A traditional, indulgent and civilised past-time

In most cafes and on many street corners, you will see one of the oldest traditions of the Middle East: Sheesha smoking. For some of us, our first introduction to this pipe might have been through Lewis Carroll’s character, the Caterpillar in the book Alice in Wonderland. But in the Middle East, it is a tradition almost as old as time, and with as many names
• nargile (coconut, Indian)
• sheesha (glass, Persian)
• water pipe
• hookah (jar, Arabic)
• hubbly bubbly (the sound as the water bubbles through)

Origins of the pipe

The concept is thought to have originated in India/Persia in the 1560s. After its humble beginnings in coconut shells, it developed and spread and soon became a symbol of prestige. The master-mind behind it is thought to be an Iranian physician, Hakim Gilani, who was said to have been greatly alarmed at the increase of smoking in the Mughal Courts, and attempted to build a filter to purify the smoke. He did this by making it pass through water, thus creating the first sheesha pipe.

Main Components

There are a frightening array of parts and purchases necessary for the lighting of the sheesha pipe, and will bewilder any new smoker! These days, the national addiction of the middle eastern nations is increasing in popularity in Europe and America. You can do your on-line buying of any of these components in a variety of colours and styles and many other accessories too!
1. BOWL (head) usually clay, holds the tobacco and the coal
2. WIND-SCREEN (foil cover with air holes) prevents wind blowing the ash and altering the temperature of the coals
3. HOSE (Flexible tube) usually bright, at the end of which is a mouth-piece.
4. PURGE VALVE: to get rid of any stale smoke
5. WATER JAR (base/vase) Usually of glass, or in the past even from crystal (from Venice). The smoke is bubbled through the water in this jar.

Types of Tobacco

The traditional sheesha tobacco is marinaded in molasses. Some countries have used Cannabis (weed/grass) as well! But these days more popular are the flavoured tobacco blends. The range is almost overwhelming:
apple, strawberry, apricot, mint, chocolate, banana, coconut, bubble gum, grape, honey!

Men only?

Traditionally, in public, women did not smoke sheesha pipes. Although I have heard that some did in the privacy of their own homes. However these days, though many still frown upon the idea, many of the more modern coffee/restaurants will have sheesha available and the young men and women of the cities will sit together and smoke sheesha. Sometimes you will even find groups of only women smoking together, and on occasion even a woman on her own, nonchalantly puffing away.

Is it a health risk?

The average sheesha session takes a minimum of 45 minutes. It should never be rushed. It is a social activity, to be enjoyed with coffee and pleasant conversation. In this time, there could be 100 inhalations. There are many discussions and arguments about which smoke is worse for you: cigarettes or sheesha. As a non-smoker, I would vote against both!
However, as a civilised past-time, part of a long culture, a social and enjoyable past-time, I have realised that those who smoke sheesha do not really care about tar levels, amount of smoke inhaled or lung disease! To them, they are sharing a long and ancient tradition of the land, and a part of their heritage.

And if you ask them what they think, they will shrug, and suggest you pull up a chair, have a puff, drink a cup of coffee and chat with them for a while!