How to Make Shisha for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Here's a simple, 4-step guide to preparing shisha.

1. Prepare the pipe
2. Pack the flavor
3. Set the charcoal
4. Start the smoke

This is the same method used in shops, so even beginners can easily make delicious shisha with this guide.

Here, we will explain using the popular "Starter Set" for beginners, but the basic preparation method is the same for all pipes.

Simple Explanation Video (4 minutes 36 seconds)

Watching this video will help you easily and fully understand the content of this article. 

First, as basic knowledge, here are the items needed to start shisha.

• Pipe + Hose (equipment for smoking shisha)
• Bowl (container for the flavor)
• Lotus (tool for placing charcoal and managing temperature)
• Flavor (tobacco leaves)
• Charcoal
• Stove (essential if you have an induction stovetop at home)
  

With the Starter Set, everything except the stove is included.

◾️How to prepare shisha (Steps 1-4 explained)

Step 1: Prepare the pipe

Prepare the shisha smoking equipment (pipe + hose).

- Once you have the pipe ready, fill the bottle with water.

【Tip】The right amount of water is when the downstem is submerged by about two finger widths.

Step 2: Pack the flavor

The amount of flavor varies depending on the size of the bowl. Generally, about 10g is appropriate, but here we will explain two patterns: the "ceramic bowl" and "silicone bowl" included in the Starter Set.

★For ceramic bowls

Use 9g of flavor.

【Tip】After packing, ensure an airway from the back of the bowl to prevent the flavor from blocking the holes.

Prepare a 30cm square piece of aluminum foil and fold it into quarters. Cover the bowl with it as shown in the picture.
【Tip】Adjust the height so that the flavor inside does not touch the aluminum foil. (If the flavor touches the aluminum foil, it will taste burnt.)

★For silicone bowls

Use 10g of flavor.
【Tip】Aluminum foil is not needed as the Lotus will be placed on top later.

Step 3: Set the charcoal

Prepare the charcoal to be placed on top of the bowl.

- The charcoal is ready when its center is red and its surface is white.

*We recommend using an electric stove to light the charcoal.

An electric stove is recommended for safely lighting charcoal at home. 

How to place the charcoal 

★For ceramic bowls

Place the charcoal opposite each other to form a triangle.
【Tip】Keep 1/3 of the charcoal outside the bowl.

★For silicone bowls

Place the charcoals inside the Lotus to form a triangle, then close the lid. Keep the air vents on the lid halfway open.
【Tip】Place the charcoal so that it does not block the narrow holes on the edge of the Lotus.

Step 4: Start the smoke

Place the charcoal and let the flavor steep before starting the smoke.

 ★For ceramic bowls

Place three charcoals and let the flavor steep for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, keep inhaling until you taste the flavor, then it's ready.

 ★For silicone bowls

Place three charcoals and let the flavor steep for 7 minutes.
After 7 minutes, remove one charcoal, keep inhaling until you taste the flavor, then it's ready.
 

 【Tip】To enjoy delicious shisha:

- If the charcoal smoke is strong: The heat is too strong, so reduce the charcoal to lower the temperature.
(If using a Lotus, open the air vents or remove the lid to observe.)

- If no smoke is coming out: The heat is too weak, so add more charcoal to increase the temperature.
(If using a Lotus, close the air vents to observe.)

【Summary】

As you can see, the key to making delicious shisha is "how to continuously heat the flavor at the right temperature without burning it." It depends on how you pack the flavor and manage the charcoal heat, but you'll get the hang of it with practice. If you follow the methods in this article, you can make delicious shisha at home or outdoors, so please give it a try!

Have a nice shisha!