The different types of hookah: how to tell them apart

Rooted in the tradition and culture of the East, the water pipe, known by a different name in each country as "narghile", "shisha" or "hooka", has drawn a good deal of attention in the West over the past few years. The "chicha" or "narghile" varies in far more than the name it is given.

This water pipe also comes in many shapes.

Models are generally linked to the countries with a long hookah tradition. The price range is very wide and therefore within reach of most budgets. It depends on the materials used, the work involved in making the piece, its looks, the quality of the draw and the size of the object.

So you will find very small hookahs under 30 cm, medium-sized ones between 45 and 50 cm tall, and larger pieces from 75 cm upwards. A hookah is built around a base of variable size, decorated or plain, in a range of materials and shapes. Some models are sold with several bases so the look can be changed at will. Balanced, plain or ornate, a hookah is rarely a discreet object.

There are also "duo" hookahs fitted with two hoses for use by two people. The principle is unchanged, so the choice comes down to model, colour and price.
In the West the hookah is now discussed as much as an object as a piece of equipment, and it is sometimes bought simply to be looked at.
Tableware, the hotel trade and even the wellness sector now take a close interest in it.

More than that, the hookah is also an object of design and craftsmanship. Reworked with originality and research, it is regularly brought up to date, and the Western take on it can be surprising.
You will find hookahs with timeless, cosmopolitan shapes, with a mink-covered hose for instance, hookahs made of bronze, silver or gold, with bases set with precious stones, in plain, coloured, cut or engraved glass. Designers keep reinventing the hookah, which then becomes far more than a traditional object: a work of craftsmanship and a collector's piece.

From East to West, the hookah has travelled a long way, and the range of shapes and prices on the market today reflects that history. Whatever the model, what changes from one piece to the next is the workmanship, the materials and the decoration rather than the principle itself.

You can also read our article on hookah charcoals, along with our guide "how to light your hookah" on the smoking.fr site