What lies behind the worldwide success of the shisha?

The shisha, also known as the hookah or narghile, is drawing in more and more people. From regular smokers to occasional ones, most have already tried a shisha during an evening out or at a friend's house. Younger people are trying it too. Here is why the hookah has spread so widely in France.

Consumption clearly on the rise

Originally from Persia, the shisha is now used all over the world. While many people smoke it in private, a large number of shisha bars have also opened in towns and cities. The shisha is used to smoke a mixture of tobacco and molasses. Some add fruit or colouring for a stronger visual and taste effect.

Young people are increasingly drawn to hookah sessions. According to one survey, 50% of 16-year-olds have already smoked a shisha. The cool, sometimes flavoured smoke is one of the explanations regularly put forward for this preference over the hot smoke of a cigarette.

A return to the foreground

The shisha was popular for a long time. With the arrival of cigarettes on the market, backed by aggressive marketing, the hookah lost ground. It was only during the 1990s that consumption picked up again, particularly in the Middle East. Then, seen as a symbol of sharing and sociability, the 2000s marked its reappearance at gatherings with friends. According to the WHO, there are said to be more than 100 million shisha users worldwide, with a strong concentration in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

With ever more elaborate designs, "mini" versions and high-end devices, the shisha has become a fixture of the tobacco world. Prices range from affordable to very high-end, so there is something for every budget. Its sociable and practical sides are two factors that make the hookah accessible to a wide public. The unhurried setting in which it is generally used is also often described as a pause in time, in a world that moves at speed.