Shisha Pipe Components

Shisha Bowl

Also known as the head of the shisha pipe, the shisha bowl is a container, usually made out of clay or ceramic that holds the shisha tobacco and coal. The bowl is loaded with shisha tobacco then covered in a small piece of perforated aluminum foil or metal screen. Hot coals are then placed on top, which allows the tobacco to heat and slowly burn.

There are also variations of the shisha bowl which use fresh fruit rather than the traditional clay shisha bowl. The fruit is hollowed out in order to achieve the same shape and system as the clay bowl has, then it is loaded with tobacco and used in the same manner.

In recent years shisha bowls have evolved to incorporate new designs that stop the molasses and juices from the shisha tobacco from running down the stem of the pipe. The Phunnel Bowl and Vortex Bowl are two examples of such bowls. There are also bowls that have double and triple heads and even compartment bowls to easily mix shisha flavours.

Shisha Windscreen

A shisha pipe windscreen is usually a stainless steel or aluminium cover which sits over the bowl area, with several air holes or inlets. The windscreen prevents strong winds from increasing the burn rate and temperature of the coal and therefore allowing the shisha tobacco to smoulder rather then burn too quicky. It also prevents ash and burning embers from being blown onto the surrounding environment. The wind cover also offers limited protection from fire as it can prevent the coal from being knocked off if the shisha pipe is bumped or even knocked over.

Shisha Hose

The shisha hose (one or more) is a flexible tube that allows the smoke to be drawn from the shisha pipe. Today most hoses are made from plastics and synthetic leather however for hundreds or years they were made from goat’s leather and prior to that bamboo or hollowed sugar cane. The shisha hose end is typically fitted with a hose handle and metal, wooden, or plastic mouthpiece of various shape, size and colour.

Shisha Valve

Most single hose shisha pipes and even some multi-hose pipes are fitted with a purge valve, connected through the stem of the shisha pipe to the airspace in the glass base, the purge valve allows for stale or harsh smoke which has been sitting unused in the base to be cleared. The one-way valve is usually an 8mm > 10mm ball bearing sitting over a valve seat which seals by gravity alone and will open if pressure is created by blowing through the hose. The bearing is held in place with a screw-on cover which has several small holes for releasing the smoke. It’s good practice to open and clean the valve regularly removing residue and corrosion to ensure an air tight seal.

Shisha Glass Base

The stem of the shisha pipe sits on top of the glass base, or sometimes referred to as a vase, or water jar. The down pipe from the stem is submerged in the water.  Smoke passes from the shisha bowl down through the shisha pipe stem and out the pipe where it bubbles through the water. This cools and humidifies the smoke. Fruit juice, spirits or flavourings may be added to the water, sometimes even pieces of fruit, mint leaves and crushed ice is also added to enhance the flavours. In recent years there was the development of the Heba Diffuser, which fits on the bottom of the down pipe to create smaller bubbles therefore cooling the smoke even further.

Shisha Tray

The shisha tray or ashtray sits just below the bowl; its main purpose is to catch ashes falling from the shisha coals however can also be used to place lit coals ready to stoke the bowl. There are two types of shisha tray, one that clips on to the top of the shisha pipe stem and the other that simply rests on a flange in the stem.

Shisha Grommets

Grommets (seals) should be placed between the bowl and the stem, the stem and glass base and also between the hose input and hose. Grommets are essential to produce a quality smoke, most modern shisha pipes include them, if not tape or dampened cardboard can also be used. Grommets seal the joints of the shisha pipes components, therefore increasing the suction on the bowl maximizing the smoke delivered through the hose.