The Parts to a Hookah

Alright, let's talk parts.

Base - The base is usually made from glass. It may be clear, blue, green, or another color, generally with beautiful designs and patterns. The shape of the base can also vary. The base is the most eye-catching part on a hookah. It is the part that holds the water. 

Stem - The stem is pretty much what makes the whole thing  work. It is the hallow, often metal tube that carries smoke from the head of the hookah, to the base. It is important to keep it clean because any build-up inside the stem can affect the taste of the smoke.

Hose - Obviously the hose is the part you inhale from, allowing the smoke to be pulled down to the base, filtered and cooled through the water, and out the hose into your lungs. Grommets are made from rubber and fit into the hose part to keep the hose from leaking when you draw in smoke.

Purge Valve - This part does not come on every hookah. The purpose of the purge valve is to empty the base of stale smoke. You simply blow through the hose and the old smoke rolls out. 

Tray - The tray is used to hold extra coals. It is also used to ash the coals and sometimes you can latch the tongs on the side. 

Bowl - Last but not least, the bowl is the part of the hookah that holds the shisha tobacco. It is typically made from clay or ceramic and comes in different sizes and styles. A cool bowl to try is the vortex bowl because it keeps the juices from the tobacco from leaking down into the stem. The bowl should be washed after every use and occasionally scrubbed down. 

How the hookah works:

After filling the base with water and inserting the stem and hose, you need to load your bowl. Decide on which flavor(s) you want to smoke and prepare your bowl. After the hookah has been assembled and the coals are ready to go, it is time to smoke! As you pull in through the hose, air flows through the charcoal and heats the tobacco. The heated tobacco's smoke continues down the stem and is let out in the base. Air bubbles filled with smoke start to burst inside the vase and the chamber fills with smoke. When you inhale deeply, you can feel your lungs fill up with smoke. All that's left is exhaling the smoke, and enjoying your hookah experience.