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