The ultimate hookah glossary

Hookah, also known as shisha, has become popular around the world as a way to enjoy flavored tobacco, but it also requires some knowledge of specific terms and equipment. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, it is important to understand all the components that make up a hookah and their functions in order to enjoy the full experience. This ultimate hookah glossary provides all the necessary information on parts, smoking techniques, tobacco types and other essential terms that will help you get the most out of every moment you decide to smoke a shisha. Whether you are a hobbyist or looking for technical information, you will find the answers to all your questions here.

AND

Acrylic : A type of plastic used to make hookahs, stands, or other accessories due to its durability and versatility in shaping.

Airflow : The amount of air that passes through the hookah. Airflow can vary depending on the hoses, bowl, rubber bands, and other parts.

B

Ball Bearing – A metal, glass, or plastic ball used inside a purge valve or hose adapter. It acts as a seal when the hookah is not actively purged.

Base – a key part of the hookah that serves to hold the water through which the smoke passes. It is usually made of glass, acrylic, or rarely ceramic.

Base cleaning brush (brush for cleaning the base) – a long metal brush with soft fibers that helps to clean the inside of the hookah base.

Base protector (protector for the base) – a rubber cover that protects the glass base of the hookah from damage when it is placed on hard surfaces.

Blonde leaf shisha – a type of tobacco characterized by a golden-brown color and low nicotine content. The most commonly used type of shisha.

Bowl port – the part of the hookah handle that supports the bowl. It is usually located at the top of the hookah, although this can vary.

Bowl – a container that can be ceramic, glass, silicone, clay, or metal, used to hold and smoke the shisha aroma. This is one of the key parts of the hookah. Also known as the hookah head.

Buzz (a feeling caused by nicotine consumption) – a feeling of slight dizziness or lightheadedness that can be felt when consuming nicotine.

C

• Chamber – The internal part of the hookah through which the smoke travels before reaching the hose opening. The chamber is essential for the transfer of smoke through the system and can be dedicated or shared, depending on the hookah model.
• Clouds – a popular slang term that describes the smoke coming out of a hookah.
• Coconut charcoal – charcoal made by compressing coconut shells, used to light hookahs. Known for its long burn time and clean taste.
• Common chamber (common chamber) – a type of chamber in which all hose openings and water purification valves exit into one large internal cavity. This type of chamber is often used in hookahs with multiple hoses.

D

Dark-leaf shisha – a type of hookah tobacco characterized by a dark brown, almost black color and a high nicotine content. It usually produces a stronger and more intense hit.

Dedicated chamber – a type of chamber in which each hose opening and discharge valve have a separate air path. This type of chamber is often used on traditional Egyptian hookahs, where each smoke path is specifically separated.

Dense pack – A hookah preparation technique typically used with dark tobacco. The shisha is packed tightly into the bowl, creating a dense pack that allows for a more powerful smoke. It is the opposite of the "fluff pack" technique, where the tobacco is packed more loosely.

Diffuser (diffusor) – accessory that is mounted on the bottom of the hookah handle and immersed in water. It consists of several small holes that break the smoke into tiny bubbles, making the smoke quieter and milder, providing a more pleasant experience.

Dokha tobacco – a strong tobacco with an extremely high nicotine content, originating in the Middle East. Traditionally smoked from a specialized pipe called a "medwakh", but also used in some hookahs.

Down steam (lower inner tube) – the tube that runs from the top of the hookah to the bottom, often referring to the tube that is immersed in water inside the base of the hookah.

Draw – A term used to describe the sensation of inhaling smoke from a hookah or hose. It refers to the resistance the user feels when drawing in the smoke.

E

• Egyptian hookah bowl – a traditional type of bowl that is recognizable by several small holes in the bottom. These bowls can be made of various materials, but are most often made of clay. Egyptian bowls often come with hookahs and are popular for their simplicity and functionality.

F

• Flavor ghosting – a slang term that describes the situation when hookah smoke retains the flavor or smell of previously smoked aromas. This flavor "ghost" can be absorbed into the hose, bowl or handle of the hookah, leaving traces that affect the taste of the next smoke.
• Fluffy pack – A technique for preparing shisha in which the tobacco is gently placed in a bowl, without excessive pressure. The tobacco should have a spongy texture and be slightly airy, allowing for better airflow. This method is the opposite of the "dense pack" method, which involves packing the tobacco more tightly.
• Foil – a thin aluminum foil that is wrapped around the top of the hookah bowl, onto which the charcoal is then placed. The foil helps maintain the temperature and distribute the heat evenly over the tobacco.
• Foil drag – a problem that occurs when the aluminum foil becomes loose or falls down, blocking the airflow channels in the bowl. This can cause a difficult smoke draw and poor smoking efficiency.
• Foil poker – a metal tool with a sharp tip used to punch holes in aluminum foil. These holes allow air and smoke to pass through the foil so that the smoke can travel freely to the hose.
• Freeze hose – a specialized type of hookah hose with the addition of ice capsules or coolers at the top of the hose. These attachments can be placed in the freezer before use, further cooling the hookah smoke before it reaches the user.

MR

• Gauge - The width or size of the hookah's opening down the handle, bowl, or hose can affect the draw while smoking.
• Grommet - a type of rubber razor used to seal the hookah in various places (base, bowl and hose).

H

• Harsh – a term used to describe the unpleasant, sharp sensation when inhaling the smoke of burnt tobacco from a hookah. This feeling can be the result of too much smoke temperature or improper heat management.
• Heat management device – a hookah accessory that replaces aluminum foil. This device allows for more even heat distribution across the tobacco and charcoal, providing better temperature control and stability. It also acts as a protector for the charcoal, improving the flavor of the smoke, making it cleaner and more enjoyable.
• Heel tip – a small, rounded tip at one end of a hookah hose, which connects to the hookah hose connector.
• Herbal shisha – a type of shisha that does not contain tobacco. Instead, alternatives such as sugarcane, fruit, or other plant materials are used. This type of shisha does not contain nicotine and is ideal for users who want to enjoy hookah without a tobacco product.
• Hookah charcoal – specially formulated charcoal intended for hookah smoking. It is designed to burn at a temperature that will not burn or destroy the flavor of the tobacco, but rather provides even and long-lasting heat.
• Hookah – a water pipe that allows tobacco aromas to be smoked through water. A hookah consists of several basic parts: a base, a hose, a handle, and a bowl.
• Hose – the basic part of the hookah that connects the smoke chamber to the user. Through the hose, smoke from the hookah travels to the mouth, allowing the smoker to enjoy the smoke.
• Hose adapter (hose adapter) – an accessory used to expand the possibility of connecting several hoses to the hookah at the same time. It allows several users to smoke from the same hookah.
• Hose handle – The part of the hookah hose that the user holds while inhaling. The handle is usually the second largest part of the hose and can be made of a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, or leather.
• Hose port – The opening or connection on a hookah through which a hose is connected. It is usually attached to the center of the hookah, and some models can use adapters to add multiple hose connections.
• Hose spring – a metal spring used on the outside of a hookah hose. Its function is to prevent the hose from twisting and ensure unobstructed air flow.
• Hose tubing – a long, flexible tube that connects the hose handle to the hookah's port. Depending on the model, it can be made of various materials such as silicone, plastic, leatherette, or even glass.

• Hub – the central part of the hookah that connects all the components. It usually contains the inner chamber, the opening for the hose, and the valve for discharging the smoke from the hookah.

AND

• Ice tip – a hookah hose accessory that can be frozen and is used instead of the traditional plastic tip. Its function is to further cool the smoke as it travels through the hose, providing a cooler, more pleasant smoke with each draw.

M

• Molasses – a form of refined sugar used as an ingredient in shisha flavors, often combined with herbal or fruit flavorings, to give the smoke a richer and sweeter taste.
• Mouth tip (hookah mouthpiece) – an attachment that is placed on the end of the hose handle, usually for the purpose of maintaining hygiene and avoiding direct contact of the mouth with the hose, especially when the hookah is used by multiple people.
• Multi-hose hookah – a hookah designed to use multiple hoses at the same time. It usually comes with two, three, or four hoses, allowing multiple people to smoke from the same hookah at the same time.

N

• Natural charcoal – a type of hookah charcoal that does not contain chemical ignition accelerators, making it more natural and suitable for maintaining a clean taste when smoking. Although it requires the use of a lighter, many hookah experts and enthusiasts prefer this charcoal due to its better taste compared to quick-ignition charcoal.

P

• Pack – a slang term used to describe the method of preparing hookah, the type of shisha flavor, or the bowl itself.
• Phunnel bowl – A type of hookah bowl that has a raised central top with a single large hole at the top. This design helps to keep the aroma inside the bowl, preventing it from leaking out, resulting in a stronger and longer-lasting flavor when smoked.
• Purge – the act of exhaling directly into the hookah hose to eliminate harsh or stale smoke that may be produced during smoking.
• Purge cap – a purge valve cover that prevents the ball bearing from falling out of the hookah during purging.
• Purge valve – a valve built into the central part of the hookah handle (hub) that contains a ball bearing and allows stale or unpleasant smoke to be expelled from the chamber when air is exhaled directly into the hookah hose.

Q

• Quick-light charcoal – a type of hookah charcoal that is coated with a cream accelerator, allowing it to be lit using a standard lighter. While convenient and quick to light, it can affect the flavor of the smoke, due to the presence of chemicals that accelerate the ignition process.

WITH

• Screen – A metal plate or mesh that is placed on top of a hookah bowl and is used as an alternative to aluminum foil. It helps distribute heat evenly and prevents direct contact between the charcoal and the tobacco.
• Semi-dense pack – a hookah preparation technique where the shisha is packed into the hookah bowl, but not too tightly, leaving it relatively loose. This packing method is between "fluffy" and "dense" packing.
• Shaft/stem cleaning brush – a long, thin brush designed to clean the inside of a hookah shaft, ensuring that the smoke passes through a clean tube.
• Shisha (shisha) – flavored tobacco used in hookah. It usually contains tobacco, molasses or honey, glycerine and different flavors, making hookah smoking a pleasant and tasty experience.
• Spire (smoke column) – a raised part of the hookah bowl that resembles a funnel or vortex in shape, allowing for better smoke flow and a cleaner taste.
• Stabilizer ring – a metal or plastic ring that supports the plate on top of the hookah, making it stable and preventing it from falling or moving.
• Stem/shaft – the main part of the hookah that connects all other components. The handle is usually made of materials such as metal, silicone or acrylic and is a key part of hookah equipment.

T

Tongs – a metal tool used to safely handle hot hookah coals, preventing direct contact with the glowing pieces of coal.

Tray – A container used to safely store ashes and hot coals. Trays are usually made of metal and placed under the open bowl of a hookah to collect the remaining coals and prevent a mess.

W

Washed tobacco – a type of tobacco that is washed during production to remove nicotine, making shisha with a very mild nicotine content. This process results in a milder and less stimulating smoke.

Water level – the amount of water poured into the base of the hookah, through which the smoke passes before reaching the user. The correct water level helps to purify and cool the smoke.

Wind cover (hookah wind protection) – a metal cover that is placed over the hookah bowl to protect the coals from wind or excessive air flow. This accessory extends the burning time of the coals and increases the heat efficiency.