The history of the waterpipe

A hookah, also called nargile or water pipe, is an Arabic water pipe through which mostly moist flavored or unflavored (traditional) hookah tobacco is smoked.

Researchers argue about the actual origin of the hookah. The first hookah is said to have originated in India, where the first hookah was built from a simple construction, which is said to have consisted of a coconut with a bamboo cane stuck in it. The hookah, as we know it today, was invented in Egypt in the 16th century. It became an integral part of society, and the popularity of hookah thus grew in large parts of the Arab world. Thus, hookah quickly became an integral part of Arab culture; smoking together was and still is a symbol of a balanced lifestyle, hospitality and sociability. The smoking of hookah is often celebrated in coffee houses, so hookah smoking is often a social event that brings family and friends together. Traditional smoking often involves eating sweet pastries and drinking black tea or coffee with it. In the 20th century, this was also exported to the Western world as an alternative to the cigarette & cigar, thus experiencing a resurgence. It was rediscovered by the younger Arab and Western generation and became a lifestyle object. Thus, recently in many cities, large and small, hookah cafés were opened in which young people and young adults meet. One explanation for the fact that hookahs are so well received could be that hookah is a contrast to the increasingly hectic everyday life. Because hookah smoking means relaxation, community, time and recreation for most.

The origin of the word hookah is in Persian shish and stands for the word glass. In the course of time, the word came into Turkish sise (bottle) as well as into Arabic sisa, which, however, the object the glass vase or the hookah as a whole is called. Furthermore, in Turkish the water pipe is called nargile. This term goes back to the Persian word nargile (coconut) and finally to the Sanskrit word (Old Indian) narikela, which also means coconut and as mentioned in the historical part could lead back to the origin of the hookah. In Arabic, other terms such as argile exist for the various hookah types. In Sudan and Egypt, a small portable pipe which is often used for smoking hashish is called goza. The Indian term huka or hukka has been adopted into English (written hookah). Only in Iran (Persia) is the water pipe regardless of all transcriptions and etymological derivations called Ghalyun.

The construction of a hookah is actually relatively simple. In the upper area is the tobacco bowl, in which the moist water pipe tobacco is located. This is attached to the smoke column. Between the tobacco head and the smoke column is a coal plate, which is intended for depositing and protecting falling coal. In the lower area of the smoke column is the outlet for the hookah hose and, depending on the model, a recoil valve, which has the function that when you blow into the hose no water is pressed into the smoke column or the tobacco bowl.