Although Hookah may be centuries old, its innovation and preparation methods across the world market seem to be just beginning. With this revolving blend of cultures and practices alike that make hookah and join in the tradition, there is always something new to be learned and put into effect which leads us to 10 of our best tricks and tips! These tips are tried and true, becoming standard operating procedures across the Fumari office and our fanbase too!
You can pack a bowl and manage your heat with great attention to detail and care, but if you let your excess juice, tobacco bits, and stagnant water marinate in your vase for days on end, you may as well trash the thing. Hookahs should be cleaned between uses for the best possible flavor and session you can have Bong. Pro-tip: you can even dry your vases in your dishwasher on the plate warmer setting to remove water spots/rings entirely!
Adding fruit, spices, herbs, or even different juices can be a fun and exciting step in your hookah preparation and we encourage it! But some things to avoid are milk, highly acidic fruit (such as lemons, limes, plums, and grapefruit), and alcohol. Milk begins growing bacteria after it reaches 45 degrees (Fahrenheit), highly acidic juices may compromise the quality and finish of your downstem, and alcohol in confined spaces is dangerous to inhale especially for long durations
Think of how great that first puff always is, by purging before you take that hit, it can be even better. Hookahs, when set up correctly, should always be airtight but in doing so you are also trapping in negative air pressure when piecing everything together. By purging before you begin your session you are allowing your hookah to expel this stale air while simultaneously checking the water level and the purge itself before any surprises come up. Purging before smoking also allows you to stoke your charcoal from the bottom up and check the general airflow of your pack. Consider this your hookah’s warning shot for what’s about to come.
One of the biggest myths out there for hookah is that ice smooths your smoke, we’re here to say that’s not quite the case. Now ice does have its place at the end of the day and it’s not inside your hookah, it’s outside. Next time you need your hookah water cooled down when smoking outdoors during the summer months, try creating an ice bucket with your hookah in the center and some regular table salt. With the ice outside of your hookah, your constant pulls will not melt it as quickly and the salt will even keep the ice colder longer thus prolonging your fun in the sun.
Hookah isn’t an exact science and oftentimes you are at the mercy of the tools you own to get your pipe in smoking condition. We once even forgot a purge valve and made one using a pen cap and a hookah mouth tip in a pinch. The point here is that you may very well own and get rid of several different hookahs, and as often as you can you should be holding on to random grommets, purge balls, hose port connectors, and even threaded pieces such as bowl ports from those pipes as many stores simply don’t stock these items due to demand. By always having replacements in your back pocket you will be a Hookah McGiver in no time!