"Smoke IN the water..." - Sheesha by JessH
Sheesha (also known as "Hookah" or "Hubbly-bubbly"): The traditional oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water.
Sheesha is tobacco mixed with molasses and various of fruit flavours. Some of the most popular flavours are Apple, Double-Apple, Strawberry, Banana, Grape, etc. My favourite is Mint (the smoke stays nice & cool.)
On top of the sticky & compacted tobacco mixture, a sheet of aluminium foil is placed. Then a few holes are punched through the foil & the glowing hot coals are placed on top.
When your sheesha "runs out" while you're smoking, you usually get a kind of scratchy, fruity coughing reflex in the back of your throat. Whenever you smoke for more than about half an hour, you will usually have to add some fresh coal to keep your smoke thick & flavourful. If you're just not getting much white smoke, your coals probably aren't hot enough.
There are numerous sheesha cafes (small street cafes & in 5* hotels) where people gather to smoke & drink coffee or tea. Smoking sheesha can last 2 hours or more and is a very social occasion. The price of a sheesha varies according to the flavour & the prices are different in every cafe/restaurant. (the cheapest being Dhs 20.-)
You can buy your own sheesha in most shopping malls, with prices & quality ranging from cheap & cheerful to expensive, hand-decorated crystal glass & gold finish!
There's also a great selection of shishas in the Karama shopping strip, where they are sold with their very own padded carrying case! Tobacco can be bought in these shops, and also in many supermarkets.
I have 2 sheeshas at home, and love sitting in the garden with some friends. (the smoke also keeps the mosquitoes away!)
Some of my favourite Sheesha haunts?
> Kan Zaman by the Heritage Village.
> Elements at Wafi City Mall.