The best tips for lighting hookah charcoal
Now you can finally start your smoking session! You have finished building your hookah head and it's time to light the hookah charcoal. But especially for beginners, lighting hookah charcoal can be a little difficult and there may be obstacles. For this reason, we have summarized some tips and tricks in this article.
Natural charcoal or self-igniting charcoal?
You'll be amazed at how many different opinions there are on which type of charcoal is better. But at the end of the day, you have to decide for yourself which one is right for you. For a better overview, it's best to check out our post "Which hookah charcoal is best?".
In most cases, natural charcoal is used for hookah smoking. Therefore, you will find a corresponding guide below.
The electric charcoal lighter - practical and efficient
The most efficient way to light hookah charcoal is to use an electric charcoal burner. This has a heating coil and a support and looks at first glance like a mini stove. You simply place the charcoal on the support, switch on the lighter and wait for the individual pieces to glow completely - which only takes a few minutes.
The entire process can be accelerated by covering the charcoal with aluminum foil; simply cut a hood out of aluminum foil that is slightly larger than the lighter and covers it completely. This acts like the lid on a pot, reduces power consumption and the hookah charcoal heating is much faster.
If you use a fireplace attachment, you can also place it briefly on the lighter to preheat it before placing it on the stove; but be sure to have tongs or oven mitts ready beforehand so you don't burn your fingers!
The hotplate - necessity is the mother of invention
The older method of placing a piece of charcoal directly on the stovetop and setting it to the highest setting is not advisable for ceramic cooktop owners. The intense heat causes the piece of coal to quickly become incandescent - which unfortunately also leads to scratches on the glass surface of the stovetops. These occur quickly and are difficult to remove.
Gas stove and Bunsen burner - for your outdoor session
There are two good ways to light your hookah charcoal on the go - using a gas stove or burner. Both have the advantage of a constant hot flame, which allows the charcoal to glow quickly. Especially if you want to smoke your hookah outdoors, it is advisable to take a gas stove with you, as you can take them practically anywhere. To light the charcoal, it is enough to hold it in the flame and turn it regularly until it glows. After a short time, the hookah is ready to smoke!
