Origin of Shisha

Many of the various names of the hookah Shisha Pipes are of Indian, Turkish, Uzbek, Persian or Arab origin. "Shisha" is from the Persian word shishe, or "glass". "Hashishe" is also an Arabic word for grass, which may have been another way of saying tobacco. Hookah, Shisha may stem from Arabic uqqa, meaning small box, pot, or jar. Both names refer to the original methods of constructing the smoke/water chamber part of the hookah. The origins of the hookah pipe are argued over by many. The main countries claiming to be the father of the hookah are India, Iran, Turkey, Egypt and Syria. The likelihood is the pipe in its many forms probably made an appearance in more than one country independently and through ancient trade routes started to take shape into what we now consider a standard form. Most of the worlds pipes today are manufactured in Syria, Egypt and Turkey.

Shisha in Modern Day

The hookah, Shisha made one of its first appearances in the western eye in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland alongside the smoking caterpillar also getting a mention in the song by the Bangles "Walk like and Egyptian". http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/walklikeanegyptianlyrics.html Hookah, Shisha smoking has recently become popular in the United States and other Westernized countries among people who are not of Middle Eastern origin. This is especially evident in the college and university settings where hookahs are viewed as a safer alternative to cigarettes and cigars. Also, the idea of smoking hookah, shisha — less as , a tobacco habit and more as a social activity — often affords it a wider appeal than that of smoking cigarettes or cigars. In fact, a large number of hookah smokers are not cigarette or cigar smokers and choose to smoke hookah, shiah because of the social appeal. A hookah and Shisha Pipes ability to produce pleasant, non-irritating smoke has lead many to believe that hookah smoking is less detrimental to one's health than most other methods of smoking tobacco, such as smoking cigarettes. Unlike cigarettes, where smoke is produced by the ignition and burning of tobacco, hookah, Shisha Pipes produce a dense, flavorful smoke by heating moistened tobacco. Research has shown that fewer cancer-causing carcinogens are produced because the tobacco is heated, rather than burned. In addition to fewer carcinogens being produced, nicotine production is reduced by the lower temperatures at which the tobacco is heated. Lower nicotine production, when compared to cigarettes, means addiction to tobacco, among hookah, Shisha smokers, happens significantly-less frequently — though this may be due to cultural views and other limiting factors, such as the time required to prepare a hookah, Shisha for use.

Shisha Components


A typical hookah, Shisha Pipe consists of several components, each of them equally important for a perfect Shisha experience. The uppermost part is called the bowl or the hookah, Shisha head; this is where the coal and the tobacco is held during the smoking session. Then there are the tray, the stem, release valve, hose gasket, hose port (where the hose goes in), hose, vase gasket, vase (water base); and in that order form up to bottom.
Info provided by: http://www.shishainfo.com/hookah-shisha-history.htm

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wishlist 0
Continue Shopping