Initially popularized the in the U.S. in the 1960's and 70's, hookah smoking is becoming progressively common ever since the turn of the century. To put it simply, a hookah bar is a commercial establishment where patrons share shisha tobacco by using a smoking device called a "hookah". One can easily get hookah bars near universities and colleges and in highly populated towns.
The History of Hookah and Hookah Bars
The source of hookah can be traced back to five centuries in what was then referred to as the Subcontinent. Soon after getting popular in India, hookahs made their way to turkey where the Turkish elite became very fond of smoking hookahs. Thereon it was brought to several other countries in the middle east including Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Considering that the origin of Hookahs is in the middle east, hookah bars are strongly associated with the same region. Hookah bars gained popularity in the Middle East as the spots where people used to socialize and smoke hookah with friends.
Features of Hookah Bars
Bars that are built to imitate the region of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. Some bars only offer hookah. But some multifunctional bars serve snacks, coffee and sodas as well. A small bar usually does not have a liquor license and so they do not serve alcohol. But the large bars which are positioned in very populated areas serve wine, beer along with other cocktails. It's not uncommon to see belly dancers, live bands, or DJs in the more trendy urban hookah bars as they resemble a "night club" more closely than a community social establishment.
Closer to college campuses, hookah bars will be more casual with a wide mix of patrons, which includes college students of course. Hookah is gaining a lot of popularity as a less hazardous way to enjoy smoking. Hookah bars do well around colleges as college life is a time to try new things and enjoy the freedom of life. There has been a rise in the number and popularity of hookah bars in cities, which are renowned for their secondary education institutions in the U.S.
Let's Talk About a Hookah
Now you must be thinking what a hookah is? What is so special about this device that it has become popular all around the world. A Persian physician, Abul-Fath-Gilani made the hookah in 1588. He was in India at that time. The Indians called the device as a "huqqa", a name which has stayed with it throughout history, although it is referred to as many other names for example "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
The first hookah was made of coconut shells and it was nothing like the hookahs that are manufactured in the present day, but the purpose of that hookah was same of purifying smoke by passing it through water. A basic hookah has the following four components:
1. Bowl - where tobacco is placed.
2. Body - the smoke passes from the body and reaches the water basin.
3. Water Basin - contains the water, where smoke is passed through to be cooled off and purified. Purified smoke remains in the chamber over the water until it is inhaled through the hose.
4. Hose - after the purified smoke reaches the chamber, the smoker breathes in deeply through the hose connected into the water basin. The hose can be up to several meters long.
The end result is a calming and fragrant smoke.
A patron of a hookah bar in Turkey once said:
"What you put in the hookah matters not, but who is along with you when you are smoking. It's a full experience. You'll find, good, old, interesting and all kinds of people in a bar such as this. All what people really need to come to a hookah bar is a spirit to socialize, meet and spend some time in the company of close friends."
The History of Hookah and Hookah Bars
The source of hookah can be traced back to five centuries in what was then referred to as the Subcontinent. Soon after getting popular in India, hookahs made their way to turkey where the Turkish elite became very fond of smoking hookahs. Thereon it was brought to several other countries in the middle east including Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Considering that the origin of Hookahs is in the middle east, hookah bars are strongly associated with the same region. Hookah bars gained popularity in the Middle East as the spots where people used to socialize and smoke hookah with friends.
Features of Hookah Bars
Bars that are built to imitate the region of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. Some bars only offer hookah. But some multifunctional bars serve snacks, coffee and sodas as well. A small bar usually does not have a liquor license and so they do not serve alcohol. But the large bars which are positioned in very populated areas serve wine, beer along with other cocktails. It's not uncommon to see belly dancers, live bands, or DJs in the more trendy urban hookah bars as they resemble a "night club" more closely than a community social establishment.
Closer to college campuses, hookah bars will be more casual with a wide mix of patrons, which includes college students of course. Hookah is gaining a lot of popularity as a less hazardous way to enjoy smoking. Hookah bars do well around colleges as college life is a time to try new things and enjoy the freedom of life. There has been a rise in the number and popularity of hookah bars in cities, which are renowned for their secondary education institutions in the U.S.
Let's Talk About a Hookah
Now you must be thinking what a hookah is? What is so special about this device that it has become popular all around the world. A Persian physician, Abul-Fath-Gilani made the hookah in 1588. He was in India at that time. The Indians called the device as a "huqqa", a name which has stayed with it throughout history, although it is referred to as many other names for example "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
The first hookah was made of coconut shells and it was nothing like the hookahs that are manufactured in the present day, but the purpose of that hookah was same of purifying smoke by passing it through water. A basic hookah has the following four components:
1. Bowl - where tobacco is placed.
2. Body - the smoke passes from the body and reaches the water basin.
3. Water Basin - contains the water, where smoke is passed through to be cooled off and purified. Purified smoke remains in the chamber over the water until it is inhaled through the hose.
4. Hose - after the purified smoke reaches the chamber, the smoker breathes in deeply through the hose connected into the water basin. The hose can be up to several meters long.
The end result is a calming and fragrant smoke.
A patron of a hookah bar in Turkey once said:
"What you put in the hookah matters not, but who is along with you when you are smoking. It's a full experience. You'll find, good, old, interesting and all kinds of people in a bar such as this. All what people really need to come to a hookah bar is a spirit to socialize, meet and spend some time in the company of close friends."
About the Author:
Have you ever visited a hookah bar? If not, then you should go and have a taste of this growing trend. Nowadays, it is not difficult to find a hookah lounge in any city.
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