History of Hookah
One of the oldest and deep rooted traditions in Turkey is the Nargile (Hookah), with both men and women finding great pleasure in smoking the waterpipe. The nargile started a whole new culture which endured for many, many years. Even today the nargile gives enjoyment to a special breed of smokers. The original nargile came from India, but it was rather primitive as it was made out of coconut shell. Its popularity spread to Iran and then to the rest of the Arab world.
But it was in Turkey that the nargile completed its revolution, and did not change its style for the last few hundred years. The nargile became a very important part of the coffee shop culture, finding its popularity in Turkey around the time of Murat the IV'th, 1623-40. The joy that the smokers received from this very simple yet beautiful smoking apparatus was unbelievable. Rules were created even for lighting the pipe, and if a professional smoker saw anyone lighting it the incorrect way, the culprit would be told in no uncertain term " Do yourself and the sacred nargile a favor and put out the coals by blowing into it.
Not all tobaccos qualified for usage in the nargile, and only the dark tobacco imported from Iran found favor with the nargile user. This toabcco was washed several times before use as it was extremely strong. Only oak charcoal was used to be placed on the top of the tobacco. Some professional nargile smokers used certain fruit, like sour cherries or grapes in their govde just to enjoy the motion it created in the water. Other people enjoyed adding pomegranate juice or rose oil to their water for added flavor. The nargile smoker hated anyone lighting their cigarettes on their nargile fire because they felt it disturbed the rhythm of the burning charcoal.
 The nargile was so popular and fashionable with the elite ladies of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, that it became the in thing to be photographed with a nargile. If you wanted to be the hostess with the mostest the nargile was a must for popular afternoon tea and intellectual gatherings. Unfortunately like most wonderful things from the past, the nargile suffered a decline with the availability of the cigarettes. But still today, one is able to find a special type of smoker that would only find their enjoyment from smoking the nargile.
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Tips and Tricks for Smoking The Hookah
1. Try putting ice in the glass base of your Shisha/Hookah/Nargile and get the water ice cold before smoking. This makes a for a smoother more enjoyable smoking experience.
2. Try mixing lemon juice, orange juice, or some other flavor into the water in your glass base. It will enhance the taste of your Shisha/Hookah/Nargile smoking experience.
3. You can store your shisha tobacco at room temperature but it must remain in an air tight container (i.e. tupperware, jar, zip lock bag, etc.). This will keep your tobacco from drying up and losing its flavor.
 4. When you first start smoking your Shisha/Hookah/Nargile, try placing the charcoal on the outside of the bowl and working it around the edges of the bowl. The center of the bowl should be the last place your charcoal is placed.
5. Some people smoke the Shisha/Hookah/Nargile like you would smoke a cigar while other inhale the smoke. Neither way is more correct than the other. It's a preference thing.
6. For a sweeter and perhaps more flavourful smoke, you can add some wine to the top two inches of the water in the base of your Shisha/Hookah/Nargile. It's a happier smoke, and you can really taste the wine.
7. Because of it's consistency, shisha tends to clump up. Before you pack the bowl, crumble it up in your fingers to spread it out throughout the bowl.
8. Once you get the bowl packed, take a small square of aluminum foil, big enough to cover the open top of the bowl. Wrap the foil over the top so that the surface is tight. Use a toothpick or something else very small to poke a bunch of tiny holes in the foil. Place the charcoal on the foil once its lit. It will still burn the shisha, but it keeps any charcoal taste out.
9. When you place the foil tightly over the Shisha/Hookah/Nargile bowl, make sure the shiney side is facing down so it will retain more heat from the charcoal.
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