug, we can transform it by purchasing a new, cooler vase.