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.
A Look at The History
Hookahs and hookah bars originated in India around 500 years ago in a much more primitive form near the Pakistan border. Right after getting popular in India, hookahs made their way to turkey where the Turkish elite became very fond of smoking hookahs. Thereon it was taken to many 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 heavily associated with the same region. Hookah bars in the middle east became the place for the elite to hang out and smoke hookah.
Exactly What Does A Hookah Bar Seem Like?
Bars that are designed to imitate the place of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. A few bars only serve hookah. But some multifunctional bars offer snacks, coffee and sodas as well. Typical community lounges usually do not have liquor licenses and so do not derive profit from alcohol. However, in larger cities, many trendier establishments serve alcohol, generally with a full bar available for cocktails, wine, and beer. It isn't uncommon to see belly dancers, live bands, or DJs in the more high end urban hookah bars because they resemble a "night club" more closely than a neighborhood 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 that you understand what a hookah bar is, you may be asking yourself about the device that has been able to spread around the world and spark a smoking revolution. Hookah was designed by a Persian physician in the late 1500's. The Indians called the device as a "huqqa", a name which has remained with it through history, although it is referred to as a number of other names such as "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
While the primitive hookah was much different, possibly made from coconut shells, the end result has always been the same: purify and cool the smoke by moving it through water before inhalation. Following are the key parts of a hookah:
1. Bowl - the tobacco sits here.
2. Body - smoke derived from the burning tobacco is passed through the body to reach 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.
Thick, cool and aromatic smoke comes out of the hookah.
A senior patron of a famous hookah establishment in turkey said:
"What you put in the hookah is not important, but who is with you when you are smoking. It's a complete experience. You can find, good, old, interesting and all sorts of people in a bar like this. As long as there is a need for company and friendship, as long as people want to stop and think, there will be hookah bars."
A Look at The History
Hookahs and hookah bars originated in India around 500 years ago in a much more primitive form near the Pakistan border. Right after getting popular in India, hookahs made their way to turkey where the Turkish elite became very fond of smoking hookahs. Thereon it was taken to many 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 heavily associated with the same region. Hookah bars in the middle east became the place for the elite to hang out and smoke hookah.
Exactly What Does A Hookah Bar Seem Like?
Bars that are designed to imitate the place of origin of hookah have generally Arab people running them. The furnishings are in line with the Middle Eastern culture of Indian culture. A few bars only serve hookah. But some multifunctional bars offer snacks, coffee and sodas as well. Typical community lounges usually do not have liquor licenses and so do not derive profit from alcohol. However, in larger cities, many trendier establishments serve alcohol, generally with a full bar available for cocktails, wine, and beer. It isn't uncommon to see belly dancers, live bands, or DJs in the more high end urban hookah bars because they resemble a "night club" more closely than a neighborhood 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 that you understand what a hookah bar is, you may be asking yourself about the device that has been able to spread around the world and spark a smoking revolution. Hookah was designed by a Persian physician in the late 1500's. The Indians called the device as a "huqqa", a name which has remained with it through history, although it is referred to as a number of other names such as "nargile," "shisha," and "hubble-bubble" to name a few.
While the primitive hookah was much different, possibly made from coconut shells, the end result has always been the same: purify and cool the smoke by moving it through water before inhalation. Following are the key parts of a hookah:
1. Bowl - the tobacco sits here.
2. Body - smoke derived from the burning tobacco is passed through the body to reach 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.
Thick, cool and aromatic smoke comes out of the hookah.
A senior patron of a famous hookah establishment in turkey said:
"What you put in the hookah is not important, but who is with you when you are smoking. It's a complete experience. You can find, good, old, interesting and all sorts of people in a bar like this. As long as there is a need for company and friendship, as long as people want to stop and think, there will be hookah bars."
About the Author:
Have you ever been to a hookah bar? If not, then you should go and have a taste of this rising trend. Nowadays, it is not difficult to find a hookah lounge in any city.
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