Hookah smoking with other liquids in the bowl - does it work?
How experimental can you be when smoking hookah?
You probably know that you usually put water in the bowl of your hookah. However, there are always people who are very experimental and often replace the water in the bowl with something else, such as milk. In doing so, you often wonder if this really makes a difference or if it is pure fiction. In this blog post we would like to share our thoughts on the subject with you.
Water in the hookah bowl - the basics
The water in the bowl is mainly there to cool the smoke. You draw warm air through the head, which is heated by the charcoal. The air goes down through the column of smoke, on through the cooling water and then from the bowl to the hose. Another controversial fact is that the smoke is filtered through the water.
Milk in the hookah bowl
A very well-known method is fresh milk in the bowl, if you have ordered a creamy hookah such as pistachio in the hookah lounge. The hookah with milk is something very special and seems exotic, because you would probably never do this at home. You hear again and again that a hookah with milk supposedly enhances the effect of creamy flavours.... We think that this is probably just imagination or placebo, like with fruit heads for example. Milk definitely has one extreme disadvantage. It foams up so much that you almost draw milk into the tube with every puff. In our opinion, this makes milk a no-go in hookah. In addition, the milk could leave unsightly residues in the hookah if you don't clean it immediately after smoking.
Immediate cleaning recommended!
If you smoke with liquids such as milk or fruit juices in the bowl, the entire pipe should be thoroughly rinsed and cleaned immediately after smoking. These liquids may settle in the pipe during the smoking session. Usually, milk or juices will "go bad" over a period of time, which will be reflected in the taste. Consequently, the vapours given off by liquids that have gone bad can lead to health problems: Headaches, dizziness or nausea are possible consequences. It is therefore advisable to rinse out and clean the entire pipe thoroughly after smoking.
