Best Hookahs

Smoking a hookah originated in India or Persia in the early 1500s. It rapidly became popular throughout the Near and Middle East, and was considered a status symbol, as well as becoming a type of ritual or custom, to some extent. Since the 1960s, Hookah smoking has become popular in the Western countries as well, for its exotic nature. In the hookah, hookah tobacco , also called “shisha”, (or a tobacco-free substitute) is heated by coals. The smoke of the tobacco is then drawn, by inhaling from a hookah hose, through water. The water cools and humidifies the smoke, which is then inhaled. There have been a few types of hookah coals that have been developed in modern times.  

We've put together this guide to help you select the best hookah that answer to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of hookah,

• See useful tips about that type of hookah,    

• Read reviews of different brands of hookahs, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of hookah, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Quick-light charcoals: These can be lit with a cigarette lighter or a match. They are made from compressed coal dust, with sulfur added to accelerate the burning. You have to let the coal burn for a few minutes before using it, so as to let the accelerant to burn off.

• Natural Hookah Charcoal: These are made from charred wood, wood dust, or even compressed coconut shells (as in the case of the Coco Nara hookah coals). They have to be lit on a stove top, grill, or heating element, because it takes a while to get them to start burning.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Coals that last a long time: Each individual Coco Nara coal burns for as long as 60 minutes. A lot of customers say that that is a big plus.

• Don't give any taste to the tobacco: Coconut shell coals have the advantage of not lending and taste of their own to the tobacco smoke. (There are hookah coals that are purposely given a flavor, such as apple, banana, grape, mango, and more. But the coconut shell-based coals are free from any such flavors.)

• Minimize ash content: Both the Beamer and the Coco Nara hookah coals are derived from coconut shells. This type of coal has the advantage of minimizing the ash from the coals. They also produce very little ash or smoke.

• Stand the coals on their narrow side: If you are using coals in a brick form, for best results, use three coals in the hookah, in a “standing” position—that is, with the longest side standing upright. This will expose as much of the coal to oxygen, for the optimal burning time.

• Don't light with a petrol derivative: A coal lit with a petrol derivative, such as gasoline, can produce an uncontrollable flame. Also, the gasoline flame will affect the taste of the tobacco smoke.

• Smoke in a well-ventilated room: Since the smoke contains carbon monoxide, it can be dangerous to smoke in an enclosed space. Make sure that the room is well-ventilated, by leaving the windows open.

• Avoid serious burns: A burning hookah coal is extremely hot (between 350-450 degrees Fahrenheit), and can cause third-degree burns if it comes in contact with the skin. If you must move the coals around, make sure that you use a pair of tongs or tweezers to do so.

• Never leave the burning coals unattended: When you have finished smoking, be sure to extinguish the coals. Also, be sure to keep them out of the reach of children!

CocoNara—are makers of charcoal from the shells of coconut. They did this out of environmental considerations, in order to reduce the cutting of trees worldwide. They were founded in 2005, and have their headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Beamer—are makers of hookahs and hookah accessories since 2010. They make pipes, charcoals, shisha, and air freshener candles for hookah users.