The History and
Origins of Hookah
"Cigarettes are
for nervous people, competitive people, and people on the run. When you smoke a narghile, you have time to
think. It teaches you patience and tolerance, and gives you an appreciation of
good company. Narghile smokers have a much more balanced approach to life than
cigarette smokers." (Ismet Ertep, from Turkey)
“Hookah” stems from
the Arabic word “uqqa,” meaning small box, pot, or jar.
The Narghile (as it
was called originally), erupted in the northwest provinces of India and
Pakistan during the Mughal Rule and was popular among the wealthy. It became known as a symbol of status within
society—the rich would smoke hookah. It
was also designed for smoking opium and originally made of coconut shells. The word itself, “narghile,” is a Persian
word meaning coconut. The narghile made
its way through Persia and then to the Middle East and parts of North
Africa. The narghile was perfected and
revolutionized in Turkey where it became popular among the intellectuals and
elites at its inception. Hookah was
served in coffee shops and social settings making it a crucial part of everyday
life. Its popularity grew during the
reign of Murat IV in the early 1600s.
Tobacco was imported from Iran, washed, and flavor was added from local
fruits, like berries, grapes and pomegranates.
Some even added rose oil to enhance the experience. Social smoking was becoming very popular
throughout the entirety of the region.
The hookah maker was even respected as a chef for packing the wet
tobacco so meticulously, which was a skill not easily acquired. Hookah eventually made its way to Lebanon and
Syria where it was called an “argileh,” and soon spread to Egypt where it
more commonly became known as “shisha” (Persian word meaning “glass”).
In India, molasses
tobacco is becoming popular among the youth in bars, clubs, and traditional
cafes. In a large part of the Arab
World, smoking hookah is part of their culture and tradition. In Syria and Lebanon, argileh was made
available in almost every corner. It
became part of the everyday culture and it is common to see people smoking the
argileh on the street or in parks aside from the cafes, and traditionally accompanied
with hot tea or coffee and a game of backgammon or cards.
In the United States—hookah
has become popular in the past decade, despite strict tobacco laws and
bans. Hundreds of cafes have opened
throughout the country, targeting young adults and centered around college
campuses and large cities or areas with large Arab and Middle Eastern
populations. Hookahs popularity is
continuing to grow and is proving to be a profitable business in America.
Sources:
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