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Tobacco Smoking Culture:

The History of Hookah

In the Arab world, social smoking is done with a single or double hose, and sometimes even more numerous. When the smoker is finished, either the hose is placed back on the table signifying that it is available, or it is handed from one user to the next, folded back on itself so that the mouthpiece is not pointing at the recipient. Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, Shah of Persia (1848-1896) is reputed to have considered a hookah mouthpiece pointed at him an insult. Another tradition is that the recipient taps or slaps the previous smoker on the back of the hand while taking it, as a sign of respect or friendship.

In cafés and restaurants, however, it is rare for each smoker not to order an individual hookah, as the price is generally low, ranging from USD 2 to USD 15. Molasses tobacco is sold in a variety of flavours. SA few of the flavours are based upon the scent of flowers. Flavours include vanilla, coconut, rose, jasmine, honey, strawberry, watermelon, mint, cherry, orange, raspberry,apple, apricot, chocolate, licorice, coffee, grape, peach, cola, bubblegum, and others. Blending flavours has also become very popular amongst hookah smokers. By mixing two or more flavours more complex tastes have been achieved. One example of a brand entirely based on blended flavours is Hookah Freak.

Most cafés in the Middle East offer hookahs. Cafés are widespread and are amongst the chief social gathering places in the Arab world (akin to public houses have in Britain). Some expatriate Britons arriving in the Middle East adopt shisha cafés to make up for the lack of pubs in the region, especially where prohibition is in place.