Hookah, or Shisha smoking is a new hobby that has spread through the college “hipster” crowd with viral tenacity over the past several years. It’s a relaxing and social habit that is not unlike cigar smoking in its nature. While many people may see a hookah and relate it to marijuana smoking devices it is in fact a completely legal form of tobacco smoking that is arguably safer than cigarettes or drugs.

The tradition of hookah has long been a popular hobby in parts of the Middle East. There, people can find hookah bars or clubs where many people gather around to smoke and discuss the day’s events. It’s not unlike our own pubs and bars that are filled with people after working hours to unwind from the day. Many hookahs even come equipped with more than one hose so friends can share a smoke together. Once hookah began to be introduced to college students many quickly found a home in their local hookah bar where they were surrounded by other students in a calm environment where they could study or chat with friends. More recently hookah bars are opening in trendy urban areas where they can cater to an older crowd of working individuals looking for a new was to enjoy their evenings.

A hookah itself is a water pipe used for smoking the flavored tobacco commonly known as “shisha”. Unlike cigarettes and cigars the hookah tobacco is heated by natural wood coals to release the smoke. This method reduces the amount of tar and nicotine absorbed into the lungs. The smoke is further filtered and cooled by the water in the vase, which is typically chilled with ice. This process combines to give the smoker a flavorful, thick, cool smoke that is relaxing and slightly less toxic than the burning fumes from cigarettes and cigars.

The shisha tobacco is unique and strange compared to the dried leaves most American’s have found in cigars and cigarettes. Most shisha is washed to remove as much nicotine and tar as possible and then mixed with natural flavoring. The majority of shisha flavors are fruit based with strawberry and apple being very popular but there are also non-fruit alternatives such as espresso and chocolate mint. Using a variety of liquids in the vase can further enhance the flavor. Many smokers will experiment with using cooled coffee in the base to match coffee flavored shisha, or using wine to add a warmer feeling to fruit flavored shisha. There’s also the option of adding essences and extracts to add an extra punch to the taste buds.

It should always be noted that hookah is not a safe alternative to other forms of tobacco. While the smoke may contain fewer toxins it is usually smoked far longer than cigarettes and many smokers inhale which is uncommon in cigar smoking. Recent studies suggest that a two-hour hookah session is about the equivalent of three cigarettes. This being said with a measure of moderation and will power hookah could be a beneficial and relaxing part of anyone’s life.