Archive for the ‘Hookah Accessories’ Category

• Charcoal for the Impatient – Quick Lights!

  Date: 2010.06.11 | Category: Hookah Accessories | Response: 2

  

  Sometimes you just can’t wait for that natural charcoal to light – so here we have an overview of some of the more accessible quick lighting charcoals available! These coals all light within 30 seconds max and all that’s required is the flame from a lighter – some light faster than others, some impart more of a charcoal taste… let’s see how they compare!

  Al Fakher Quick Lighting Charcoal

  Made specifically for their tobacco, Al Fakher has created its own quick lighting charcoal in the common rounded briquette shape. One side is convex, the other concave, allowing for airflow around the charcoal and maximum heat to be transferred to the bowl. They make 2 different coals for the common sizes of Egyptian bowls that are available. The more common diameter coal is 33 millimeters, and they also make a 40mm charcoal for the larger bowls. These coals tend to be lit in 20-25 seconds and are known to impart a small amount of taste on the shisha and last 35-40 minutes.

  Overall , Al Fakher Quick Lighting coals are specifically built around the Al Fakher cut of shisha and the use of an Egyptian Clay Bowl, but they’re a solid competitor in the field of Quick Lights

  Three Kings Quick-Light Charcoal

  One of the original and most often used Quick Light charcoals – Three Kings is produced in Holland and has set the standard for Quick Lighting charcoals for years. Fully lit within 20 seconds of starting it, these coals don’t release much smoke and are used by hookah lounges and nearly everywhere hookah is smoked. The coals impart a minimal amount of taste of the shisha, but are known to burn out somewhat quickly, often after 30 minutes.

  With a standard size of 33mm and a following that spans the world over, Three Kings is a solid choice to start out with.

  Akhla Instant Light Charcoal

  Made in the Holy Land, Akhla charcoals represent Quick Light too well, which is why they took it a step farther and named themselves, “Instant Light.” Akhla Charcoal comes standard in a 35mm diameter and is flat on one side with a 4 pronged star indention on the other. These charcoals tend to light rapidly, often in a total of 10-15 seconds. However, they need to be lit outside as they release a great deal of smoke in their rapid rush to light. Akhla tends to impart a small amount of taste on the shisha but tend to last 40-45 minutes.

  Akhla is well known to hold itself together better than most instant light charcoals, leaving a lump sum of ash instead of falling apart as it burns, making it one of the most favored quick light charcoals available.
  And there you have it, 3 prime examples of excellent coals you can use on a rainy day or if you’re just feeling a just bit too impatient for naturals!

  

• What’s up with all of these stems?

  Date: 2010.05.21 | Category: Hookah Accessories, Hookah Stems | Response: 0

  If you’re an avid hookah smoker you’ve probably checked out every hookah store out there and browsed through their wares.  If you’ve scoped out enough sites you’ve more than likely seen your fair share of stems and have a good idea of which stems come from where – but here’s a crash course on the stem styles of hookah nations the world over to help clear up any questions!

  First, we should take a good look at Egyptian stems.  Highly traditional, these stems are still hand-made for the most part, so you’ll see welding marks around hose adaptors and other key structural points.  Egyptian stems utilize brass, copper, and stainless steel; Sometimes all 3 of the metals at the same time! Two companies that idealize the Egyptian style of stem are Magdy Zidan and Khalil Mamoon.  The top selling Egyptian stem according to customer demand are the Khalil Mamoon tri-metal stems.

  

  The next big stem producing country is Syria. 13% of the population is Syria smoke tobacco, making it one of the prime hookah nations in the world.  Syrian stems are usually entirely made of brass or stainless steel without any mixing, though they are sometimes coated in nickel to give them a silver sheen.  Their stems are generally very traditional looking with a modern twist – the pieces are welded together by hand after they’ve been laser etched, adding a touch of finesse to them.  Nour is one of the leading producers of Syrian hookah stems.  All of Nour’s solid brass stems tend to be the best sellers from Syria.

  

  Finally, we come to China, the master producer of the world.  Chinese made stems tend to range from semi-traditional to extremely modern…  Chinese stems come in all shapes and sizes, all of the parts are machine manufactured so that they fit perfectly together – in fact it’s nearly impossible to find any sort of welding mark on a Chinese made stem.  The major advantage of Chinese stems tends to come from the way they break down, and since their adaptors aren’t welded in, switching a stem from a 1 hose to multiple hoses is extremely simple.   Typically Chinese stems are entirely composed of stainless steel, but others brush a coat of zinc or nickel on to them.  Some Chinese manufacturers have taken a hint from the traditional stem manufacturers and have begun to utilize brass into their designs to make a heavier product.  One of the main things China does differently is add a design of cloisonné or ceramic on the outside around the stem.  Some of the best selling Chinese produced stems include the Mya QT and the Sahara Nar.

  

  And there you have it – a tour through the major stem producing countries and a decent idea on how to gauge the differences between their products!

  

• The Impact of the Diffuser

  Date: 2010.03.05 | Category: Hookah Accessories | Response: 0

  

  HookaH-HookaH Co. is known for their innovative vase designs and accessories. We strive to give you the largest selection and the widest variety of hookahs, hookah accessories and shisha. We smoke hookah everyday and are constantly thinking of ways to make the pastime more enjoyable and with fewer complications… Obviously, I could go on and on about how great our products are, but actually, this blog is just about one accessory in particular.

  THE DIFFUSER- which, actually, is just recently came back in stock. Now, if you follow this blog at all, this might seem a bit redundant, but the first hookah was constructed out of a coconut. It wasn’t until a Physician reviewed the process of smoking shisha that a vase with water was officially added to the true make-up of a hookah.  The purpose of the water is to filter the smoke and then cleanse it (to a degree) before you inhale. Well, the Diffuser takes that one step further.

  Typically when you smoke a hookah, a sort of bubbly gurgling sound emits when you pull on the hose, as the air cycles through the water. For some people, this is their favorite part. However, the diffuser is known throughout the community as being “the most efficient filtration system for your hookah” and we’d have to agree – wholeheartedly. The plastic body of the diffusers filter is attached to the bottom of your down-stem (the part that’s actually in the water) by using the flexible rubber grommet (included in your purchase) to ensure that the top of the diffuser is 100% air tight. It’s called a diffuser because it actually diffuses the suction at the tip of the down-stem. It essentially breaks down the air bubbles into many much smaller bubbles thus increasing the surface area of the smoke that is exposed to the water surface inside the vase.  So smoking becomes quieter and it also provides a better filtration of soot and tar particles. This BIG IMPACT comes in such a small package (between 1 – 2 inches depending on what size you choose) but packed with enormous benefits!