Hookah

Battle of the Hookah Lounges Vol: 1 - Habibi Café vs. Gypsy Café

2008-11-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

If you live in Los Angeles, chances are you have hit up the Westwood area to check out the UCLA campus or to do some shopping. It is a great place to chill for the evening and just so happens also has two rival Hookah Lounges. The Hookah Addicts decided to put these two establishments to the test to see who come out victorious in the battle of Westwood village. We will go through our list of criteria for a great Hookah lounge, obviously giving more weight to the quality of the shisha.

Ambiance

Habibi Café is a lively place with excellent décor with lots of comfortable places to sit and a great outdoor area. When you drive down Broxton it is the first thing you see, plus they have a D.J. on weekends. Habibi is usually pretty loud and is hit or miss with service. Gypsy Café is a bit more laid back and suites my hookah experience a bit better. The décor is no where near as elaborate as Habibi, but you usually get decent service and is not a crap shoot. It is even at this point but the fact the Habibi is the preferred place of UCLA students gives the ambience check mark to Habibi.

Habibi Café √ Gypsy Café ⁭

Food

Both are good and you cannot go wrong either way. They both have good sized portions and have great Taboulleh, I tasted both the Kabob and the chicken and both were excellent as well. But there are two things that separate them, first the Hummus at Gypsy is amazing make sure you order it when you go. Also price is important to a young adult such as my self and Gypsy wins there too. Complementary water, cheaper prices, and the ability to serve alcohol (Habibi lost their license) gives the check to Gypsy.

Habibi Café ⁭ Gypsy Café √

Hookah

Now for the most important part of the Hookah lounge experience, the shisha. I will not even make this suspenseful. Gypsy wins!!!! Not because it was the best, it just saved it self from being the worst. Gypsy’s flavor selection is good although the shish was a little bland and hit a bit hard; it still was satisfying and was a nice experience. Habibi, on the other hand, was awful, it hit really hard I found myself coughing a lot and there was no taste at all. Plus, you have to wait for the waiter to adjust your coals which took forever. It just was not a great place.

Habibi Café ⁭ Gypsy Café √

Conclusion

Habibi looks like the place to be from the street, but you are much better off crossing the street and heading over to Gypsy Café.

Cleaning Your Hookah Hose

2008-11-11T10:20:00.001-08:00

If you have cleaned you Hookah base out thoroughly and you are still getting a permanent nasty taste or if your hose is producing ash, it might be time to clean out your hoses. For the most part, hookah hoses are made out of rubber or cardboard. Both can be cleaned, but cardboard hookah pipes usually have a limited life span. So it might be better to just go buy new ones in that case.

To clean your hookah hose all you need to do is run clean water through the hose. I recommend going to the bath tub and using that spout, it can be done in the sink but is a little tight. Run water through the house flexing it periodically until the water runs clear. After this blow through the hookah hose to dry it out and then hang it up to dry. This should change the taste of the Hookah exponentially.

Somethings In the Water

2008-11-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

A great trick to improve your hookah experience is to add another liquid other then water to the glass base of your hookah. Any non-carbonated liquid may be added to the water, you can also outright replace the water in the glass base with these liquids as well. However, I would recommend that you always keep some water in you base. The taste of your beverage of choice will drastically change the flavor of the hookah.

Ice is another way to change your hookah experience. When you put ice in the glass Hookah base it cools the smoke which allows for a thicker smoke and also cools the smoke down to a temperature that makes the smoke less harsh.

Whatever you put into the base, if it has a flavor or a smell it will alter the taste of your hookah smoke. The smell of the liquid in the glass hookah is what’s important. The rule of thumb is, the stronger the smell the more it will alter the taste of the hookah. Finally adding vodka or any other alcohols will change the taste, and give you a nice buzz as well. Fruit is another great idea, adding mango slices to your mango shisha is really nice. Mix and Match and you will get some nice new creations.

Hookah Instructions: How to Pack a Hookah

2008-11-05T12:24:00.001-08:00

Hookah instruction will vary from person to person but the overall message is the same. Packing a hookah can be an art form, but is not that hard to do.

STEP 1: Remove the base of hookah wash it well and fill it again with cold water. You want to fill it up to a level where the bottom of the pipe is right below water level

STEP 2: Remove the bowl, wash it out.

STEP 3: Take the tobacco out of the package and finely open the tobacco leaves. Once all the leaves are opened chop the pieces of tobacco in pieces about 1/4 of the actual size. Slowly sprinkle the tobacco in the bowl or place each piece carefully. Fill to about 1cm from the top

STEP 4: Lightly press a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the bowl and pierce with lots of tiny holes, don’t press the top down too hard, you do not want to pack the bowl tight. Also keep the shinny part down.

STEP 5: With a lighter or on the stove light the piece of charcoal and blow on it until it turns red hot and place it on top of the aluminum foil. STEP 6: Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Hookah Lounge in Los Angeles- Hookah Lounge on Melrose

2008-11-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

I am a Los Angeles native and I know a ton of great place to smoke hookah. I also spent a number of years on the East coast and have friends visiting me all the time. I have found that out of town guest are looking for a certain type of experience. I take my friends to my favorite local spots. But my friends usually want to hit the town as well. That is why I want to recommend The Hookah Lounge and Restaurant on Melrose. It is a cozy and intimate place but maintains a casual chic feel, the Hookah Lounge and Restaurant is a great place to smoke and relax, but also has a full bar and late-night dancing as well. That is why I am recommending it to out of town guest you can have a nice meal and relax. But you also have the night life feel that some people are looking for when they are on vacation in Los Angeles. So if you are looking for a relaxing hookah Lounge experience for dinner that will turn in to a laid back night club. Check out the Hookah Lounge. (7469 Melrose Ave.)

A Guide to the Best Hookah Flavors

2008-11-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Many of you probably already know that mixing different hookah flavors can be quite interesting. But before you can start mixing your flavors, it is very important that you get a good understanding of how each flavor you are mixing tastes, and how potent the flavor is. For example orange is very strong and you usually want to mix it in with other tobacco’s at a lesser rate so that the orange does not over power the rest of the hookah flavors. I will share with you 2 of favorite recipes, and give you as directions as to how to make the mixtures.

Strawberry Banana

Be sure to try Strawberry Banana together. This may seem like a simple combination but if done right it can be heavenly. It is important to not Banana has an overwhelming taste. So I have found that you want to use one part banana and two parts strawberry to get that perfect taste. Now here is the trick put the first part of the strawberry in the bowl and follow that with the Banana and top it off with the remaining strawberry. This mixture is sure to please everyone.

Hookah flavors: 2/3 Strawberry, 1/3 Banana

Peach Mandarin

Mandarin is an extremely potent flavor and is best used in a mixture, which is why in this mixture I would go a step future and have the hookah flavors at a 3 to 1 ratio. You want to use the same layering technique as before start with a good a part of the peach and then add the mandarin and fill in the rest of the bowl with peach.

Hookah flavors: ¾ Peach. ¼ Mandarin

By mixing these hookah flavors the way we have you will get a nice mix, neither one will dominate and you will have an enjoyable and flavorful experience. Good Luck!!

Negative Stereotypes of Hookahs History

2008-11-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

The History of Hookah begins in the north western provinces of India along the border of Pakistan nearly a thousand years ago. These Hookahs were extremely rudimentary mainly made out of a coconut shell and a tube. In fact Hookah derives from the Persian word ‘nargile’ which means coconut. They were designed to smoke opium, and hashish. The hookah made its way through the Persian Kingdom, much of Middle Asia and Arab parts of North.

Hookah bars are social places where many people get together to discuss politics and local events. The History of Hookah as a device designed for smoking opium and hashish has created a negative stigma amongst some people in society. The hookah has been growing in popularity in the United States since the experimentation of the sixties. Now they are in college dorm rooms and Middle Eastern market all over the United States. That History of Hookah in the United States has not helped the way that society looks at the hookah. Slowly society is accepting the hookah as more of a pipe for tobacco instead of illegal drugs. Smoking Hookah is an experience that is enjoyable, that creates a relaxed environment for discussion and commodore in a world that has gotten to busy to sit down and enjoy the pleasures of each other’s company.

Mya Hookah – An Innovative Way to Smoke Hookah

2008-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

Mya Hookahs are one of the most decorative hookahs on the market today. They have been around for over 4 decades and specialize in home ornament gifts made of crystals and other delicate material. There style of hookah ranges from a standard hookah that is nestled in a cage, which is perfect to carry around wherever you go to their more fancy Bohemian crystal Hookah that can be used to smoke or as a beautiful center piece in your home.

Mya Hookah is unique compared to other hookah brands because they also sell all their parts separate from the hookah. They sell hoses, vases, bowls, rubber grommets, and much more accessories if in any case your hookah falls apart, you can purchase the accessory that is necessary to fix the defect. In addition, Mya Hookahs are very air tight due to their patent pending screw feature they have on their hookahs. Instead of having to stick each piece into a socket, you can screw each piece together.

Mya Hookah continues to manufacture their Hookahs and import them to the United States of America. They are one of the leading Hookah distributors and design one of the most creative styles of Hookah.

Hookah Accessory – Do You Have It All?

2008-11-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

There is a plethora of Hookah Accessory on the market today that can beef up the smoking experience significantly. Most hookahs have their own unique hookah accessory that is tailored to the size and style of a hookah. Most hookah accessories are used for parts of hookahs that often break or need improvement. From glass vases to hookah bowls, these items are essential for your hookah to function.

Furthermore, some hookah users purchase an upgraded accessory for their hookah to make it look more beautiful and improve the hookah’s functionality. For example, some users will purchase more elaborated hookah hoses to stand out from the norm and make their hookah smoking experience more enjoyable with their hand crafted hoses. Also, some hookah do not come equipped with the correct products to keep a hookah in good shape, so hookah cleaning accessories and protectors are purchased to keep the hookah working well and looking new.

Example of Hookah Accessories:

· Hookah Hose

· Hookah Bowl

· Mouth Tip

· Hookah Hose Filters

· Glass Base (vase)

· Hose Covers

· Rubber Grommets

· Cleaning Brushes

· Hookah Charcoal Holder

· Hookah Torch (Lighters)

· Hookah Wind Covers

Nargile – A Turkish Waterpipe

2008-11-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

The first type of Hookah created by India was made of a coconut shells. It had gotten its name by the term Nargile, which in the Iranian spoken language means coconut. As time progressed, the coconut base was then transferred over to being produced by glass and other raw materials like clay. In Turkey, the craftsman began to design the most detailed Nargile to exhibit their artistic ability to other countries. They began to create the most types of Turkish Waterpipes that were ever created. The craftsman primarily made all the Nargile by hand and the following practices are even done today.

The Nargile is composed of 4 parts:

Govde – The body of the waterpipe that was made of glass, porcelain or fine metals. The body was also decorated by fine art.

Lule – The waterpipe bowl of the where the tobacco was sprinkled on. The tobacco used was primarily imported from Iran. Prior to using the tobacco, it had to be washed several times and then used.

Marpuc – The tube of the waterpipe that carried smoke from the Lule to the Aoyzlyk once smoke was inhaled. It typically decorated by bead and/or fine stitching.

Aoyzlyk – The mouthpiece of the waterpipe made of amber.

Hookah Charcoal – What Keeps The Smoke Rolling

2008-11-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hookah Charcoal is the product that is placed on the hookah bowl that burns the tobacco and produces smoke when a user inhales the hookah. The hookah charcoal also known as “coals” is placed over the tin foil that is covering the tobacco. Prior to lighting the coals, it is recommend that the charcoal is broken in half in order to properly fit on the tin foil and bowl, so that it does not roll off or that it is not too big for the foil. Once the hookah charcoal is broken in half. Place the charcoal over fire for about 2-4 minutes depending on the type of charcoal. After the hookah charcoal has turned red, place at least 2 pieces on the edge of the hookah bowl and begin inhaling. Soon the smoke will come out of the hose and your hookah is started. Be sure to take off the coals with a tong every 10 minutes to ash and do not touch the coals with your fingers as it is very hot. After you are done smoking hookah, place the remaining coals on the hookah vase for it to die out.

The various types of hookah charcoal:

Japanese Charcoal
Wood Charcoal
Instant Light Charcoal

Hookah Wholesale – The Rise in Demand

2008-11-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

Hookah trading began in the early 16th century, but it had diminished for quite a while up until the late 1990s as doors of hookah bars began to open in the USA. Henceforth, due to America’s capitalist nature, many began importing Hookahs from different countries to begin hookah wholesale.

Hookah wholesale has became a great business in the last decade as hookah manufacturers all over the world have created an affordable price for hookah pipes. With the emergence of Chinese hookahs, many tobacco and pipe stores began to purchase these products from hookah wholesalers at a fraction of a cost. In addition, the popularity of hookah bars increased the number of hookah sales by a significant number.

Today, most of the Hookah distributors are located in the West coast and trade hookah to all over the nation. Many of the small hookah wholesalers have been washed out and the larger hookah distributors with popular products and competitive prices have control of most of the market share.

Hookah in San Diego - Top 3 Hookah Bars

2008-11-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

The city of San Diego located in Southern California has a plethora of popular and one-of-a-kind hookah bars. Amongst the popular hookah bars that we are going to cover today are Fumari Hookah Lounge, Sinbad Café and Hookah Lounge, and Zodiak Hookah Lounge

Fumari Hookah Lounge

330 G St
San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 238-4949

If you are visit the gas lamp district of San Diego, Fumari Hookah Lounge is a must to visit. They most noted for their exclusive blend of tobacco that is uniquely made in Jordan. Their 100g zip lock bag of tobacco sells for an average price of $9.00 and it is extremely flavorful. This hookah lounge in San Diego is nestled on a street corner and is a great spot to smoke hookah and lounge. The atmosphere is hip and dark, and the crowd is extremely friendly. The best nights to attend Fumari are on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hookahs: A

Atmosphere: B+

Service: B+

Sinbad Café

1050 Garnet Ave Ste B
San Diego, CA 92109

(858) 866-6006

Sinbad Café is located in Pacific Beach next to a number of bars and the Pacific Ocean. Sinbad Café does charge a cover fee, which is a bit tedious, but their hookahs are very unique. The place is quite crowded and it feels like an actual bar at times serving alcohol, instead you are puffing away on Hookahs. The carry various types of hookah heads like Pineapple, Apple, Watermelon and many more. The fruits they use opposed to hookah bowls add a tangy taste to your blend of hookah. This place is recommended as a hang out spot rather than a place to go chill and smoke hookah in San Diego.

Hookahs: B

Atmosphere: A-

Service: B

Zodiak Hookah Lounge

6455 El Cajon blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

(619) 326-6800

Zodiak Hookah Lounge is a favorite for many UCSD students to conjugate and hang out at. They use Starbuzz Premium Tobacco, which is a fan favorite for the hookah bar goers and their staff is extremely friendly. This Hookah bar in San Diego is great for Hookah enthusiasts as it has a Moroccan theme and a cheap Happy Hour special. During Happy Hour, there Hookahs cost about $9.00 and $4.50 for a refill, which is half the price of a regular hookah. Overall, Zodiak is café where you can go with friends, play cards, backgammon, drink tea, smoke hookah and relax.

Hookahs: A

Atmosphere: B+

Service: A-

Fumari Tobacco is an Amazing Find

2008-11-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

I was recently in downtown San Diego and stumbled across Fumari Hookah Lounge. I had heard that Fumari tobacco was the best and had try it for myself. Fumari was closed but I was able to convince the workers inside to let me buy some tobacco. They were extremely nice even with me knocking after hours. When I got home later that night I was not disappointed.

Fumari tobacco is packaged in small, hand packed containers and packed upon the order to make it extremely fresh. On top of that Fumari tobacco flavors are always created in small batches to ensure that every flavor is intense and contains the perfect taste, I had the blackberry it had a sweet berry flavor with a hint of floral aroma, it was excellent. I was instantly hooked and while I hear the ordering online guarantees a certain level of freshness, I look forward to my next visit to San Diego because I will be sure to go out of my way to stop in and buy so more Fumari tobacco, but hopefully during normal operating hours.

Hookah Tobacco

2008-11-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hookah tobacco is the substance that is placed into the hookah bowl while you smoke hookah. Hookah tobacco is a variety of names, such as shisha and mu’essel. The tobacco in Hookah is often times flavored with fruit flavors. In recent years, many tobacco manufactures have created various flavors that are of alcohol beverages and soft drinks. There are currently over 20 different brands of hookah tobacco from all over the world from Egypt to Jordan to China to India and the United States. The emerging popularity of hookah has caused many companies to produce their own flavors.

Hookah tobacco is made with dried tobacco leaves dipped in flavorful molasses and scent of dried fruits. It is typically better to use the hookah when moist and they often last for one year from the day they are produced if opened. We recommend hookah tobacco to be placed in a cool place and out of the sun so that it does not go bad and that it remains air tight.

The following is a minimal list of Hookah Tobacco brands:

· Al-Amir Tobacco

· Al-Fakher Tobacco

· Al-Qemah Tobacco

· Al-Waha Tobacco

· Fusion Tobacco

· Laylina Tobacco

· Nakhla Tobacco

· Starbuzz Tobacco

Hookah Smoking – A Unique Experience

2008-11-04T17:49:00.001-08:00

Hookah smoking is a unique and interesting experience. The process of making a hookah from packing the bowl to actually smoking the hookah is a long and often times a special occurrence. Hookah preparation typically takes between 10-15 minutes from cleaning the hookah to packing the bowl to placing cool water in the vase to actually inhaling the first smoke from the hookah. The hookah smoking experience is what makes a session fun and exciting.

Hookah smoking is often times done in a social setting like a hookah lounge or at home with a group of friends, sitting around in a circle. The process usually takes between 45-60 minutes with an average hookah bowl packed to the top. During a hookah session, people usually drink tea, play cards, listen to music and converse with another.

Often times, avid hookah smokers, do certain tricks such as, blowing o’s while smoking hookah. Other times, hookah smokers create different types of bowls made out of fruits. In addition, hookah tobacco flavors are often blended together for a unique flavor. As a Hookah expert, we recommend hookah smokers to smoke in moderation and enjoy your hookah smoking session.

Invest in an Egyptian Hookah

2008-11-04T17:36:00.001-08:00

The hookah was created in India, grew in the Middle East and was perfected in Egypt. Egyptian Hookah is synonymous with quality and beauty. The hookah came to Egypt around 400 years ago where it was referred to as the shisha. Egyptian Hookahs are made up of four parts a glass base, a metal shaft which is called “the pipe”, a hose, and clay bowl. Egyptian hookahs are primarily made out of brass or brass with a chrome coating. An Egyptian Hookah is hand blown and painted. The end result is always a work of art the can become a center piece in any home. They are the most common hookah when you are out at a hookah bar you are most likely smoking out of and Egyptian hookah because of their durability. It is important when investing in a quality Egyptian Hookah to not be fooled by imposters. An authentic Egyptian Hookah has colored glass; a fake will have spray painted glass. Also be wary of hookahs with plastic pipes and the shafts are never spray painted in a color to match the glass base. Even if you are an occasional Hookah smoker I recommend you buy an Egyptian Hookah the beauty, quality, and durability is unmatched.

Hookah Smoke – Is it safer than cigarettes?

2008-11-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

Is Hookah smoke safe? Well...Considering the fact that hookah tobacco contains tobaccos and the additives like nicotine, I highly think not. But it does contain less artificial chemicals that are sprayed on cigarette tobacco.

A hookah smoker typically takes in smoke from a hookah hose. The hookah smoke is passed from the hookah bowl into the hookah water located into vase and then through a chamber, which then the hookah smoke inhaled through the hose. There is a misconception that hookah smoke is not harmful, however, the following is flawed. The WHO (World Health Organization) suggests that smoking hookah for an hour gives off an average of 150 times the amount of hookah smoke inhaled from one cigarette.

Even though Tobacco passes through water, the toxins still remain hookah smoke inhaled by the user. Hookah smoke also contains nicotine, which is the addictive substance in cigarettes. The fear of hookah users not knowing the harmful effects of hookah is a growing problem. Most users think that using hookahs are a safer alternative. However, as research has proved through WHO, it still contains toxins and harmful substances. We suggest that a hookah is used in moderation for special occasions as hookah smoking is extremely unique and one-of-a-kind.

Welcome to the Hookah Information Site

2008-11-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

We want to invite all visitors to come to our website and check out all of our content about the Hookah. We are going to provide weekly posts about Hookah smoking, tobacco, health hazards, tricks, techniques, and much more. We welcome all of our visitors to contact us directly at HookahAddicts@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you for visiting our blog and enjoy!