Getting Started & Setup · 7 min
What do I need to smoke hookah? Accessories checklist
Hookah, bowl, foil or HMD, natural charcoal with charcoal lighter, tobacco, hose and mouthpiece: the basic equipment for your first session.
Shisha Getting Started & Setup · Part 3 of 3
Does your hookah taste different every time? How to make your session repeatable
Same flavour, different taste: then something in your setup has shifted, such as the amount of tobacco, the packing, the charcoal, the water or a residue in the hose. Note eight values for every session and change only one of them next time. That way you can see in the comparison what makes the difference.
In this article7 chapters
Why does the same flavour taste different every time?
Taste depends on three things: how much heat reaches the tobacco, how much air is drawn through the bowl, and what is still left in the bowl, stem and hose from the last session. Even small deviations in amount, charcoal or water shift the result. If you keep these values the same, the taste stays the same too.
| Value | What you note | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco | Flavour, amount in grams (weighed), tin stirred beforehand | Storing tobacco |
| Bowl | Bowl type and material, packing loose or dense, distance to the foil or HMD in mm | Building a bowl |
| Foil or HMD | Layers and holes of the foil, or lid position of the HMD | Heat with the HMD |
| Charcoal | Size in mm, number at the start, lighter, time to glow through, when turned and topped up | Lighting charcoal |
| Getting started | Minutes until the first full draw | Understanding draw count |
| Water | Immersion depth of the dip tube in cm, fresh water, diffuser yes or no | Water level |
| Hose and stem | Date of the last cleaning, molasses catcher yes or no | Cleaning your shisha |
| Surroundings and result | indoors or outdoors, wind; rating for taste, smoke and harshness; minute from which the taste faded | – |
Tobacco and bowl: weigh instead of guess
Weigh the tobacco instead of filling by eye. The amounts quoted vary depending on the bowl and the retailer; what matters is the number on your sheet. Stir the tin beforehand, because molasses collects at the bottom. Fill loosely and leave 2 to 3 mm of space to the foil or HMD. How this works in detail is shown in Building a shisha bowl.
Keep charcoal and heat the same
Note the size and number of coals and how long they were left to glow through. A cube is ready when it glows all around and carries a grey film of ash. Black spots will be tasted later. Place the charcoal at the edge of the bowl and write down when you turned or topped it up. If the smoke is harsh, it was too hot. If it tastes flat and thin, it was too cold.
With an HMD, the lid position belongs on the sheet, because depending on the model a lid placed on top traps the heat or lets it escape. More in Managing heat with the HMD and Lighting shisha charcoal correctly.
Water, hose and stem: old residue gets tasted too
Measure the immersion depth of the dip tube and mark it on the glass. Retailers quote anything from 1 to 4 cm; what matters is that you use the same value every time. Change the water every session. Molasses residue in the stem and hose distorts the next flavour, so the date of the last cleaning belongs on the sheet.
Change only one value per session
If you want to improve something, change exactly one value in the next session, for example one coal fewer or one centimetre less water. Everything else stays as on the last sheet. If you change two things at once, you will not know afterwards which one made the difference. A single session is not proof yet: repeat the test once before you adopt the new value.
Bowl
Note the bowl type and material: clay, stone, glass and silicone store heat differently. You can find all models in the shisha bowls.
Charcoal
Place the charcoal at the edge with the tongs and note the minutes for turning and topping up.
Glass base
Note the immersion depth in cm and mark it on the glass with a line.
Setup parts
Enter changed parts such as the base, diffuser or molasses catcher with the model name.
Matte glass base
In matte glass the water level is hard to see. So measure it on the dip tube instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the bowl taste different after a while?
The charcoal gets smaller and the tobacco gradually gives off less flavour. Note the minute from which the taste fades and when you topped up.
How much tobacco goes into the bowl?
That depends on the bowl; retailers' figures differ. For a standard bowl they quote 15 to 20 g. Weigh your amount and keep it the same.
Do I have to change the water every time?
Yes. Old water tastes stale and changes the smoke.
Why does a new flavour taste like the old one?
Molasses residue in the stem or hose gives off flavour. Clean the hose and stem after strong flavours and note the date.
Do I have to note all eight values?
No. Start with the tobacco amount, charcoal and water. You add the other values when you are looking for a difference.
About the author
Julian
shisha expert
For this article
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