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The history of shisha pipe


The shisha pipe smoking was originating from India. The original shisha pipe that came from India was made out of coconut shells From India, it was made popular as the form we know it today in Turkey, where men and women take great pleasure in smoking the shisha pipe. Its popularity spread to Iran and then to the rest of the Arab world.

Nargile is the name most commonly used in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Palestinian Territories, Israel and Romania. shisha pipe is most commonly used in English for historical reasons, as it was in India that a large number of English-speakers first experienced the effects of the water pipe.

The Nargile found its popularity In Turkey, and did not change its style for the last few hundred years since 1623. It is done on a social basis, usually in one's home with guests or in a cafe with friends. Most cities have Nargile cafes where Nargile is offered with a non-alcoholic drink. This is mainly for health reasons rather than religious reasons. Often people will smoke Nargile after dinner as a replacement for cigarettes.

The Nargile itself consists of 4 fundamental components which are as follows:
  • 1. The base, vase, or smoke chamber which is filled with water.
  • 2. The bowl or head which contains the tobacco.
  • 3. The pipe or stem which connects the bowl to the base.
  • 4. The hose – One must never forget to plug the hose.
All the pipe pieces were produced by special craftsmen, who were named after the piece they produced. Even today, the areas where these craftsmen used to concentrate are called by these names. Some pieces were made out of silver or crystal. (Mouthpieces) were generally carved out of the top of quality amber, because people in those days believed that amber was not the carrier of germs

The Tobacco used in the Nargile is unique and made only from the dark tobacco. This tobacco was washed several times before use as it was extremely strong. The Charcoal that was used was only oak charcoal. Some professional Nargile smokers used certain fruit, like grapes or sour cherries just to enjoy the motion it created in the water. Other smokers enjoyed adding pomegranate juice or rose oil to their water for added flavor. And even today smokers add artificial food coloring drops for that effect.

Smoking a 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. The Nargile was a necessity for popular afternoon tea and intellectual gatherings. Although shisha pipe use has been common for hundreds of years and enjoyed by people of all ages, it has just begun to become a youth-oriented hobby around the world. shisha pipes are most popular with college students and teenagers, who may be underage and thus unable to purchase cigarettes