By John McCree
Initially popularized the in the U.S. in the 1960's and 70's, hookah smoking is becoming ever more common since the turn of the century. To put it simply, a hookah bar is a commercial establishment where people share shisha tobacco by using a smoking device known as "hookah". One can effortlessly locate hookah bars near universities and colleges and in very populated cities.
The History of Hookah and Hookah Bars
Hookahs and hookah bars originated in India around five centuries ago in a much more primitive form close to the Pakistan border. Making its way through Iran and into Turkey it experienced an increase of popularity among Turkish upper class and started to spread much more rapidly down through Lebanon and Syria and finally to Egypt, hence the hookah bar is greatly linked to the Middle East. These businesses became places where people would socialize, have coffee, and discuss politics and local events with a calming hookah session.
Characteristics of Hookah Bars
Bars that are built to imitate the place of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. At some bars, there is nothing served other than hookah. But some multifunctional bars offer snacks, coffee and sodas as well. Typical community lounges normally do not have liquor licenses and so do not derive profit from alcohol. The larger bars, however, possess a liquor license and they serve several cocktails in addition to wine and beer. Smaller hookah bars normally have music systems, but the larger bars have belly dancers, live DJs and the setting seems to be more like a night club.
Hookah bars that are near institutions tend to be more casual and draw in many students. The trend has become popular as a less hazardous replacement for other sorts of smoking. Hookah bars do well near colleges as college life is a time to experience new things and enjoy the freedom of life. There has been a surge in the number and popularity of hookah bars in cities, which are famous for their secondary education institutions in the U.S.
Let's Talk About a Hookah
Now that you know what a hookah bar is, you may be asking yourself about the device that has managed to spread across the globe and spark a smoking revolution. Legend has it the hookah was first invented in 1588 by a Persian physician in the Indian court. The Indians referred to the device as a "huqqa", a name which has stayed with it throughout history, although it is referred to as many other names for example "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
The first hookah was made from coconut shells and it was not like the hookahs that are produced in the present day, but the purpose of that hookah was same of purifying smoke by passing it through water. Here are the key parts of a hookah:
1. Bowl - to hold the tobacco.
2. Body - tobacco smoke gets to the water basin after moving through the body.
3. Water Basin - has the water to purify and cool the smoke. After purifying the smoke remains in a chamber over the water.
4. Hose - the smoker inhales the smoke from the chamber over the water using a hose. A hose is generally longer than one meter.
Thick, cool and aromatic smoke comes out of the hookah.
A senior customer of a prominent hookah business in turkey said:
"The thing isn't what you put in the pipe, but who is along with you while you're smoking. It's a full experience. All kinds of people, old, young and fascinating come to bars such as this one. So long as there is a desire for company and companionship, as long as people want to stop and think, there will be hookah bars."
The History of Hookah and Hookah Bars
Hookahs and hookah bars originated in India around five centuries ago in a much more primitive form close to the Pakistan border. Making its way through Iran and into Turkey it experienced an increase of popularity among Turkish upper class and started to spread much more rapidly down through Lebanon and Syria and finally to Egypt, hence the hookah bar is greatly linked to the Middle East. These businesses became places where people would socialize, have coffee, and discuss politics and local events with a calming hookah session.
Characteristics of Hookah Bars
Bars that are built to imitate the place of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. At some bars, there is nothing served other than hookah. But some multifunctional bars offer snacks, coffee and sodas as well. Typical community lounges normally do not have liquor licenses and so do not derive profit from alcohol. The larger bars, however, possess a liquor license and they serve several cocktails in addition to wine and beer. Smaller hookah bars normally have music systems, but the larger bars have belly dancers, live DJs and the setting seems to be more like a night club.
Hookah bars that are near institutions tend to be more casual and draw in many students. The trend has become popular as a less hazardous replacement for other sorts of smoking. Hookah bars do well near colleges as college life is a time to experience new things and enjoy the freedom of life. There has been a surge in the number and popularity of hookah bars in cities, which are famous for their secondary education institutions in the U.S.
Let's Talk About a Hookah
Now that you know what a hookah bar is, you may be asking yourself about the device that has managed to spread across the globe and spark a smoking revolution. Legend has it the hookah was first invented in 1588 by a Persian physician in the Indian court. The Indians referred to the device as a "huqqa", a name which has stayed with it throughout history, although it is referred to as many other names for example "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
The first hookah was made from coconut shells and it was not like the hookahs that are produced in the present day, but the purpose of that hookah was same of purifying smoke by passing it through water. Here are the key parts of a hookah:
1. Bowl - to hold the tobacco.
2. Body - tobacco smoke gets to the water basin after moving through the body.
3. Water Basin - has the water to purify and cool the smoke. After purifying the smoke remains in a chamber over the water.
4. Hose - the smoker inhales the smoke from the chamber over the water using a hose. A hose is generally longer than one meter.
Thick, cool and aromatic smoke comes out of the hookah.
A senior customer of a prominent hookah business in turkey said:
"The thing isn't what you put in the pipe, but who is along with you while you're smoking. It's a full experience. All kinds of people, old, young and fascinating come to bars such as this one. So long as there is a desire for company and companionship, as long as people want to stop and think, there will be hookah bars."
About the Author:
More and more people are becoming part of the hookah trend and with the growing number of hookah bars, it is very easy to have a taste of this culture. Before you buy a hookah, go to a hookah lounge and do try one out.
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