A hookah is a type of water pipe used in herbal smoking. It consists of a vessel for holding water, through which the smoking material is filtered. A tube extending from the top of the vessel holds a small bowl containing a live coal, upon which the smoking material is placed. The tube extends down through the water. A separate mouthpiece connected to a flexible tube is attached to the side of the vessel. When the mouthpiece is inhaled, air pressure draws the smoke from the burning coal down through the water, filtering it.

Another term for hookah is shisha, which comes from Persia and means bottle or glass. Hookah pipes come in various styles, such as Syrian and Egyptian, the travelling hookah, mini and custom designed hookahs. A traditional hookah is made of blown glass and may be decorated with enamel or gold paint, silver, aluminium, brass, clay, porcelain, wood, carved stone, or leather. Some modern hookahs are made with materials such as stainless steel or plastic.

In some countries, smoking lounges and restaurants provide individually wrapped plastic mouthpieces for customers who want to smoke. There are also accessories for the hookah, such as metal tongs and special hookah charcoal that can burn for up to 30 minutes.

Certain etiquette applies when smoking a hookah. For example, the pipe must always be on the ground, not on a shelf or table. A hookah is not passed around; rather the mouthpiece is set down to allow other smokers to take a turn.

A hookah pipe is a traditional device for smoking, which originated in India and is well-known as a water pipe, which gained popularity in the Middle East. It is operated through indirect heat and water-filtration. There are different names for the hookah including Shisha, Nargila and Waterpipe.

A hookah pipe has four fundamental parts which do not vary, such as the base/smoke chamber, which is partly filled with water; the bowl, which contains the heating apparatus and tobacco; the pipe, which connects the bowl into the base through a tube plunging into the water; and the hose, which connects to the pipe’s second tube and is not immersed into the water, but the smoke chamber air. The heating apparatus can use charcoal or an electric heater, and the hose may or may not be removable.

When the smoker breathes in through the tube of the hookah, the difference in pressure forces the air to pass the coal wherein it heats the tobacco giving off smoke. Then, the smoke coming from the tobacco is brought through the water into the smoke chamber air of the smoker. When the smoke passes through the water, it filters both nicotine and tar from the tobacco and also gives the smoke a cool, smooth feeling.

For the avid herb smoker that wants to try something a bit different, you can’t go far wrong with Mad Alice’s Smoking Herbs. Made with a mixture of aromatic natural herbs including Wild ‘Opium’ Lettuce, Damania and Passion Flower, Mad Alice’s Smoking Herbs will whisk you off to a magical world in no time.

Mad Alice’s Smoking Herbs contain legal ingredients that can be rolled into cigarettes, or used in bongs and smoking pipes to give you a really smooth smoke. Why not try it in true Alice in Wonderland style, by emulating the smoking caterpillar and smoking it through a Hookah pipe; it’ll have you higher than the Mad Hatter!

Mad Alice’s Smoking Herbs can cause drowsiness, so it is not recommended that you drive or operate machinery after using it. Each pack contains 25 grams of smoking herbs and is available for £4.50 from Shiva now.

A hookah pipe is one of the best ways to smoke and provides you with a smooth and sweet smoking experience every time. The hookah pipe is available with up to four pipes, so it is ideal for inviting you mates round and having a few tokes.

Shiva Head Shop has a range of tobacco free molasses, which is specially designed for use with a hookah pipe. High-Life Herbal Molasses is tobacco and nicotine free and is available in six flavours including, apple, black cherry, mixed fruit and strawberry, all of which give a smooth and tasty smoke every time. Each pack contains 100 grams of herbal fruit molasses.

Charcoals are an essential accessory for you hookah pipe and helps for a longer lasting smoke. Excelsior Charcoal discs are self-igniting and slow burning, meaning that you don’t have to empty the hookah as often. Each pack contains 80 charcoal discs, which can also be used to burn resins or herbs with other smoking apparatus.

The Mini Shisha is a great introduction to the world of Hookah pipes and one of the best starter kits available. The Mini Shisha pipe comes with all the tools necessary to get you started; all you have to do is choose what type of molasses, tobacco or herbs you want to smoke, easy!

Although the design and colour may vary, the mini shisha pipe is made with quality materials and will give many years of smoking pleasure. This shisha is easy to set up and dismantles for fast and efficient cleaning.

Check out Shiva’s range of Hookah pipe tobacco, available in seven mouth-watering flavours including apple, strawberry and peach and Hookah coals, which are self-igniting and especially designed for Hookah and Shisha pipes.

A Hookah Pipe is a type of water pipe that has been used for centuries in Eastern countries as a smoking device. The High-Life Titan Hookah pipe is a large four hose pipe, which is perfect for you and your friends to gather round and relax.

The Titan Hookah pipe is totally airtight when assembled and features stainless steel stems, colour coded hoses and glass bowl, cleaning kit and full instructions. To go with your Hookah pipe, you might want to try Shiva’s range of herbal molasses and Hookah coals made especially for the Hookah pipe.

The Hookah Pipe Molasses is available in six exciting flavours including apple, cherry, peach and mixed fruits. Hookah Pipe Molasses is tobacco and nicotine free and is marinated in fruit to give it its flavoursome taste. Each pack contains 100 grams of Molasses.

Hookah Coals are specially designed for use with the Hookah Pipe and are perfect for providing a long relaxing smoke. Each charcoal disc is self-igniting, meaning that you only have to light the side of the disc and it will burn for hours. Each pack of Hookah coals contains 80 discs; enough to help you and your friends relax time and time again.

Own a Hookah Pipe? Then why not treat yourself to a smooth, sweet smoke with the range of Herbal Molasses from High-Life. Invite a few friends round, get comfy and chill out with one of the six delicious flavours available.

Herbal Molasses is tobacco and nicotine free and provides a smooth smoke every time. The flavours available are; apple, black cherry, mixed fruit, peach, strawberry and watermelon and will suit any taste.

Why not try adding some ice into the base of your hookah pipe or try mixing some lemon or orange juice to your water to provide an even more enjoyable smoking experience.

Ensure that you keep the Herbal Molasses refrigerated and in an air tight container to keep it fresh and flavoursome.

Each pack contains 100 grams of molasses helping you to chill out time and time again.

Shiva stock a whole range of hookah pipes. The tradition of smoking the hookah goes back many years and comes from eastern origin. Not only does the hookah pipe provide the best of smokes its a sociable past time too. The High-Life Hookah range is very popular among the most experienced of smokers and can accommodate the smallest of budgets.

The Aura Hookah pipe for example is perfect for those people on a budget. It looks really stylish and is small at the same time but contains all you need for that really good pipe smoke. The chrome finish of the Aura Hookah pipe is just one of its features that indicate true quality. Even as a budget item this pipe includes a cleaning brush kit.

Hookah pipes are really easy to assemble and come in a variety of sizes and designs. They not only look the part but are very easy to use.

Getting Your Hookah Pipe Ready to Smoke

• Use about 6-8 grammes of tobacco separately when you smoke and make sure its not squeezed together but spread out around the bowl so that it allows air to penetrate.
• Make a small square shape in some aluminium foil that will cover the bowl at the open top end. With the top of the bowl make sure that the foil is wrapped over the top to form a tight surface. By using a pin make a group of small holes in the foil
• The bowl should be filled with water (two thirds full) so that the tube of metal is just submerged. A small space at the top of the bowl should be left so that the smoke can settle.
• Place the charcoal on the top of the aluminium foil and light.
• In those easy steps the Hookah pipe is now ready for you to smoke, by taking a few draws on the pipe you can be reassured that the tobacco will start to burn and that the smoke will be flowing.

How to use your Hookah Pipe

Hookah Pipe Tips:

• To have a much smoother and rewarding smoking experience put some ice at the bottom of the hookah to make sure the water is really cold before you begin smoking.
• When storing your tobacco make sure you keep it as cold as possible (in the fridge would be ideal) this stops loss of flavour from the tobacco and the tobacco itself drying out. Another great tip is to store the tobacco in an air-tight container once you have opened it.
• When trying to get the best taste while smoking from your Hookah mix some flavours into the water of the Hookah such as orange juice or lemon juice.
• Try putting some wine into the Hookah where the water is stored this will give a sweeter taste and much more flavour and ultimately a more pleasurable smoking experience.
• Place the charcoal on the outer part of the bowl and try working it round the edges when you begin to smoke so that the final place the charcoal ends up is the centre of the bowl.