Classic Egyptian Hookahs

Egypt has long been known in the Middle East as the best place to get a hookah and hookah accessories. The land of the pharaohs, pyramids, and sphinx is also the Motherland of the shisha (the Egyptian word for hookah). Egyptian artisans still make hookahs the old-fashioned way -- by hand and with a great deal of pride in craftsmanship. Making hookahs is still a family tradition, and the best hookah makers in Egypt have earned their spots through the continuity of traditional techniques. Glass bases are still made from hand blown colored glass, and artists still decorate them by hand using paint, glitter, decals, or etching. Hoses are made entirely by hand, from the cutting of the fabric to the turning of the wood that will become the handles to the addition of decorative elements such as braid, fringe, or fur. Shafts may be made of metals like stainless steel, brass, or chrome plated brass, but those metals are formed by the hands of master craftsmen, put together by skilled welders, and sometimes etched or decorated by artisans. Potters still use a potting wheel to make the clay bowls that we call the "head." In short, every part of a genuine Egyptian hookah is crafted by hand using traditional techniques which results in a one-of-a-kind product every time. Egyptian hookahs are so admired and respected throughout the Middle East that you'd be hard pressed to find a pipe in another Middle Eastern country that does not have some part that was made in Egypt!

When the hookah craze hit the United States, the cultural icon of the Middle East fell prey to the assembly line mentality. It didn't take long for the hookah to be added to the list of counterfeit products being mass produced in China for export to the American market. Because neither the owners of manufacturing plants or assembly line workers in China have a cultural stake or identity associated with the product, the hookahs that they produce involve no artistry. The glass bases are molded and then spray painted; the glass itself is not colored. Any designs on the glass are likewise spray painted on by machines. Machine made plastic hoses with plastic or simulated wood ends have no decorative elements on them. Machines mold shafts made from tin, aluminum, or a combination of those metals with stainless steel; sometimes, machines spray paint them in a color to match the glass. Porcelain, a material for which the Chinese are famous, has replaced the traditional clay bowl made from the rich clay of the banks of the Nile River. Cold, computerized Chinese machines have replaced the intimate touch of the Egyptian craftsmen whose work is a source of pride.

Characteristics of an Authentic Egyptian Hookah 

• Authentic Egyptian hookahs are still handmade using centuries old traditional methods. Crafted by the hands of people who have a cultural stake and identity in their product, every aspect of the authentic Egyptian hookah involves artistry and craftsmanship.

• The base of an authentic Egyptian hookah is hand blown colored glass that comes in a variety of shapes and colors with hand painted designs. The most telling aspect of an authentic Egyptian base is its characteristic bands of genuine 18K gold or platinum paint.

• Egyptian hoses are handcrafted using traditional methods and materials; they vary in style, color, and decorative elements.

• Shafts are hand formed stainless steel, brass, or chrome plated brass in various heights, number of hose holders, designs, and decorative elements. Egyptian shafts are never made of aluminum or spray painted in a color to match the glass base!
  
• An authentic Egyptian hookah is always sold with the same number of hoses that the shaft will hold. If you're buying a 2-hose hookah, you get 2 hoses!

• Anyone who sells authentic Egyptian hookahs will have replacement parts available. Glass bases break and hoses should be replaced every few months for the sake of hygiene, so it is important to have access to individual parts for your hookah.

To truly appreciate the cultural significance of the hookah and get the most of out of the hookah experience, you must have the real thing! While the price of some of the Chinese imports may look attractive, please keep in mind that this is definitely a case of getting what you pay for. A product that cannot stand up to the usage for which it was made is no longer a bargain when it has to be replaced over and over again. Buy an authentic Egyptian hookah and support the artisans and craftsmen who, in a world dominated by machine made goods, continue to make hookahs the way they and their families have for centuries.

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