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A hookah or shisha, is usually made of five
components, four of which are essential for its
operation.
 The
Moroccan Hookah bowl
Also known as the head of the hookah, the bowl is a
container, usually made out of clay or marble, that
holds the coal and tobacco during the smoking
session. The bowl is loaded with tobacco then
covered in a small piece of perforated tin foil or a
glass or metal screen. Lit coals are then placed on
top, which allows the tobacco to heat to the proper
temperature.
Moroccan Hookah Hose
The hose is a slender tube that allows the smoke to
be drawn. The end is typically fitted with a metal,
wooden, or plastic mouthpiece, and come in various
shapes, sizes and colors.
Body, gasket and valve
The body of the hookah is a hollow tube with a
gasket at its bottom. On some occasions the body
will contain a container at the top for ice in order
to cool the smoke. The gasket itself has at least
one opening for the hose, but it can have more
openings, thus making a multi-hosed hookah. It may
also have an additional opening with a valve for
clearing the smoke from the water jar rather than
through the hose. The gasket seals the connection of
the body of the hookah with the water jar.
Water jar
Placed at the bottom of the hookah, the water jar is
a container through which the smoke from the tobacco
passes before it reaches the hose. By passing
through water, the smoke gains moisture and is
lowered in temperature. The level of the water has
to be higher than the lowest point of the body's
tube in order for the smoke to pass through it.
Liquids other than water may be used, such as spirit
and/or fruit juice, mint leaves with lemon slices,
and in many cases, ice may be put in the bottom of
the jar to dramatically lower the temperature,
making for a smoother smoke.
Plate
The plate (ash tray) is usually just below the bowl
and is used for "dead" coals from previous smoking
sessions.
Grommets
Grommets in a hookah are usually placed between the
bowl and the body, the body's gasket and the water
jar and between the body and the hose. The reason
for the usage of grommets although not essential
(the use of paper or tape has become common) will
help to seal the joints between the parts, therefore
decreasing the amount of air coming in and
maximizing the smoke breathed in.
 This
is how to setup a
Moroccan Hookah, Shisha or Narghilè (but
pronounced "Argilah")
Operation
The jar at the bottom of the hookah is filled with
water sufficient to submerge a few centimetres of
the body tube, which is sealed tightly to it.
Tobacco is placed inside the bowl at the top of the
hookah and a burning charcoal is placed on top of
the tobacco. Some cultures cover the bowl with
perforated tin foil to separate the coal and the
tobacco, which minimizes inhalation of coal ash with
the smoke.
When one inhales via the hose, air is pulled through
the coal and into the bowl. The air, hot from the
charcoal, roasts the tobacco, producing smoke. This
smoke passes down through the body tube, which
extends into the water in the jar. It bubbles up
through the water, losing heat, and fills the top
part of the jar, to which the hose is attached. When
a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke passes into
the lungs, and the change in pressure in the jar
pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the
process.
visit our
Moroccan
EVENTS GALLERY
and look for ideas on how to setup a Moroccan Hookah party.
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