Step 1

Fill the vase with water. The water level should fill the large area with water but not up into the neck. For a cooler smoke and a more pleasurable experience, you can add ice.

Step 2

Insert the hookah stem with vase gasket into the vase. The fitting should be air tight.

Step 3

Place the ashtray on the hookah as shown. The ashtray (sometimes called the coal tray) holds extra coals and catches falling coals that fall off the bowl.

Step 4

Break up the shisha tobacco as you gently lay it into the clay bowl. You will want to sprinkle it in so that it is loose enough for air to pass through. The shisha tobacco should be filled to the rim of the bowl, but no higher. You don't want the tobacco to touch the foil or screen as it will cause the top to burn and stick to the screen/screen.

Step 5

If you are using a metal screen, place it on top of the bowl. If you are using foil, place the foil over the bowl with the shiny side down and wrap it tightly over the head so that it fits snugly. Make sure to poke holes into the foil so that air can pass through.

Step 6

Place the rubber bowl grommet (the larger rubber grommet) onto the top of the metal hookah stem. Place the bowl on top of the grommet to create an airtight seal. Be sure not to push the bowl onto the stem too hard, as this may split the bowl .

Step 7

Insert the hose grommet (the smaller grommet) into the hose port on the metal hookah stem. Place the wooden end of the hose into the rubber hose grommet and secure snugly to create an airtight seal. Do this for all hoses if using a multiple hose hookah.

Step 8

If you have Quick-lighting charcoals. Use the charcoal pincers to secure a piece of charcoal while igniting it with a lighter or match. Let the charcoal continue sparking until no chemical igniter is left. Blow on the charcoal until it is red hot and place on top of foil covered bowl.

If you have Natural charcoals. Natural coals are not quick lighting and therefore require more exposure to heat to get them red hot. Set the charcoal on either a gas or an electric stovetop burner for best results. This takes about 5 minutes. A blowtorch works well too, but requires constant attention.