Smoking flavored tobacco with a hookah, sometimes referred to as a shisha or waterpipe, is a common activity. The heat source that enables the tobacco to be heated and smoke to be created in a hookah is charcoal. What happens to the charcoal in a hookah, though?
The bowl with the flavored tobacco is placed on top of the charcoal. The bowl is intended to retain the tobacco and charcoal and is typically made of clay or ceramic. Its bottom includes tiny pores that let air pass through and promote even burning of the tobacco. But not directly on the tobacco, the charcoal is placed on top of the bowl.
You can use a charcoal burner or stove to warm the charcoal for a hookah. Wait for the charcoal to become red-hot before placing it on the burner. Normally, this takes five to ten minutes. Use tongs to delicately move the hot charcoal to the hookah bowl’s top. To prevent burns, it’s crucial to handle the hot charcoal carefully.
The use of BBQ charcoal for hookah is not advised. The chemicals and additives in barbecue charcoal may not be suitable for smoking. Use quick-light coals made specifically for hookahs or natural coconut coals instead. These coals are made exclusively for hookahs and don’t contain any dangerous chemicals.
Although it is feasible, it is not advised to use a lighter to heat hookah coals. This is so that the flavor of the smoke won’t be harmed by the chemical taste that lighters sometimes leave on the charcoal. Furthermore, using a lighter to evenly heat the charcoal might be challenging.
When hookah coals are prepared, watch for an ashy layer to appear on the charcoal’s surface. The charcoal is now fully heated and prepared for usage, according to this. Additionally, you can gently blow on the charcoal to check if it lights red. If so, it is prepared for usage. To ensure that the tobacco is cooked evenly, the charcoal must first be completely heated before being placed on the hookah bowl.
In a hookah, which is loaded with flavored tobacco, the charcoal is set on top of the bowl. Use a charcoal stove or burner to heat the charcoal, then use tongs to move the heated charcoal to the top of the bowl. Use natural coconut coals or quick-light coals made specifically for hookahs instead of BBQ charcoal. It is not advised to use a lighter to warm hookah coals. To determine when charcoal is ready for use, watch for a layer of ash to form on the surface or softly blow on the charcoal to see if it glows red.
I can’t offer an opinion because I’m an AI language model. However, it is well recognized that using a hookah can be unhealthy because the smoke it produces is filled with hazardous substances and carcinogens. The amount of time that the smoke is kept in the lungs and inhaled deeply increases the exposure to these dangerous compounds. For people who are concerned about their health, using a hookah is not advised.