Hookah can be  simply said to be an instrument used to smoke a special flavored tobacco whose smoke passes through a water base before it is inhaled. The tobacco smoked using this instrument is known as Shisha or Mu'assel. There are a number of hookah types including the Egyptian, Syrian Iranian, Turkish, Chinese and the modern types of hookah. Here, we look at some of the characteristics that differentiate each of these hookah types from the other.

Egyptian Hookahs: Currently, these are some of the more traditional type of hookahs available. Their tall and slender hand made stems make them unique. They are usually made from either, copper, stainless steel or brass.  The most popular brand include Temsah Wheat, Khalil Mamoon and Magdy Zidan.

The Syrian hookahs are mostly made from brass. Their shorter stems mean that more water should be filled in the basin for effectiveness. Their angled hose ports facing upwards and thin stems are used in identifying them. Al Nawras, Al Fakher and Nour are some of the most common brands.There are also the modern types of hookah. These are quite heavy, as the majority of them are made from brass core. The most popular brand is the Mya Saray.

Anodized aluminum hookah types are also common especially around North America. They are characterized by bright colored stems and are light in weight. Anodized aluminum hookahs are considered the poorest in quality. The Turkish hookahs and Iranian hookahs types are also available but in many cases, they are not exported to other places outside the Middle East.