When was hookah invented

But it was in Turkey that the Hookah completed its revolution, and did not change its style for the last few hundred years. The hookah became a very important part of the coffee shop culture, finding its popularity in Turkey around the time of Murad the IV'th, Not all tobaccos qualified for usage in the nargile, and only the dark tobacco imported from Iran found favor with the nargile user.

This toabcco was washed several times before use as it was extremely strong. Only oak charcoal was used to be placed on the top of the tobacco. Some professional nargile smokers used certain fruit, like sour cherries or grapes in their govde just to enjoy the motion it created in the water. Other people enjoyed adding pomegranate juice or rose oil to their water for added flavor. When the water-pipe was brought to Anatolia in the 17th century, Turkish craftsmen found a new way through which they could display their skills.

They engraved beautiful designs such as white or colourful flasks which appear as if they were made out of crystallized ice, or more usual designs like fruit or flowers. The hookah was so popular and fashionable with the elite ladies of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, that it became the in thing to be photographed with a hookah.

If you wanted to be the hostess with the mostest the nargile was a must for popular afternoon tea and intellectual gatherings. However, there is a dispute about whether the hookah was invented in India, Egypt, Iran, or Turkey. There are claims that the hookah was invented by an Iranian physician, who raised concerns about tobacco smoking among Indian noblemen.

He created the water pipe, believing it would be pure and safer to use. The hookah gained popularity throughout the country and was a symbol of prestige. But the water pipe looked very different than it does today. The remains of water pipes made from coconut shells, animal horns, and pottery were found in Ethiopian caves dating back to between and AD.

The name nargileh actually comes from the Sanskrit word for coconut, which adds weight to the theory that hookahs were first made from coconut shells. Ever since its creation, the hookah has been symbolic of friendship, trust, respect, pleasure, and relaxation. In royal and diplomatic settings, sharing a hookah pipe with guests was a gesture of good faith, whereas to not offer would be deemed provocative and insulting.

It became custom for imperial, royal and noble ranks to have their portraits painted while smoking hookah to signify stature and prosperity. Each country took great pride in the early manufacturing of hookah pipes, calling upon their particular technological advancements, natural resources, and skilled artisans to create unique hookah pipes both functional and magnificent.

As tobacco became more affordable and hookah was introduced to the middle class, families and friends would smoke hookah together from the comfort of home. The hookah functioned as a centrepiece for conversation, with folks drawn to its many qualities.

From the home to the street, the hookah made its way to street cafes to be enjoyed in combination with coffee and tea. Craftsmen took pride in the aesthetics and redefined the look of the pipe through woodworking. For the first time, Hookah became accessible to everyone and an industry of hookah servants emerged. Even the Shah at the time had his own servants for hookah. Hookah migrated into Turkish culture and during the 18th century, it continued to blossom through means of more innovation.

The dated look of the Hookah was phased out as blacksmiths began casting intricate brass designs and adorned the pipe with royal and religious markings. Hookah was prominent in Turkish high society and was a true symbol of status. It was smoked after royal dinners and at diplomatic meetings. Offering a hookah to a guest became an important sign of trust and withholding it could be taken as a serious insult.

The Hookah tradition spread into the Middle East throughout the 19th century.