Smoked A Hookah In Iran!...

[thecyrax]

I've always left mine soaking for 2 days in water.
It helps get rid of the taste of the wood mostly, but it also makes the wood expand slightly, fitting the vase/hose a bit better. I always wet the wood down before smoking, too. You'd be surprised how much it can cool down the smoke especially if the weather is nice out.

Serv, the reason the bowls don't last long is that they only pack about 5g of shisha in the bowls. This is the standard thing to do here, which is why bowls only last 20-30 min (and the reason they can withstand a handful of charcoal on top).

Did you try the Hakoom (flavorless, direct coals on top)?

I feel you on the tourist thing, btw.

I've been coming here every summer for the past 10 years so I have a pretty deep Esfahani accent now

The first few times I came here, I would definitely be charged 2-3x too much for certain stuff if I didn't let someone else do the talking.

Man, what I would give to lose my American accent...and to improve my vocabulary! My reading has drastically improved though, which makes me happy Where do you live, thecyrax?

I noticed the foil was really bowed low, now that makes sense that they would pack so little shisha I didn't try the unflavored stuff, I was with my mom and I wanted something that wouldn't turn her off too much to the hookah (Persian mothers.... )

I'd like to see a pic of stem of the one you bought, it looks interesting.

I shall take one later tonight!

I WANT SOME OF THOSE BOWLS!

I have been lookign everywhere for those Tombac/Zagouhl bowls and I can't find them anyplace in the states. The ones with the wire work around the bowl. I'd be happy to pay you for some if you have a change to buy any. I'll take 5 if you get the chance.
Thanks man.

Word! I'm gonna try to go to the bazaars tomorrow and/or Friday, but most places are closed on Fridays and tomorrow is the 20 years anniversary of Khomeni's death so most places are closed as well (supposedly). That said, I'll be heading out and I'll let you know if I find anything!

I live in Houston 11 months of the year.

I feel you on the mom thing. My mom came here with me too (first time she's been back in 20 years, she's American) and she's had a blast so far.

Mush, those are actually not the bowls they use for tombac.

The ones they use for Tombac, are around 4-5 times the size with a bowl between 6 to 12 inches tall.

I'm thinking about buying a Tombac specific hookah while here (they're much like the one serv has/pictured except much larger).

[Sherv]

I had a chance to pick up a tombac bowl, now that I think about it....yeah, the bowl was huge and cylindrical. The merchant also had a giantass wad of tobacco wrapped up to sell with it, but I opted not to go for it. Have you smoked that before? If so, how is it?

[redjako]

Nice hookah and thread sir.

Hookah rounnnnnnnd the world ftw.

[thecyrax]

I had a chance to pick up a tombac bowl, now that I think about it....yeah, the bowl was huge and cylindrical. The merchant also had a giantass wad of tobacco wrapped up to sell with it, but I opted not to go for it. Have you smoked that before? If so, how is it?

Completely different smoke than what you get from regular shisha.

The smoke is somewhat harsh until you get used to it and the high nicotine isn't for beginners.

I remember the first time I had it I felt sick for around 5-6 hours.

You also don't get the same large billowing clouds, but if you enjoy the flavor IMO it's worth it.


Scalli, I see what you mean about soaking the stems in water, but these hookah bars use these pipes for years and years and they seem to only smoke and look better with age. I myself haven't run into any problems from soaking them in water, but you could be right. One of my cousins takes a thin skewer and heats it over an open flame, dips it in olive oil and runs it through the stem of his pipe every 6 months or so and the thing is in absolutely awesome condition, despite being 10+ years old.

[Balthazar]

Great thread. I'm going to Iran next summer, and Esfahan is on my list of places to visit. Will be looking for that teahouse for sure!

[thecyrax]

Great thread. I'm going to Iran next summer, and Esfahan is on my list of places to visit. Will be looking for that teahouse for sure!

Might be a bit difficult to find if you aren't combing the bazaar closely. There are 4-5 hookah bars in the area of the square, but only 2 in close vicinity of the actual inside of the bazaar (if that makes sense). One is on a second floor outside of one of the mosques and this one is on a side alley about 30 ft from the actual bazaar. Ask around for the old hookah bar with all the crazy crap on the walls and ceiling, I'm sure you'll find it

If you're going get the Dough and Gooshvil!!

[Sherv]

Great thread. I'm going to Iran next summer, and Esfahan is on my list of places to visit. Will be looking for that teahouse for sure!

Might be a bit difficult to find if you aren't combing the bazaar closely. There are 4-5 hookah bars in the area of the square, but only 2 in close vicinity of the actual inside of the bazaar (if that makes sense). One is on a second floor outside of one of the mosques and this one is on a side alley about 30 ft from the actual bazaar. Ask around for the old hookah bar with all the crazy crap on the walls and ceiling, I'm sure you'll find it

If you're going get the Dough and Gooshvil!!

Holy shit, the doogh was SO good! And HUGE glasses too! It's funny, before this trip I couldn't stand yogurt...an obvious detriment! Same with eggplant...now I can't get enough of either, and I'm constantly craving kashk-e bademjan!

[thecyrax]

Great thread. I'm going to Iran next summer, and Esfahan is on my list of places to visit. Will be looking for that teahouse for sure!

Might be a bit difficult to find if you aren't combing the bazaar closely. There are 4-5 hookah bars in the area of the square, but only 2 in close vicinity of the actual inside of the bazaar (if that makes sense). One is on a second floor outside of one of the mosques and this one is on a side alley about 30 ft from the actual bazaar. Ask around for the old hookah bar with all the crazy crap on the walls and ceiling, I'm sure you'll find it

If you're going get the Dough and Gooshvil!!

Holy shit, the doogh was SO good! And HUGE glasses too! It's funny, before this trip I couldn't stand yogurt...an obvious detriment! Same with eggplant...now I can't get enough of either, and I'm constantly craving kashk-e bademjan!

Now you're Persian

[Hookie The Hookah]

So how about those Iran-exclusive shishas? Any ideas?

[thecyrax]

I hate to say it, but out of the 4-5 different shishas I've tried that were "made in Iran", they were all subpar.
Most people stick to Al-Waha here, with a few nak flavors constantly present, and the occasional Al Fakher. The prices here are pretty close to what we pay in the states, maybe a tad bit cheaper.

Tell him to bring you back some Tombac or a Kilo or so of some fresh Nakhla... that's my suggestion.