Howdy Hookah Friends! We asked our Facebook friends for pictures of your hookah “lairs” and you guys definitely delivered! Personally, I spend most of my time either smoking at work (life is rough, I know) or smoking with friends while being a hookah ambassador. As a result, I don’t really have a hookah lair of my own. Looking at all the awesome pictures submitted for this contest made me jealous for sure. I think if I was going to have an in-home hookah lounge I would want lots of plush comfortable seating for me and all my friends. I have always thought it would great to have an excuse for lots of enormous bean bag chairs, so maybe this is my chance!

We would like to thank all the awesome Facebook users who submitted photos of their personal smoking areas. Without further delay, here are our favorites:

Gavin B.

Is that a trident AND a sombrero?!  These guys know how to party! (nice Abyss Hookah by the way)

Julian C.

That’s a lot of hookahs… I think that plant in the corner even has its own.

Christopher B.

A hookah wedding cake?! I’m totally stealing that idea for my wedding.

Kameron A.

I just hope that no one interprets “break” to mean one of the hookahs

Hannah V.

I smoked hookah with Hello Kitty once. What?

In the past few months, I have adopted a new nickname, “Shakes.” One of the reasons this nickname has stuck is my talent as a shisha tobacco mixologist. It is my distinguished honor and great pleasure to share my top ten hookah tobacco mixes with you!

10.  The Parisian Latte:  Starbuzz Carmel Macciato, Romman Cappucino and Romman Vanilla. Great for the morning, or after dinner. Sweet coffee with vanilla and carmel hints.

9. The Farmers Daughter: Al Fakher Watermelon and Al Fakher Mint. Perfect for the country and city alike. Sweet watermelon offset by dry mint.

8. Cherry Lemonade: Fumari Cherry and Fumari Lemon: Good substitute for a popsicle. Real cherry and lemon juice.

7. The Gypsy: Fumari Rose and Fumari Jasmine. Best when riding in a covered wagon while wearing scarves. Heavy floral notes.

6. The Good Doctor: Romman Cola and Romman Plum. A perfect substitute for soft drink. Two flavors that taste like 23!

5. The Scorpion Bowl: Romman Guava, Romman Pineapple, Romman Peach, Romman Mango. Good for making your taste buds limbo. A cornucopia of tropical fruit!

4. The Back Porch: Al Tawareg Sweet Honey. Al Tawareg Mint and Al Tawareg Lemon. Good on lazy afternoon. A light iced tea flavor.

3. The Disco Fog: Romman Strawberry, Romman Mint and Romman Lemon. Great for the dance floor. Mint with a sweet citrus blend.

2. The Himalayas: Al Tawareg Fresh Mint and Al Tawareg Dark Chocolate: Perfect for after dinner or on a pillow. Similar to the Thin Mints those girls in brown made popular.

1. The Georgia Berry: Fumari White Peach and Romman Melonberry. DELICIOUS.

Please add any hookah mixes of your own in the customer comments as we are always looking for the next great cocktail!

 It happens to the best of us. You’re ready to set up your hookah and smoke your favorite shisha tobacco flavor, but to your horror you discover that a key component is missing or broken: Perhaps you left your hookah stem at your friend’s house, or your glass hookah base has been tragically reduced to a pile of shards at your feet. Do you throw in the towel and call it a night? Do you sob uncontrollably while cursing the heavens? Not if you’re able to “MacGyver” a working hookah from common household items!

For those of you not familiar with this iconic 80s TV show, MacGyver was a crafty scientist and secret agent that usually got out of sticky situations using everyday materials he finds on hand (I highly recommend doing a YouTube search to see some awesome “MacGyverisms”).

Inspired by Christopher’s Post about how he “MacGyvered” his hookah after setting it up and realizing that he didn’t have a hookah bowl or hookah grommets (see Hookah Worst Case Scenario: No Bowl or Grommets), we asked our Facebook fans to give us their best “MacGyver” Hookah moments. Here are the best one’s that were submitted. Enjoy!

When Robert W. accidentally broke his hookah base, was that the end of hookah time? Nonsense! A liquor bottle quickly doubled as a DIY hookah base.

Anthony C. forgot his hookah base and stem, and thusly went MacGyver TO THE EXTREME! A lemonade pitcher, an empty saran wrap tube, and a can of Red Bull came together to make this awesome makeshift hookah (and “smoked like a champ” according to Anthony!).

No hookah base or stem? No problem! Oscar R. concocted a working hookah out of a cardboard box, some rolled-up newspapers, and some packaging tape. You’d make MacGyver proud!

Adam O. built this hookah apparently out of parts he found on a boat dock. Now THAT’S a MacGyver Hookah! (Oh, and there’s a video too!). Nice one Adam!

Do you have a “MacGyver” Hookah moment that you’d like to share? Post it on our Facebook wall so all of our fans can see it! Great job guys, these were some fantastic ideas. Happy Smoking!

Howdy Hookah Friends!

We have 19th century Italian immigrants to thank for Neapolitan ice cream, which is of course chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors in the same container. Obviously, this being a hookah website, the $64,000 question is: How can it be smoked?

This mix was suggested to us by Rj, one of our Facebook fans, after we polled everyone asking their favorite hookah tobacco mix and then opened up all the suggestions to a vote. The winner was Rj’s take on this classic conglomerate of the 3 most popular ice cream flavors, so let’s give it a try – it sounds delicious! On to the ingredients:

Starbuzz Chocolate Strawberry. It was suggested to us not to use a straight chocolate flavor as it would be too overpowering, and in hindsight that was definitely sage advice. You really want a subtle chocolate taste that doesn’t trump the creaminess of the vanilla. Chocolate Strawberry from Starbuzz Hookah Tobacco does the trick perfectly – the chocolate flavor lingers in the background like a soft musical dynamic while the motif of strawberry dances on your tongue.

Starbuzz Vanilla: When making an ice cream-themed shisha bowl, you’ll want something that brings out the “creaminess factor,” and vanilla from Starbuzz does the job perfectly.

Hookah-Hookah Strawberry. We were curious as to why Rj chose the strawberry flavor from this brand over any other, but after about 10 minutes of smoking the Neapolitan bowl we soon discovered why: Hookah-Hookah’s strawberry flavor tastes precisely like strawberry ice cream, as opposed to strawberry bubble gum or strawberry flavored candy that some other brands produce. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a good strawberry flavor of any ilk, however for this particular mix the creamy strawberry taste was spot-on!

You’re going to want to mix equal parts Starbuzz Chocolate Strawberry and Vanilla, with the Hookah-Hookah Strawberry added as somewhat of a “topping,” so to speak. Say about a 40/40/20 mix. Since Hookah-Hookah is a more dry tobacco than Starbuzz, I added a small layer on the bottom as well, as to make somewhat of a wet shisha “sandwich,” if that makes any sense. We used a red Vortex Hookah Bowl and Coco Nara Hookah Charcoals.

So how did it smoke? The consensus of our team: “Pretty damn tasty,” and I couldn’t agree more. It was a smart choice to not use a straight up chocolate flavor because it definitely would have overpowered the vanilla. Speaking of the vanilla, it certainly added a creamy smoothness to compliment the strong strawberry taste. The chocolate flavor was at that perfect level where you can taste it more on the exhale, just the way I like it. As the Italians say, è squisito!

If you have a favorite hookah tobacco mix, please let us know, we’d love to try it and share it with everyone! If you haven’t already, come join us on Facebook where we’ll have weekly Facebook-only contests with cool prizes. Thanks again Rj, and Happy Smoking!

D’oh!

One of the many perks that comes with working here at Hookah and Shisha Central is the freedom to smoke hookah all day. Not only are employees allowed to smoke, but are even encouraged to do so. It makes sense; how better to understand differences in flavors and brands than by smoking them ourselves? One of the most popular times for smoking new flavors is when we gather for meetings. Our meetings are often more like friends gathering to chat than strict business meetings, so hookahs fit right in. While preparing our hookah for the meeting recently, I decided that we should try the new Romman Lime. I have come to regard most lemon or lime flavors as lacking great presence. Not to say that I don’t like them, just that they tend to lack flavor and often wind up tasting a bit like floor cleaner to me. As a result of my predisposition toward lime, I was reluctant to load a straight bowl of lime and decided instead to create a Key Lime Pie mix. As the mix turned out to be one of the best hookahs we have smoked in a while, we decided that I should share with you how the mix goes together and why it works.

Hookah-Hookah Graham Cracker – What would Key Lime Pie be without a graham cracker crust? Pudding, that’s what. I begin the mix by packing a thin layer of Hookah-Hookah Graham Cracker at the bottom of my Vortex Hookah Bowl. Just to be clear, I really mean that I packed it in there. I put just enough shisha in the bottom to not be able to see the glaze from the bowl and then packed it down to create something very similar to a genuine graham cracker crust on a real key lime pie. Because the shisha is so far from the coals, you don’t have to worry about it burning from the higher heat that the Romman shisha can take and you get a nice hint of graham cracker that cuts the other flavors nicely.

Romman Lime – Obviously, what would the mix be without lime? The second I opened the pouch of Romman lime, I knew that this was not a typical lime flavor. The smell is great and the flavor is full bodied. This is not a candy lime, but a genuine citrus lime that is out-of-this-world amazing. I love this flavor. My key lime pie mix is mostly lime, I would suggest something like 80% lime, with 10% vanilla and 10% graham cracker.

Romman Vanilla – Not unlike Romman’s lime or mint, vanilla is a strong flavor so it should be used carefully. I didn’t want a strong vanilla taste in the mix, I just wanted a bit of the sweetness from the vanilla to help make the mix taste more like a real key lime pie. I mixed the lime and vanilla flavors separately in a bowl, breaking up the shisha along the way and tossing the flavors together like making a salad. A flavor explosion of lime and vanilla salad, that is. After the lime and vanilla were mixed well, I placed them loosely on top of their graham cracker “crust” in my vortex bowl.

The resulting mix is heavenly, and I am excited to share it with the world. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed and I wouldn’t be surprised if this mix becomes one of your all time favorites. I know it has quickly become a favorite around our offices!

]]> http://www.hookah-shisha.com/hookahlove/6088-hookah-tobacco-flavor-mix-employee-pick-key-lime-pie.html/feed 2 http://www.hookah-shisha.com/hookahlove/5151-hookah-party-hookah-tobacco-flavors-for-your-halftime-hookah-party.html http://www.hookah-shisha.com/hookahlove/5151-hookah-party-hookah-tobacco-flavors-for-your-halftime-hookah-party.html#comments Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:43:44 +0000 Jono http://www.hookah-shisha.com/hookahlove/?p=5151 With the “BIG GAME” just around the corner, I’m getting ready to throw my annual Halftime Hookah Party with tons of pizza, snacks, drinks, friends, and of course HOOKAH! We have a tradition that whenever our team scores, we pile in our friend’s truck and haul up and down the neighborhood screaming our heads off! I’m sure it’s [...]]]>

With the “BIG GAME” just around the corner, I’m getting ready to throw my annual Halftime Hookah Party with tons of pizza, snacks, drinks, friends, and of course HOOKAH! We have a tradition that whenever our team scores, we pile in our friend’s truck and haul up and down the neighborhood screaming our heads off! I’m sure it’s annoying being my neighbor, especially if you’re routing for the other team. But it’s all in good fun. So today, I come to you with a few tips on how to spice up your halftime hookah party, specifically, to point you in the right direction when deciding what hookah tobacco flavors to choose.

First things first. You have to know what flavors go well with pizza and other football friendly snacks and/or beverages and which ones to stay away from. I recently conducted a survey on our Facebook page to get some of our customers’ opinions. When asked what the best types of hookah flavors to have on hand during the big game were, a large majority of the people said citrus and/or fruity flavors. Some that come to mind are Pineapple, Strawberry, Pina Colada, Safari Melon Dew, and Orange Soda. Others added flavors such as Cola, Vanilla, and Chocolate.  Mint flavors, however, were surprisingly hit and miss this time around. I always think Mint is a good idea, but the people have spoken with opposing opinions. So we’ll cancel Mint off our list. On the flip side, according to our poll, one flavor to stay away from at an event like this is Rose. What? Too much testosterone in the air for a little floral sweetness? All joking aside, I agree. Let’s avoid the potpouri if we can, ok?

Here’s my top 10 Halftime Hookah flavors for this year’s Big Game!

1. Starbuzz Blue Mist

2. Romman Good Times

3. Al Tawareg Tropical Pineapple

4. Al Fakher Golden Strawberry

5. Starbuzz Pina Colada

6. Al Tawareg Orange Cream

7. Starbuzz Safari Melon Dew

8. Romman Sweet Melon mixed with Al Tawareg Tangy Orange and Starbuzz White Peach

9. Al Tawareg Dark Chocolate

10. Starbuzz Cola mixed with Romman Cola

If the pizza is hot, the glasses stay full, and the hookah stays lit, your Halftime Hookah Party will be a success, regardless of the outcome of the game. Either be a humble winner or a graceful loser…and have fun! Happy Smoking to all of our fans of the pigskin!

Howdy Hookah Friends!  This unusual way to smoke a hookah was sent to us from Adam Q, Owner of Redline Hookah Lounge. Thanks Adam!

Recently I had a friend tell me that she never used a screen or foils when smoking shisha–she was putting the coals directly on the tobacco. My instant reaction was “Are you crazy? Sounds like barf city!” However I was assured there was a right and wrong way to do it. So after a leap of faith, I found myself smoking with my coals directly on the shisha and heartily enjoying it. This method gives you tons of flavor with beefier smoke for those who enjoy smoking tobacco. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Load your bowl with extra shisha.  This works best with wet shisha, such as Romman Shisha Tobacco.  It should make a small dome in the middle of the bowl.

Step 2: Place your charcoal directly on the top of the pile.

Step 3: This step is absolutely crucial, DO NOT SMOKE IT for 10-15 Minutes. This time is left for the coals to cook the top layer of shisha. This is where that extra shisha comes in handy. The top layer is cooked into a charred “screen” of shisha – no metal screens or foils needed. (Note: this will produce more smoke coming from the bowl, so be sure to do this  in a well ventilated area or outdoors.)

Step 4: Puff at will.

This method is not for everyone. I don’t expect everyone to renounce their foils and go “Old School,” but it is a much better experience that I had imagined and it will really shock your friends when they see you roasting a fresh bowl, Old School style!

In ancient Egypt Obelisks stood as majestic tributes, often at the entrance of pyramids, to the Sun God Ra, whose creation myth is directly tied to the four sided pillar and was believed by many to live in the ancient stone monuments. While our Mya Obelisk Hookah is not inhabited by a God, it is worthy of otherworldly praise. The Pyramid base draws directly from its Egyptian heritage and is highlighted by silver swirls to add a regal accent. The shaft reaches to the sky with intricate detail as if trying to touch the sun. If you were to place this hookah on your mantle it may be mistaken for a well-preserved artifact from a Pharaoh’s tomb; but for all the Obelisk’s style it smokes like a freight train.

The pyramid shape of the base has tremendous volume which allows for great smoke buildup and contributes to its luxurious smoke.  But, the true secret weapon is the internal design of the shaft: Wide and long, designed to produce the maximum amount of smoke with the least amount of effort.  The great height and width allows for ample time for the smoke to cool from bowl to lips with the easiest possible way to get it there.  Like the mummy inside the gold coffin, the ingenuity of this hookah is what you do not see. Built to accommodate four hoses, the Obelisk the will be the highlight of any social gathering and once you have removed it from its sectioned hard case, you will quickly have a royal court.

Howdy Hookah friends, we got the Mya Mozza Hookah in stock the other day (which is awesome by the way!) and one of the features is that the stem will fit on a standard wine bottle. Being the oenophiles that we are, we just had to try it out. Did it work? You betcha! Here we’ve recreated the process for you to follow so you can be the hit of your next wine tasting party.

To make this setup you’ll need the following:

1. Mya Mozza Hookah Kit

2. An empty wine or Champagne bottle

3. Tape (if necessary)

The black grommet that fits over the Mozza glass may be a little too thick, and if so you’ll need something thinner. If you have an extra Mya bowl grommet handy then place it about halfway down the neck and that should do the trick. If not, a little bit of tape (electrical or other) will work just as well. Keep in mind that putting a little tape over the neck of the bottle is just to ensure an airtight seal and may or may not be necessary, depending on the width of the bottle neck you are using. Before doing anything, place the center hub of the Mozza over the top of the bottle to test the air tightness – if you feel any wiggle room, a couple passes around the middle of the neck with tape should seal it up perfectly. Some Champagne bottles have a “lip” that the Mozza hub should seal over without any additional padding.

You’re going to want to fill the bottle about half way up with water. If you’re so bold (and of legal drinking age), you can add a little wine to the mix for an added twist. Make sure the downstem is submerged at least a half an inch in the water! Place the center hub over the top of the bottle and make sure that it’s secure with no air leaks. Lastly, attach the main stem and bowl and bam! You’re good to go!

One more thing to be aware of: The footprint of a standard wine bottle is only about 3 inches in diameter, which makes this setup prone to tip over if you’re not careful. So, in short, be careful! Be safe, and happy smoking!

What on earth is this strange white matter falling from the sky? To say the least, it’s not very often that we get snow in Central Texas, but sure enough this afternoon we experienced this rare phenomenon. We were so shocked that we asked our Twitter followers to suggest their favorite flavors to smoke in the snow (after all, we’re completely new to this!). While this short list may not do any good for folks in the Southern Hemisphere, we hope that our friends to the North can appreciate these shisha flavors that will cure your winter weather blues!

5. Nakhla Earl Grey – What’s better then a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s day? This is one of only a few tea-flavored shishas available, and is surprisingly accurate to its Earl Grey roots (the tea itself is flavored with bergamot oil, which has an acidic orange taste). Being that it’s made by Nahkla, it’s going to have some bite to it so don’t go too crazy with the heat. Fans of this flavor have reported that adding a tablespoon of honey to the mix makes the tea flavor spot on.