Chapter 1: How Does a Hookah Work?

Nils Große •Updated 24.09.2026 •12 min

1.1 The basic principle of the hookah

Have you ever thought about how a hookah actually works? The principle is pretty simple: the heated charcoal dries the tobacco in the bowl and vaporizes the molasses the tobacco was previously soaked in. The smoke that forms is drawn by the negative pressure in your lungs through the smoke column, through the base and the downstem into the glasses. There the water cools the smoke before you inhale it through the hose and mouthpiece. This basic function is called the draw.

The build is the same on almost every model: at the top sits the bowl with the tobacco, heated either by charcoal or electrically. It connects to the smoke column via the bowl adapter. The smoke column in turn is screwed to the downstem through the base. Depending on the design, that unit is screwed onto a glass base, connected by a click system, or pushed onto the glasses together with a rubber grommet. This is the vessel you fill with the water that cools the smoke. The hose adapter sits on the side of the base, that is where the hose goes, and you push the mouthpiece onto its other end.

The basic technology of a hookah works without any electronics. Air is simply drawn through the bowl, and the charcoal does the heating. By now there are electric solutions for heating the bowl as well, for example the XKAH Lite and the XKAH Pro. Both work without charcoal but need power instead. How strong the smoke development turns out depends above all on how much heat reaches the bowl.

Depending on the design of a water pipe, this airflow can feel very different. It's best to try out for yourself which kind of draw you like most: if you prefer an open, light draw, you'll appreciate many of our pipes. If you're more into a traditional feel, keep an eye out for the corresponding models. We carry those too. So it's worth comparing.

Since the tobacco doesn't really burn but rather "smoulders", and the smoke is cooled by the water in the glasses, smoking a hookah is much more pleasant and gentle than other forms of tobacco consumption. For many people that is exactly what makes the enjoyment.

1.1.1 Where the water pipe comes from

A quick look back, because the question comes up a lot: the water pipe is not an invention of recent years. Where exactly it appeared cannot be settled for certain, but the traces lead to India and Persia in the 15th and 16th centuries. From there it spread across the Middle East and North Africa, and with it a culture of smoking together that still exists today.

The names tell that story too. "Shisha" goes back to the Persian word for glass. In Turkey it is called nargile, in Iran ghalyan, in English-speaking countries hookah, and in Germany simply Wasserpfeife. The same principle is meant everywhere. In many countries people still sit together over one exactly the way you do with your friends on the balcony.

1.2 Which hookah is the right one for me?

If you're looking for your first or maybe even your next hookah, there are a few basic points you should consider: from size and material to functionality. One of the most important questions first: where do you want to use your hookah? Depending on the intended use, different models are suitable.

1.2.1 Size and purpose of a hookah

Hand on heart: in many areas of life, bigger counts as better. With hookahs that's a myth. Size has only little influence on the smoking behaviour. With a small hookah the smoke even travels a shorter distance and mixes with less air, so it tends to be denser. In practice, though, the difference is barely noticeable. So decide based on how much space you have and where you want to use it.

• Travel hookah: If the hookah should take up hardly any space and come along on trips, a travel hookah like the Amotion Roam is the best pick.
• Small hookah: All the functions of a big hookah, but space-saving for a desk or coffee table. Here you'll find small hookahs.
• Large hookah: For more space, standing on the floor or the traditional smoking feel, see large hookahs.
• Multi-hose hookah: For smoking together and saving both charcoal and tobacco, all 4-hose hookahs.

1.2.2 What materials should a hookah be made of?

The material also plays an important role. Stainless steel models are particularly robust, easy to clean and durable, while aluminium models are lighter but can tarnish over time. Most hookahs are made of one of these two materials. For the base, POM is often used, not as hard as metal, but durable and robust.

Our hookahs are made of stainless steel everywhere the pipe comes into contact with smoke, so that no parts take on flavour. Other manufacturers offer models made entirely of glass or copper, many of them require more care, so find out about cleaning beforehand.

Style and colour are also decisive for many customers. That's why you can specifically display, for example, hookahs in pink, gold hookahs or black hookahs.

1.2.3 Which functions does your hookah need?

When it comes to features there are big differences, between manufacturers as well as between models from the same manufacturer. A standard feature is the blow-off, which lets you blow stale smoke out of the pipe.

For a few years now there have been interchangeable blow-offs, removable diffusers, splittable downstems and smoke columns, as well as varying numbers of hose connectors. On top of that come rare features like the Push-to-Purge system of the Moze Breeze Pro, which lets you cool down a bowl that has gotten too hot. Many of these features are nice gimmicks. Decide for yourself what makes sense for you.

1.2.4 Click glasses or screw glasses?

The glasses influence the stability, handling and look of your hookah. Depending on whether you choose a click or screw system, you have a different number of options. Screw systems are usually more limited in selection, but 100% leak-proof, which isn't always the case with click glasses, depending on the grommet, base and neck diameter. For such cases there are, for example, the Moze Perfect Fit grommet sets.

1.3 What else do I need to start smoking hookah?

As with any hobby, there's a huge selection of accessories for hookah too. But what do you really need? This is the best basic setup for beginners:

• Tobacco or tobacco substitute products
• Bowl, the be-all and end-all for good flavour; it's worth investing a little more here
• Hookah charcoal made from coconut shells, to vaporize the tobacco
• Charcoal burner, to light the charcoal
• HMD, to hold the charcoal
• Charcoal tongs, to grab the charcoal

And, depending on what comes with your hookah, a mouthpiece and a hose.

In the past, aluminium foil went on the tobacco bowl instead of an HMD, and you poked holes into it with a toothpick. That still works, but it is fiddly and the heat is harder to control. Modern solutions like an HMD or a chimney attachment take that work off your hands and keep the heat where it belongs.

Do I need a hookah charcoal basket?

A charcoal basket is another accessory that's not unimportant. You can carry charcoal from the burner to the HMD with the tongs. But doing so you risk burn damage from glowing charcoal falling down. That's why we recommend a charcoal basket.

1.3.1 Hookah beginner setup: what does a basic setup cost?

Let's assume you didn't own a hookah before and want to spend as little as possible, without optional accessories. For beginners we recommend, for example, the Moze Breeze Two: a really good hookah that you can get quite cheaply depending on the current sale. On top of that you still need a bowl and a good HMD. For beginners we recommend an aluminium HMD like the ONMO, best value for money and used by beginners and pros alike.

Moze Breeze Two · from €149.99 To the product ONMO HMD Silver · €24.99 To the product Amotion Dot - Asher · €29.99 To the product

Bowls determine the flavour like no other part. For beginners we recommend a Phunnel like the Moze Epos or the economical Amotion Dot. But good bowls are available from as little as €9.99 in the sale. For charcoal accessories (burner, tongs, basket) the range goes from cheap to a durable showpiece:

Moze Flare Charcoal Tongs · €6.99–19.99 To the product AO Blazer X · 1500W · €24.99 To the product Moze Flare Charcoal Basket · €12.99–59.99 To the product

Last but not least you still need natural charcoal and hookah tobacco, because what use is the best hookah if you can't use it?

stral grayp kwi 200g · €29.90 To the product Zauberwürfel Hookah Charcoal 26mm 1kg · €6.99 To the product

1.4 Which accessories are nice-to-have?

Besides the necessary accessories there's a lot of nice-to-have that only becomes relevant once you smoke regularly or want to take your enjoyment to the next level: mats and coasters, bowl-building tools, molasses catchers, tobacco tins, wind or heat shields and Phunnel plugs.

1.5 Hookah tobacco

Let's get to the heart of the matter and the favourite topic of all connoisseurs: hookah tobacco. Basically it consists of completely normal tobacco, the kind also used for cigarettes, pipes or cigars. Depending on the brand it's based on one or several tobacco types mixed into a blend. The difference to other tobacco is the refinement: hookah tobacco is soaked in molasses, usually made of glycerine, a sweetener like sugar or honey and, depending on the variety, various food flavourings.

1.5.1 What you should know about hookah tobacco

Simplified, we distinguish two main categories: Virginia and Burley or Dark Blend. In addition there are tobacco substitutes without nicotine, in case you want to do without toxins and addictive substances. Virginia is characterised by low nicotine content and a sweet, almost subtle tobacco taste, while Burley/Dark Blend covers a nicotine spectrum from medium to strong and has a much more present, spicy tobacco note.

Beginners in particular should find out about the strength before buying, otherwise a nicotine shock looms. On our hookah tobacco page you can filter by nicotine strength or flavour. By the way: after the end of the 25g rule the 200g tin came back, but it is disappearing again at some brands. Blackburn, Sebero and Jent switched to 100 g on 01.09.2026, Must H to 125 g. Small 25g tins are still the cheapest way to try out a new variety. We have put together which sizes are around at the moment in What pack sizes of hookah tobacco are there?

1.5.2 How do I find the right hookah tobacco for me?

Taste is individual. As with food: what's a delight for one person makes another pull a face. Whether sweet, sour, fruity, savoury, floral, refreshing, subtle or purist, the selection is huge, and even the same flavour references can taste completely different from one manufacturer to another.

If you have no idea yet, orient yourself first on what the community likes. In the Moze newsletter we present the top 10 every month. Articles like Best hookah tobacco or Hookaze Pro-Picks also provide guidance. And with our sampler packs you can test popular varieties bundled by theme.

1.6 Conclusion

How a hookah works is quickly told: the charcoal gives off heat, the molasses vaporizes, the water cools the smoke. Everything else, from size through material to tobacco, comes down to what you like. For the start, a solid hookah, a good bowl and a mild tobacco are perfectly enough.

How you turn that into a relaxed session is covered in the next chapters. Chapter 2 is the step by step guide to setting up, chapter 3 takes on the typical mistakes beginners make while smoking. And if something was missing for you here, send us your feedback, we keep expanding the guide.

Author

Nils Große

Nils has been part of the team since 2022 and, as a copywriter and designer, turns well-founded hookah knowledge from the community and team into content that is clear, easy to understand and pleasant to read.

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