1. Fill the glass hookah base or vase with water so that the end of the metal tube is submerged about an inch.

 

2. Wet the rubber grommet on both sides and slide it into the base. Then shove the stem of the hooka into the grommet in the glass base where it should make an airtight fit.

 

3. Place the metal tray or plate on the hookah stem.

 

4. Fit the hookah bowl on top of the metal stem with a fitting rubber or rubber-like gasket in between.

 

5. Blow through all of the hoses before each smoking session to clear out any smoke residue.

 

6. Plug the hose(s) into the hooka stem. Make sure the connection is airtight, use additional gaskets if necessary.

 

7. Test that the hookah pipe is airtight by placing your hand on top of the hookah bowl then sucking in through the hose. You should feel a slight pull, and see and hear bubbles inside the glass vase.

 

8. Loosely sprinkle some shisha tobacco into the hooka bowl. Don't pack it too tight, or you'll restrict the airflow and heat.

 

9. Cover the hookah bowl with a small piece of aluminum foil and perforate this with a pin or similar object: at least 30 tiny holes. Metal charcoal screens are a quick alternative. Never place hot hookah charcoals directly on the tobacco.

 

10. Self-lighting charcoals: outdoors, hold a charcoal disc with metal tongs over a lighter till the coal sparks. When the sparking stops, place the coal on top of the covered hookah bowl. Natural charcoals: use a gas burner of heating element to get the coal red hot.

 

11. Suck long and dedicatedly on the hookah hose. It will take several minutes for the smoke to build up inside the chamber of the glass hooka base.

 

12. Finally: relax and enjoy smoking your hookah!