Hookah Love Blog

Natural coals are the cleanest way to smoke shisha and will let the flavor of your shisha really shine. The easiest way to light these coals is on an electric stove with an exposed heating coil. You can set your natural coals directly on the heating element and turn the burner on, turning the coals after 2 or 3 minutes. You will know the coals are ready when there is no “black” on the surface of the coals and they are completely covered in gray ash and glowing red-hot in the middle. This process usually takes about 5 minutes. If you do not have an electric stove, or you would like to know about an alternate method of lighting these coals, read this HookahLove post on how to smoke a hookah with proper hookah charcoal heat management.

Quicklight coals are easier (and quicker, hence the name) to light than natural coal. Simply hold a tablet of coal in the tongs above a source of flame, such as a lighter or struck match. Be careful, as the tongs may become hot! The coal will begin sparking and smoking when it ignites. This will last for a minute or so. After the sparking ceases, place the coal in the hookah’s tray until there is a layer of ash covering it. Charcoal that still shows large sections of black (un-ashed coal) is not quite ready to smoke, as it is still giving off the combustion fumes that all coal gives off when heating up.