| The slow and relaxed experience of | | | | smokers include the following: always |
| smoking a hookah, which includes | | | | use the proper charcoal, specifically |
| preparation of the hookah and the | | | | made for hookah smoking-regular charcoal |
| tobacco, is the whole point of hookah | | | | briquettes cause carbon monoxide |
| smoking. It's not about a buzz or a | | | | poisoning, and charcoal which isn't |
| nicotine fix, it's about the relaxed | | | | low-smoke will overwhelm the hookah |
| space, among friends and out of time, | | | | smoke; only a very small amount of |
| that is created by the hookah and the | | | | hookah tobacco is needed in the bowl, |
| act of smoking it. Typically, a hookah | | | | since a little goes a long way; if the |
| smoking session lasts somewhere between | | | | smoke or flavor are lacking, it's |
| 30 and 60 minutes. | | | | probably because the coals aren't hot |
| After carefully preparing a clean hookah | | | | enough-when smoking for more than half |
| with cold water, selecting a flavorful | | | | an hour or so, fresh coals will be |
| tobacco for the bowl, lighting and | | | | needed. |
| adding the charcoal, the aromatic hookah | | | | Because hookah smoking is, and has |
| smoke is drawn bubbling through the | | | | traditionally been, a social activity, |
| water. Cooled and softened after being | | | | the etiquette which attends it is |
| filtered by the water, light, pleasant | | | | important. Some of the rules of |
| smoke infuses the senses, lingering on | | | | etiquette are never to light cigarettes |
| the air, encouraging slow meditative | | | | using the charcoal that heats the hookah |
| breathing and sweetening conversation, | | | | tobacco; avoid blowing smoke in the face |
| games of dominoes, or quiet | | | | of another person unless they ask--so |
| contemplation and study. | | | | they can taste the flavor being smoked; |
| Some techniques used to enhance the | | | | since the point of the individual |
| experience of hookah smoking are adding | | | | plastic mouthpiece is health and safety, |
| ice to the water and chilling the hoses | | | | don't share them; when one person is |
| beforehand. The lush fruit flavors of | | | | done smoking but the hookah is still in |
| hookah smoke can be heightened by the | | | | use, setting a hose directly on the |
| addition of fruit juice or wine to the | | | | table signifies that smoker is finished |
| water in the base, and both customers | | | | and another person may use the hose; |
| and proprietors of hookah smoking | | | | when a hookah smoking session is |
| lounges regularly combine tobacco | | | | completed, the hoses should be wrapped |
| flavors to come up with their own | | | | around the stem; finally, don't smoke |
| special blends. | | | | anything but tobacco out of a hookah. |
| Some tips and warnings given by veteran | | | | |