Making hookahs is
still a family tradition, and the best hookah makers in Egypt have earned their
spots through the continuity of traditional techniques. Glass bases are still
made from hand blown colored glass, and artists still decorate them by hand using
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 made of metals like stainless steel, brass, or chrome plated brass, but
those metals are formed by the hands of master craftsmen, put together by
skilled welders, and sometimes etched or decorated by artisans. Potters still
use a potting wheel to make the clay bowls that we call the "head."
In short, every part of a genuine Egyptian hookah is crafted by hand using
traditional techniques which results in a one-of-a-kind product every time.
Egyptian hookahs are so admired and respected throughout the Middle East that
you'd be hard pressed to find a pipe in another Middle Eastern country that
does not have some part that was made 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 didn't
take long for the hookah to be added to the list of counterfeit products being
mass produced in China for export to the American market. Because neither the
owners of manufacturing plants or assembly line workers in China have a
cultural stake or identity associated with the product, the hookahs that they
produce involve no artistry. The glass bases are molded and then spray painted;
the glass itself is not colored. Any designs 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 combination of those metals with stainless steel;
sometimes, machines spray paint them in a color to match the glass. Porcelain,
a material for which the Chinese are famous, has replaced the traditional 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 source of pride.
Because Egyptian
hookahs set the industry
standard, it has become common for sellers to falsely label their Chinese
look-alikes as "authentic Egyptian" pipes. Many shoppers have been
taken in by a misleading description coupled with a low price and think that
they are buying a genuine Egyptian hookah when, in reality, they get an
imposter. Don't be duped! Look for the identifying characteristics listed below
to determine if the hookah you are considering buying is the real deal.
Characteristics of an Authentic Egyptian Hookah
Authentic Egyptian hookahs are still handmade using
centuries old traditional methods. Crafted by the hands of people who have a
cultural stake and identity in their product, every aspect of the authentic
Egyptian hookah involves artistry and craftsmanship.
The base of an authentic Egyptian hookah is hand blown
colored glass that comes in a variety 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 using traditional methods and
materials; they vary in style, color, and decorative elements.
Shafts are hand formed stainless steel, brass, or chrome
plated brass in various heights, number of hose holders, designs, and
decorative elements. Egyptian shafts are never made of aluminum or spray
painted in a color to match the glass base!
An authentic Egyptian hookah is always sold with the same
number of hoses that the shaft will hold. If you're buying a 2-hose hookah, you
get 2 hoses!
Anyone who sells authentic Egyptian hookahs will have
replacement parts available. Glass bases break and hoses should be replaced
every few months for the sake of hygiene, so it is important to have access to
individual parts for your hookah.
Characteristics of the Chinese Imposter Hookah
The Chinese imposter hookahs are mass produced in factories
by machines and people who have no cultural connection to the product. The
hookahs all look the same, just as one would expect from anything made on an
assembly line.
Chinese bases are made of molded glass or acrylic that is
spray painted with material that washes off with normal cleaning. Designs, if
any, are identical with no variation in pattern or style because machines are
preset to make them look a certain way.
Chinese hoses are made of plastic with plastic or simulated
wood ends with no decorative elements. Sometimes the hoses are called
"pleather," a marketing trick to make plastic sound better. Hoses are
marketed as "washable." No hookah hose is truly washable because
inside each one is a wire coil around which the hose fabric is wrapped. Running
water through the hose only speeds up the deterioration process of that wire
coil! There is no such thing as a washable hookah hose!
Shafts produced in China are machine made of tin, aluminum,
or a combination of those 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 color of the glass is not Egyptian! The shafts of Chinese
hookahs are made of inferior metals that do not stand up to normal wear and
tear. Egyptian hookahs, on the other hand, are made of strong and durable
metals that can withstand time and usage.
Because sellers typically do not have replacement parts or
accessories, they sell the Chinese hookahs straight from the box. This means
that multiple hose hookahs are often sold with only one hose. If you're buying
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 great way to hide an inferior product!
With the recent recall of various products manufactured in
China, buyers need to be especially wary of hookahs made in and imported from
China because they are painted!
To truly appreciate the cultural significance of the hookah
and get the most of out of the hookah experience, you must have the real thing!
While the price of some of the Chinese imports may look attractive, please keep
in mind that this is definitely a case of getting what you pay for. A product
that cannot stand up to the usage for which it was made is no longer a bargain
when it has to be replaced over and over again. Buy an authentic Egyptian hookah
and support the artisans and craftsmen who, in a world dominated by machine
made goods, continue to make hookahs the way they and their families have for
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