Types of Hookahs, Hookah Brands
Hookahs are made all over the world, there are a wide variety of styles and brands to choose from, all of which we will cover in this post! Hookah is one of the most popular smoking activities in the middle east and it has begun to spread in North America as it becomes a more acceptable form of entertainment for younger adults.
We will begin by covering the types of hookahs sold to the public regardless of location, if we have made a mistake please don’t hesitate to comment below!
Egyptian Hookahs
Nearly four centuries ago, Egypt witnessed the beginning of the hookah. Although it is referred to as shisha in Egypt and their neighboring country of Morocco, the Egyptians have manufactured their hookahs from brass and sometimes brass with a chrome coating to add style and flare. It all beggins with a simple brass or copper tube that is attached to the hose stem and the rest of the parts that make the hookah by welding it all together. When shopping around, you’ll find these hookahs to be the most readily available and plentiful due to their reliability and large amount of fan base. They are best known due to their durability and sturdiness over the years of usage, if you buy one, don’t be surprised to have it for many many years.
- Some say the best hookahs available today.
- Made mostly from brass and occasionally brass and chrome.
- The pull (for smoke) is great and almost effortless.
- Smooth stem shape and style.
- The glass base is of high quality.
- Well known Egyptian type hookahs are Magdy Zidan and Khalil Mamoon.
Syrian Hookahs
Usually crafted by hand and with much more detailed paintings on the glass than any other kind of hookah, the Syrian made hookahs are highly coveted. Some users have described Syrian hookahs as dramatic and explicitly designed to catch your eye. They are also mostly made out of brass, which means a long history of great durability and reliability from users of many years. These hookahs are considered the top of the line by many people who have seen them in person, a picture will simply not describe them.
- The Egyptian’s main hookah rival.
- Made mostly from brass.
- The pull (for smoke) is usually as good as the Egyptians.
- The stem is shorter so you have to pour more water in the base.
- They tend to be heavier and more durable as they are made from brass.
- Well known Syrian type hookahs are Nour and Al Fakher.
Chinese Hookahs
These are by far, the most affordable hookahs on the market today. Their productions costs and quality are much lower than the previous two kinds of hookahs mentioned above. The chinese made hookah is much more simple in design and less reliable with time and usage. We have only tried a few chinese made hookahs and the pull is usually a little more difficult than other types. Chinese use less reliable building materials like aluminum and acrylic to cut costs, thus cutting quality. Although we have also used Mya Saray and experienced a good amount of value for their low price.
- Mostly made out of aluminum and acrylic materials.
- They are lighter and not as durable as Egyptian and Syrian hookahs.
- Their main advantage is their cheap price.
- While they are cheap, they are often well worth the price and smoke well.
- The most well known Chinese type hookah is Mya Saray.
Turkish Hookahs
These hookahs are sometimes hard to find outside of the Middle East where they are manufactured. Due to their similarity to the Syrian made hookahs, the Turks don’t have a big demand for their products. Nonetheless, the quality of these hookahs is also very high and coveted by those who are aware of the high detail manufacturers put into making the glass vases. Usually hand painted and designed by people who have grown up with hookahs, Turkish hookahs are rare and high quality.
- Not often exported to outside Middle East.
- Tend to have the same look and feel of Syrian hookahs.
- Made of porcelain and other high quality materials.
Iranian Hookahs
These premium hookahs are also rarely seen outside of the Middle East, mostly due to their exclusivity. Makers in Iran use exclusive materials like wood and porcelain to manufacture these hookahs, making them expensive and hard to find. I have never had the chance to use one of these hookahs, but from what I have read online, they are smooth and have good durability.
Small Hookahs
Hookahs measuring between 11″ and 18″ are considered junior hookahs or small hookahs. Most of which are made in China and are the most widely used by lounges and bars around North America due to their low price and simple setup instructions. Small hookahs are usually the best sellers, they carry low quality hoses and I recommend you purchase a high quality leather hose to go along with your small hookah purchase.
A common misconception about small hookahs is that they consume less shisha (tobacco) and are hard to pull, both of which are not true. All hookahs (most of them, at least) have a standard porcelain bowl where the shisha is inserted and smoked with coles. Their small size makes it easy for new users to get used to the pulling and quality of the smoke. I recommend novice users to buy a small hookah and upgrade after 6 or 8 months after they have grown accustomed to the small hookahs.
Large Hookahs
Usually measuring above 18″ and averaging about 24″ in height, a large hookah usually delivers alot more spoke per pull. Some of the biggest hookahs go up to 32″ in height and are recommended for users who have been smoking hookah for a long time. Large hookahs are also great for people who host parties and like to make an impression on people who have never seen a hookah in person. Large hookahs have the ability to deliver alot more smoke to more than one person, in comparison to a small hookah, the large hookahs consume shisha at a faster rate due to the fact that you can have more than one hose attached to the base if properly upgraded.
Premium Hookahs
These types of hookahs translate into higher prices, varied sizes and very good quality/durability. High quality hookah manufacturers pay very close attention to detail and the materials used to construct them. I have seen many different kinds of hookahs, mostly include marble, porcelain, and high quality glass on the vases. Anything from all metal, to all marble, to all wooden hookahs can be qualified as premium hookahs. As time goes by and we will be launching our own specialty store carrying premium hookahs exclusively. Check Premium Hookahs dot com regularly!
Traditional Hookahs
These hookahs are simple and to the point, they are called traditional for a reason! There is nothing fancy about them, for the most part. Manufacturers specializing in traditional hookahs usually have the original materials used to make them in the old times. They can be very simple and very elaborate!
One, Two, Three, Four Hoses?
Yes! Many of the original hookahs were made with two hoses so people could share them while enjoying a nice cup of tea. Now a days, manufacturers have the ability to mold and shape metals with more ease, which allows them to add on more users to the hookah. This also means that the shisha and cole being used by the hookah will need replacement much quicker. Using a hookah with four hoses cuts the cole time by five times, as well as shisha will only last about half an hour instead of two.
Comment below and share your experiences with all the types of hookahs available today.
Turkish Styled Hookahs
Syrian Hookah
Egyptian hookah
Non-Traditional Chinese Hookah
Large 32" Hookah
Chinese Small Hookah
Iranian Made Hookah
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