How to Set Up A Hookah: A Guide for Beginners

Hookah smoking is a great social pastime that has been used for conversations, get togethers, and as tradition for almost 400 years. The origins of hookah are thought to be traced back to Northwestern India, near the border of Pakistan, and other parts of the Middle East and Turkey. There are also parts of Africa and Asia that also partake in hookah smoking. You might also hear hookah tobacco referred to as a shisha! Whether you call it a shisha or hookah tobacco, there's one thing you should know - it takes time to learn how to properly set up hookah.

That's because there are lots of physics involved in getting a hookah pull that is just right. Overpacking your bowl, too many coals (yes, hookahs use hot coals), or even having the wrong hose can all make your hookah smoking experience negative and uncomfortable. Fortunately, we're here to help teach you how to set up a hookah for you and your friends. Our hookah setup can help you get a pull that's just right, get the right amount of nicotine, and improve the flavor of your hookah.

Below is our comprehensive article on hookah for beginners. We'll teach you the basics of a hookah set up, what tools you'll need, and how to enjoy this past time to start on your journey towards relaxation and one of the best buzzes you'll ever feel

How to Set Up Hookah With Right Materials

For starters, it's important to know what tools you'll need to set up your hookah. If you're wondering how to put a hookah together, below are the essentials you'll need to get started. We'll go over these materials in more detail below, but to get you started and to cover the basics, you will need the following. After you learn how these tools come together, it's easy to learn how to set up a hookah for the best and longest smoking session.

To set up a hookah for beginners, the materials you will need include:

• A hookah base
• A hookah bowl
• A hookah tray
• Coals
• Metal tongs (make sure they're metal and can withstand the heat of coals, no silicone!)
• Water
• Your choice of flavored hookah tobacco (we recommend Tangiers)
• Hookah hose
• A coal burner or somewhere to heat up your coals (as a last option, use a blow torch)
• Heat management Device (Optional)
• Foil

The Hookah Base and Water

The hookah base comes in a variety of designs, and in a variety of heights. The most important thing to note is that it is designed to hold water. Some hookah bases are made with heating design in mind, so they can distribute heat more evenly across your hookah, helping to produce a better pull. All bases have a basin at the bottom where you will fill it with water.

If you're a starter in smoking hookah, we recommend using only water. Some daredevils out there will use alcohol, but this is highly unrecommended. Some people are also known to put milk in hookah, or even mix a little bit of half and half or heavy cream into their water.

Mixing milk or cream into the water is thought to produce a creamier consistency, and it's not as bad as you might think! However, we recommend starting off with pure or distilled water beforehand. If you have to use tap water, don't worry, this is also safe so long as you use cold water. Hot water has a tendency to have corroded parts due to boilers, so it's best to start off with cold tap water. You can even add ice to the base for an added coolness to your smoke.

This added cooling effect on your hookah smoke can help minimize the risks of a harsh pull.

The Hookah Stem and Connection to the Hookah Base

The hookah stem connects the hookah base directly to your hookah bowl, and also connects the hose to your bowl. The main thing to note about the hookah stem is to make sure there's no cracks in it, and make sure it is airtight. There are other parts in between your stem and base, including the:

• Hose connector, which is a part of your hookah that connects the hose to your base
• The release valve, which attaches from the stem to the bowl
• The stem heart, which holds the hose and also connects to the base
• The downstem, which is the part of the stem that is submerged in water
• An optional diffuser, which submerges into the water and helps quiet down the sound of your pulls

Fortunately, you won't have to mess with many of these items. Most of the time, you'll only need to worry about taking apart the stem from the base, which is universal for most hookahs. You will also need to clean your hose connector from time to time, and use this to connect your hose to the base.

Coal Tray and Tongs

In between the hookah base and stem and underneath the hookah bowl will be the coal tray. This coal tray is designed to catch ash and support coals, which will be used to burn the tobacco. The smoke from the burning tobacco will then lead down to the base, where you will then collect the smoke and puff it out.

The tongs will sit on top of the tray, and are usually shorter than traditional tongs. However, if you're in a pinch, you can use longer tongs if necessary as long as they're made of metal.

Coals

It's important to get your coals from a certified hookah shop or coals made specifically for tobacco burnings. Some options for coals below include:

• Coconut coals
• Quick light coals (which are easy to heat up but do not last long)
• Crescent coals which are good for lotus heads (See below)
• Flat coals made for ceramic and aluminum foil setups
• Cube coals which are standard in most hookah bars and come in packs of 84

These coals will need to be heated up using an electric burner, on your stove, or by a blow torch lighter. We recommend purchasing an electric burner made for lighting up coals, as this can help prevent damage to your stove.

The Hookah Bowl

Next in your hookah setup is the hookah bowl. This is the star of the show, and is the part of the hookah that is packed with tobacco. The hookah bowl will usually come with your hookah set. However, some stores might sell these separately. Make sure that your hookah bowl fits snuggly on top of your stem. If you find that your connection is loose, you can shop for grommets, which are small silicone, heat-proof parts that create an air-tight seal for a perfect smoking session.

The traditional hookah bowl is ceramic and heat proof, and will be covered with a piece of foil that has tiny holes placed. However, if you opt to buy a heat management device, you won't need to purchase foil or a ceramic bowl, and can instead use this device to hold your coals. Speaking of which....

The Hookah Heat Management Device (or HMD)

While some hookah set up for beginners might use only a ceramic bowl with foil, you can also use a heat management device, known as an HMD, to store your coals. These HMD's are designed to hold heat better, helping to prevent your tobacco from burning too quickly. The better the HMD, the slower your tobacco will burn and the longer your smoking session will last. Some popular heat management devices include:

• Flavor Savors
• Kaloud Lotus 
• Apple on Top
• Gemini hookah bowl

All of these HMDs will support coals placed on top, and will then protect your tobacco from burning too soon.