Chapter 3: What You Should Bear in Mind When Smoking Hookah

Nils Große •Updated 23.09.2026 •6 min

Quick overview

Ventilation & hydration: Breathe between puffs, ventilate well, ideally smoke outdoors, and drink enough to prevent headaches and dizziness.
Nicotine shock: Don't start with tobacco that's too strong; eat something beforehand, drink enough and choose a suitable nicotine strength.
Heat management: As much heat as needed to vaporise the molasses, without burning the tobacco.
Charcoal & smokebox: Natural charcoal and an aluminium HMD like the ONMO make heat management easiest.
Heating up: Start with two to three pieces of charcoal, wait around 3 minutes, then remove the third and steer the heat via the number and position of the charcoal.
Smoking together: Everyone gets their own mouthpiece, pass the hose on instead of hogging it.
Common problems: Little smoke usually means too little heat, a heavy draw usually means too much water in the water container.
Blow-off: Blows out stale smoke and regulates the pressure in the glasses, for a fresh flavour.

Now the time has finally come: you've prepared everything, the charcoal is glowing and your first hookah session can begin. So you can enjoy your first bowl in a relaxed way, you should keep a few points in mind.

The quick check before your first draw

Before you settle in, four things are worth a look. If those are right, the rest comes down to heat management:

The downstem sits about 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres in the water, towards the lower end with a diffuser. Too deep and the draw gets heavy.
The tobacco lies loosely in the bowl and is not pressed into the chamber.
The charcoal has glowed through completely, which you can tell by the white layer of ash all around.
There is still air between tobacco and HMD, the tobacco does not touch the attachment.

We explain all four points in detail in Chapter 2.

3.1 Ventilation and hydration

Especially beginners often forget that they should also take a relaxed breath between puffs now and then. That prevents unpleasant side effects such as headaches. For your body to function properly, it needs sufficient oxygen. So you should ventilate well. Ideally you smoke directly in fresh air to prevent unwanted side effects. Also remember to drink enough while smoking. That prevents dehydration and stops you from getting dizzy.

3.2 Nicotine shock: the wrong hookah tobacco to start with

Another mistake that beginners in particular like to make is starting with a tobacco that's far too strong. Nicotine is a quickly addictive neurotoxin. If your body isn't used to a high nicotine level, your nervous system becomes overstimulated.

Nausea, blurred vision, disorientation, headaches, trembling, dizziness, sweating: the symptoms of nicotine shock resemble those of heavy alcohol consumption. You can counteract this unpleasant phenomenon by, for example, eating properly before a hookah round or drinking enough in between, in the case of a nicotine flash ideally even sugary drinks. Another point you should definitely take to heart is choosing the right tobacco. In our shop you can filter hookah tobacco by nicotine strength, so you're only shown varieties that are suitable for you.

If you'd like to look into the different types of tobacco in a bit more detail, take a look at our blog article on Burley and Virginia hookah tobacco. In the next section we turn to the topic of heat management.

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3.3 Heat management for the hookah: how to smoke perfectly

Heat management is one of the most important factors for a successful hookah session. The right temperature affects not only the flavour but also the smoke development.

The goal of perfect heat management is to turn the heat up far enough that the maximum amount of molasses vaporises, without burning the carrier material, the tobacco. If the tobacco burns, your bowl no longer tastes good and becomes unpleasantly harsh. Here are a few tips on how to regulate the heat optimally.

3.3.1 The right hookah charcoal

Choose high-quality hookah charcoal that burns well and gives off heat evenly. Natural charcoal is the only real option here, as it doesn't alter the flavour and burns for a long time. Quick-light charcoal, by contrast, contains ignition accelerants and other additives that end up in the smoke as it burns. In return it lights in seconds, while natural charcoal needs eight to twelve minutes in the burner depending on size. That waiting time is the whole price you pay for the cleaner burn.

3.3.2 Using the right smokebox

We advise all beginners to budget a little money to get themselves an ONMO HMD. The ONMO is the perfect smokebox for beginners, because its aluminium doesn't heat up nearly as much as with a stainless steel HMD. Heat management with aluminium foil or a chimney attachment is considerably more stressful and fiddly, and the likelihood of the tobacco burning is very high.

ONMO HMD Silver · €24.99 To the product

3.3.3 Waiting and observing

At the start it makes sense to place two pieces of charcoal in the HMD and position another piece at an angle on top, between the charcoal and the rim of the HMD. Now you give your hookah some time to heat up. Wait about 3 minutes before you take the first puff, and then test every 30 seconds whether the tobacco has properly caught. With a Phunnel this goes a bit faster than with a multi-hole bowl. Once the tobacco is hot, take the third piece of charcoal back out of the HMD and put it back in the charcoal basket. While smoking, you should pay close attention to how the tobacco reacts.

If the smoke gets too hot or bitter or starts to scratch, that's a sign that you should reduce the heat. If the smoke and flavour become weaker, it may be time to increase the heat a little.

3.3.4 Regulating with the smokebox

If you use a smokebox, you can control the heat better than with a chimney attachment or aluminium foil. Vary the number and positioning of the charcoal to steer the heat optimally, and experiment a little to find the perfect heat for your needs.

3.3.5 Gaining experience

Heat management is a matter of experience. Different types of tobacco tolerate different temperatures. That's why you should always experiment a little to find out which tobacco performs best at which heat in your setup. Over time you'll get a good feel for how to steer the heat optimally for your favourite tobacco.

With these tips you can optimise the heat management of your hookah and ensure an intense, flavourful smoking experience. That was everything from our side on heat management. In the next section we explain the blow-off of a hookah.

3.4 What function does the blow-off have?

A blow-off doesn't just look damn stylish, it also has two extremely important functions: on the one hand, it ensures that old, stale air and stale smoke are blown out of the hookah. Cold and stale smoke often takes on musty or bitter flavour notes. To keep your smoking experience fresh, you simply use the blow-off of your hookah. On the other hand, the blow-off prevents too much pressure from building up inside the glasses, which could increase the draw resistance. With many modern hookahs like the Moze Varity or the Moze Breeze Pro you can customise the blow-off and set it exactly how you like it best.

3.5 Smoking with others: sharing the hose and mouthpieces

Hardly any session happens alone, usually you are sitting with friends. To keep it pleasant for everyone, a few habits have become standard that almost every hookah smoker picks up at some point in everyday use.

Everyone gets their own hygiene mouthpiece. As soon as several people draw on the same hose, that is the simplest rule there is, and it costs almost nothing.
You pass the hose on rather than throwing it across the table, and you do not put it on the floor.
Two or three draws, then hand it over. Hogging it while others wait kills the enjoyment for everyone.
Whoever built the bowl usually takes care of the charcoal too. Sharing the jobs is part of it.

3.6 Little smoke or a heavy draw: common problems during the session

When something goes wrong mid session, it almost always comes down to a handful of causes. A few pointers on where in the smoking process to look:

Dry tobacco. Hookah tobacco lives on its moisture. Once the molasses has evaporated because the tin was left open, hardly any smoke comes through and the flavour stays flat. Only a fresh tin helps there.
Little smoke development. Usually heat is missing. Add a coal or move them closer together. If that changes nothing, the tobacco in the bowl was packed too densely.
Heavy draw. Check the water level first. If the downstem sits deeper than 2.5 centimetres in the water container, you are drawing against too much water. If the level is right, it is usually the densely packed bowl, more rarely a blocked hose or a dirty smoke column.
Bitter taste. Too much heat, or the tobacco is in contact with the HMD instead of keeping its distance.
Water in the hose. Too much water in the glasses, or the hookah was standing crooked. With tall, narrow bowls this happens faster. No fun, but fixable in two minutes.

That was everything about smoking a hookah, and with that we've reached the end of our third chapter. In the final chapter we turn to the question of what to keep in mind after smoking a hookah.

Chapter 4: What to Consider After Smoking Hookah Read on

FAQ: When smoking hookah

Why is it important to ventilate and drink enough while smoking hookah?

Fresh air helps prevent headaches and dizziness caused by a lack of oxygen. Drinking enough supports circulation and can help prevent dehydration and discomfort during the session.

What is nicotine shock and how can I avoid it?

Nicotine shock can occur if your body is not used to high amounts of nicotine. Typical symptoms include nausea, dizziness or trembling. You can avoid this by starting with lighter tobacco, drinking enough and eating something before or during the session.

How does heat management work with a hookah?

Heat management ensures that the tobacco is heated optimally without burning. High-quality natural charcoal and a smokebox or HMD help distribute the heat evenly and make it easier to control.

What is the blow-off on a hookah and why is it important?

The blow-off allows you to blow stale or overly hot smoke out of the glasses. This often makes the session taste fresher and more pleasant. Many modern hookahs offer different blow-off systems with variable smoke release directions.

How can I regulate the heat optimally while smoking?

If the bowl is not performing strongly enough, you can add more heat with an additional coal or by changing the coal placement. If the flavour becomes harsh or bitter, you should reduce the heat. With a bit of experience, you will quickly get a feel for how your setup performs best.

How deep does the downstem have to sit in the hookah bowl?

About 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres, towards the lower end with a diffuser. What matters is that it reaches into the water at all, otherwise the smoke is not cooled and the blow-off does not work. Too deep and the draw gets heavy. More on this in Chapter 2.

Why does my hookah bowl taste burnt after a short time?

Usually it is too much heat, or the tobacco is touching the HMD. Take a coal off or move it to the edge, and when you build the next bowl check that there is still air between tobacco and attachment. Tobacco pressed too firmly into the chamber causes the same thing, because the heat builds up.

Can I add glycerine or flavourings to the tobacco bowl?

Better not. Ready-made hookah tobacco already brings its own molasses, extra glycerine only makes the bowl heavy and mushy. Topping up flavourings also changes the product in legal terms. How that works in detail is covered in Making hookah tobacco yourself.

How do I get from beginner to pro at packing a bowl?

Through practice, with as few variables as possible. Stick with one variety and one setup for a while, then you notice immediately what other setups and a different pack do. The classic beginner mistakes are too much charcoal and a tobacco bowl packed too densely. All the tips and tricks for packing are in Chapter 2.

Do I have to inhale the smoke?

No, and many people do not. When smoking hookah the smoke stays in the mouth for most people, which is plenty for flavour and clouds. Inhaling deeply does not give you better quality, it only puts more harmful substances into your lungs.

Is it called hookah, shisha or water pipe?

All three mean the same device. "Shisha" comes from the Persian word for glass, "water pipe" is simply the plain description, and in English-speaking countries it is called hookah. So a comparison is not really worth it, these are just different names. Where it comes from is covered in Chapter 1.

How dangerous is carbon monoxide when smoking hookah?

It is the biggest acute danger of the whole session. Burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide, and the gas is colourless and odourless, so you do not notice it. The German Cancer Research Center describes a high acute risk of poisoning. Warning signs are headaches, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. If those appear, leave the room immediately, get fresh air and ventilate thoroughly. Call emergency services if the symptoms are severe. There is only one way to prevent it: never light charcoal in closed rooms and ventilate throughout the session.

Does my hookah harm the other people in the room?

Yes. According to the DKFZ, using a waterpipe indoors also exposes non-consumers present to the pollutants in the smoke, and those substances are taken up by everyone in the room. Passive smoking is no smaller an issue with a hookah than with a cigarette. Anyone breathing it in without smoking gets nothing out of it. Smoking outdoors solves the problem most easily.

What do I do after the session?

Empty the glasses, take the bowl off and let the charcoal burn out safely. Rinse the glasses and the hose straight away. If the old water stands overnight it smells musty the next day, and mould can form in permanently damp hoses. How to clean properly is covered in Chapter 4.