About Hookah
One of the oldest and deep-rooted traditions in Turkey is the Hookah. The hookah started a whole new culture that endured for many, many years. Even today the hookah gives enjoyment to a special breed of smokers. The original hookah came form India, but it was rather primitive as it was made out of coconut shell. Its popularity spread to Iran and then to the rest of the Arab world.
But it was in Turkey that the hookah completed it revolution, and did not change its style for the last few hundred years. The hookah became a very important part of the coffee shop culture. The joy that the smokers received from the very simple yet beautiful smoking apparatus was unbelievable.
Shisha is a mixture of tobacco and treacle, honey or sugar, distilled water with fruit flavors. Shisha tobacco is very light and flavorful with a wonderful fruity aroma. Shisha is not your typical tobacco. It's nothing like the tobacco in cigars, cigarettes or dip. Smoking true shisha in an entirely different sensation.
In the Middle East, from Turkey to India, there are shisha cafes where people gather to smoke and drink coffee or tea. Smoking shisha can last two hours or more and is a very peaceful, social occasion, generaly fill with friendly conversation.