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
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