Egypt has extended been identified in the Middle East as the finest spot to get a hookah and hookah accessories. The land of the pharaohs, pyramids, and sphinx is also the Motherland of the shisha (the Egyptian word for hookah). Egyptian artisans nevertheless make hookahs the old-fashioned way — by hand and with a terrific deal of pride in craftsmanship. Generating hookahs is nevertheless a loved ones tradition, and the very best hookah makers in Egypt have earned their spots by way of the continuity of traditional methods. Glass bases are nevertheless created from hand blown colored glass, and artists still decorate them by hand working with paint, glitter, decals, or etching. Hoses are made entirely by hand, from the cutting of the fabric to the turning of the wood that will become the handles to the addition of decorative elements such as braid, fringe, or fur. Shafts may be created of metals like stainless steel, brass, or chrome plated brass, but those metals are formed by the hands of master craftsmen, place with each other by skilled welders, and sometimes etched or decorated by artisans. Potters still use a potting wheel to make the clay bowls that we contact the “head.” In brief, every aspect of a genuine Egyptian hookah is crafted by hand utilizing regular techniques which final results in a 1-of-a-kind solution each and every time. Egyptian hookahs are so admired and respected throughout the Middle East that you’d be hard pressed to obtain a pipe in a different Middle Eastern country that does not have some aspect that was created in Egypt!
When the hookah craze hit the United States, the cultural icon of the Middle East fell prey to the assembly line mentality. It did not take extended for the hookah to be added to the list of counterfeit products being mass created in China for export to the American market place. Simply because neither the owners of manufacturing plants or assembly line workers in China have a cultural stake or identity linked with the product, the hookahs that they make involve no artistry. The glass bases are molded and then spray painted the glass itself is not colored. kaloud lotus 2 on the glass are likewise spray painted on by machines. Machine made plastic hoses with plastic or simulated wood ends have no decorative elements on them. Machines mold shafts made from tin, aluminum, or a mixture of those metals with stainless steel in some cases, machines spray paint them in a color to match the glass. Porcelain, a material for which the Chinese are well-known, has replaced the regular clay bowl made from the rich clay of the banks of the Nile River. Cold, computerized Chinese machines have replaced the intimate touch of the Egyptian craftsmen whose work is a supply of pride.
Since Egyptian hookahs set the industry normal, it has grow to be typical for sellers to falsely label their Chinese look-alikes as “genuine Egyptian” pipes. A lot of shoppers have been taken in by a misleading description coupled with a low cost and believe that they are shopping for a genuine Egyptian hookah when, in reality, they get an imposter. Don’t be duped! Appear for the identifying traits listed beneath to ascertain if the hookah you are thinking of getting is the real deal.
Qualities of an Genuine Egyptian Hookah
Authentic Egyptian hookahs are still handmade working with centuries old regular strategies. Crafted by the hands of individuals who have a cultural stake and identity in their product, each and every aspect of the genuine Egyptian hookah requires artistry and craftsmanship.
The base of an genuine Egyptian hookah is hand blown colored glass that comes in a range of shapes and colors with hand painted designs. The most telling aspect of an authentic Egyptian base is its characteristic bands of genuine 18K gold or platinum paint.
Egyptian hoses are handcrafted utilizing regular methods and supplies they vary in style, colour, and decorative components.
Shafts are hand formed stainless steel, brass, or chrome plated brass in many heights, quantity of hose holders, styles, and decorative elements. Egyptian shafts are never created of aluminum or spray painted in a color to match the glass base!
An authentic Egyptian hookah is usually sold with the exact same number of hoses that the shaft will hold. If you’re shopping for a 2-hose hookah, you get 2 hoses!
Any one who sells genuine Egyptian hookahs will have replacement components out there. Glass bases break and hoses should be replaced each few months for the sake of hygiene, so it is significant to have access to person components for your hookah.
Qualities of the Chinese Imposter Hookah
The Chinese imposter hookahs are mass created in factories by machines and men and women who have no cultural connection to the product. The hookahs all look the identical, just as a single would expect from anything made on an assembly line.
Chinese bases are created of molded glass or acrylic that is spray painted with material that washes off with regular cleaning. Designs, if any, are identical with no variation in pattern or style for the reason that machines are preset to make them look a specific way.
Chinese hoses are produced of plastic with plastic or simulated wood ends with no decorative components. Occasionally the hoses are named “pleather,” a marketing trick to make plastic sound superior. Hoses are marketed as “washable.” No hookah hose is definitely washable due to the fact inside every single 1 is a wire coil around which the hose fabric is wrapped. Operating water by means of the hose only speeds up the deterioration procedure of that wire coil! There is no such factor as a washable hookah hose!
Shafts created in China are machine made of tin, aluminum, or a mixture of these metals blended with stainless steel or chrome. They are often spray painted to match the color of the glass. A hookah with a shaft that matches the colour of the glass is not Egyptian! The shafts of Chinese hookahs are made of inferior metals that do not stand up to regular wear and tear. Egyptian hookahs, on the other hand, are created of sturdy and durable metals that can withstand time and usage.
For the reason that sellers normally do not have replacement parts or accessories, they sell the Chinese hookahs straight from the box. This means that various hose hookahs are usually sold with only one particular hose. If you are getting a 2-hose hookah, chances are that you will get only 1 hose!
To make them more appealing to the American consumer, Chinese manufactured hookahs are often sold with a hard shell carrying case. What a wonderful way to hide an inferior solution!
With the recent recall of many items manufactured in China, buyers need to have to be particularly wary of hookahs produced in and imported from China simply because they are painted!
To truly appreciate the cultural significance of the hookah and get the most of out of the hookah practical experience, you need to have the actual point! Though the cost of some of the Chinese imports may perhaps appear desirable, please hold in thoughts that this is definitely a case of having what you pay for. A item that can not stand up to the usage for which it was created is no longer a bargain when it has to be replaced more than and more than again. Obtain an genuine Egyptian hookah and support the artisans and craftsmen who, in a planet dominated by machine made goods, continue to make hookahs the way they and their families have for centuries.
Leave a Reply