In order to get your freshly lighted hookah pipe "going" with red glowing hookah charcoal and a thick flow of shisha smoke, make your first few draws on the hookah hose deep and long. 

 

After a while, the glowing charcoal might burn your shisha tobacco or tobacco-free herbal molasses, instead of softly "roasting" it. Move the charcoal around a bit on the perforated metal foil, in order to prolong the good taste of the muassel.

 

A hookah pipe tastes best when it is clean. Wash and clean the separate hookah parts often - preferably after every shisha smoking session. Yes, I know: most people (including myself) don't do this, for it's not really detrimental to the taste if you clean after, let's say, every five sessions. But you really shouldn't leave it too late.