Smoking Hookah, as Explained By A Scientist

The cooling of tobacco smoke is a centuries old tradition. It is believed to have originated in India and eventually spread throughout most of the modern Arab world. The use of a hookah, or water pipe, is traditionally accepted by many cultures and continues to be the most prominent eastern tool used in the act smoking tobacco. The idea is to cool and to filter the smoke by passing it through a liquid before it is inhaled.

The bowl is situated at the top of the hookah, attached to the tube. The bowl generally is made of clay or marble. The tobacco is placed in first and followed by coal or another ignitable material. The tobacco and the ignitable substance are usually separated by a thin metal screen.