02/11/2023
Ho**ah in Turkey
To***co and variants were already used by people even before many essential tools were discovered. While to***co leaves were burned for worship purposes at first, people later started to enjoy the pleasure of smoking. Smoking systems took many shapes in many civilizations like pipes, ci**rs, ci******es… However, **ah was the most complicated one. Let's have a look at the subject of Ho**ah in Turkey.
Ho**ah in Turkey
I personally do not smoke ho**ah or something similar regularly, and I do not want to encourage anyone reading this article into smoking. I wrote this article with purpose of giving a historic perspective on ho**ah and place of ho**ah in the Turkish culture.
Ho**ah means coconut in Persian. The first use of ho**ah was seen in India, and then the Iranians first used it, and then it became widespread among the Arabs. The Ottomans met to***co in the 16th century. And since then, the use of ho**ah has continued.
A Classic Ho**ah with Wooden Body
Maybe ho**ah is the most common way of calling this style of smoking, but it has many names in the different parts of the world, such as; Arjilah, Nargilah, Sisha, Nargil, and Sh**ha. We mostly call instead of ho**ah in Turkey, but I will refer to it as Ho**ah since it is the most commonly and internationally used name.
The ho**ah went through many stages until it became what it is today. The Indians started the first types of ho**ah smoking by burning the dried to***co outside the coconut with a straw they inserted into the walnut. The ho**ah, which was pioneered by the Indians with coconuts became gourd over time, and gradually to porcelain and bronze bodies. Today, it even sometimes has ceramic tiles, silver and glass body.
Ho**ah with fruit flavors
Ho**ah, which used to be smoked only with tumbak to***co*, became very popular and widespread in our country with its flavored varieties, which were later smoked in Egypt. Ho**ah has not only been the culture of the easterners, but has also been used in Europe for a long time. In fact, in France, George Sand made Balzac a ho**ah addict, as well as smoking himself.
Ho**ah basically consists of four parts. Mouthpiece (sipsi), lule (the part where to***co and fire are put), lance (pipe) and body (the part where water or milk is put). One of the other materials that add beauty to the pleasure of smoking ho**ah is glass ho**ah bottles.
Ho**ah and its special coal cubes
Preparing the ho**ah also requires some knowledge and talent. These are in summary; The water should be changed after each use, the nozzle should be washed and cleaned after each use, the mouthpiece which is called sipsi should be in hygienic packages, the lances must be cleaned periodically, and the unused to***co is kept in closed boxes. In addition, it is important that ho**ahs with flavored to***co are used only in that flavored ho**ah sets. For example, mint flavored to***co cannot be smoked with an orange flavored to***co.
Although sayings such as "a ho**ah is worth 50 ci******es" are used among the people, there are also aspects that distinguish ho**ah from ci******es, namely positive aspects compared to ci******es. Since to***co comes through the water, it gets rid of some tar and poison which of those you normally inhale during smoking a cigarette. In addition, the smoke coming through a long hose (lance) leaves some harmful substances there. Since ho**ah cannot be easily obtained and smoked like ci******es, it is only used at certain times. We can't smoke ho**ah while walking. Therefore, if we compare it with others, we can say that ho**ah is the best of the worst.
Some ho**ah cafés offer a food and drinks too
Undoubtedly, the most important element for ho**ah is to***co. To***co is chopped, covered with a damp towel overnight. The quality of the ho**ah is related to the waiting time here. Ho**ah to***co can be mixed with fragrant fruits such as apple, mint, apricot, strawberry, banana, lemon, pineapple. To enjoy ho**ah, it should be smoked slowly. Although ho**ah smoking undoubtedly varies for everyone, the common point is that it is enjoyed by smoking heavily.
In the past, ho**ah to***co was much harsher. It was made from leaf to***co called tumbak. The damage it caused to people's lungs was worse than today. We can say that the wide variety of fruit-flavored to***cos which are popular nowadays are a little more optimistic compared to the previous types of to***co. In addition, we can learn about this with a very simple test. If you inhale the cigarette and blow the smoke on a paper napkin, and if you inhale the ho**ah and blow on a paper napkin, you will clearly see the difference. But please never forget that ''It is best not to smoke at all''. 👍
Everyone enjoys ho**ah in Turkey
Smoking ho**ah is not like smoking a cigarette, but like a pipe smoking. As you breathe in the air, the water in the bottle should bubble and therefore the to***co should burn. Ho**ah is generally drawn into the stomach using the diaphragm and blown by stretching the diaphragm too. The difference between ho**ah and cigarette is that the to***co smoke cools in the water. In this way, harmful substances in to***co are also captured by the water. A culture of conversation has been formed around ho**ah.
The most important feature of ho**ah is that it is smoked in a place of its own. This brought respect and enjoyment of ho**ah culture among the ho**ah smokers society. Ho**ah and conversation have become joys which progresses together. Going to ho**ah cafeterias is especially preferred by middle-aged people. Instead of smoking ho**ah alone, having a nice conversation and enjoying ho**ah is much more enjoyable.
A Ho**ah café in Istanbul on the beginning of the 20th century
Today, modern ho**ahs are spreading rapidly. These ho**ahs are much preferred over traditional ho**ahs. The design of these ho**ahs is slightly different from the older and traditional ho**ahs. Modern ho**ahs, which generally have a more successful design and are enriched with certain accessories, have many models such as portable ho**ahs, LED light ho**ahs, bag ho**ahs, matte ho**ahs. Classic ho**ahs in the past were larger and generally used in a stable environment, and it was very difficult to carry on trips, even almost impossible. However, nowadays, with the production of ho**ahs with bags, it has become possible to take up less space and be carried in a small bag by being easily disassembled and mounted.
* Tumbak to***co is wide and tick leafed Persian to***co which is suitable to be burned on the ho**ah.
Ho**ah Culture in Turkey
Get Your Tour Guide in Turkey
I will be happy to tell you more about Ho**ah in Turkey and also show you the best places to have it. Finding the right spot to have Ho**ah experience is important since it is a cultural value which is highly popular right now and many people prepare ho**ah not for pleasure, simply for the profit. Contact me to hire a Turkish tour guide in Turkey and learn more about Turkey from a licensed Turkish tour guide. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
Best Places to Try Ho**ah in Turkey
Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi, IstanbulHuqqa, IstanbulLulu Ho**ah Lounge, IstanbulKervanhan Karmina, CappadociaCoffeedocia, CappadociaKuşadasi İstanbul Water Pipe Café, KusadasiEşref Saati Nargile Café, Ephesus Read more and hire a recommended Tour Guide in Turkey. Visit https://ToursAroundTurkey.com **ahinTurkey **ahorshisha **ah **ah **ahinTurkey **hainTurkey **hacultureinTurkey **ah **ha **ahinIstanbul
To***co and variants were already used by people even before many essential tools were discovered. While to***co leaves were burned for worship purposes at