
Currently, hookah charcoal comes in a wide range of brands, shapes, and styles, making it sometimes difficult to choose the right one. Today we’ll discuss some basics about hookah coal and different types of shisha charcoal that are beneficial to all hookah smokers and look at some of the most common types of shisha charcoal.Â
What is Hookah-Shisha Charcoal?
Hookah charcoal is primarily used for cooking shisha tobacco for smoke production by providing heat. The charcoals are lighted and placed on top of the foil in your hookah bowl or heat management device. Shisha tobacco is cooked by the heat they produce, making it fluffy.
Shapes of Charcoal
There are several types of shisha charcoal. The coal for hookah is also available in different shapes and sizes because no single shape or size fits all hookah bowls. So let’s check out some charcoal shapes.
Cuboid
A cuboid is a three-dimensional rectangular shape. So, as you might expect from the name, hookah coal is a rectangular version of a stick. Although there are flat sides, they are very stable and will not cause heat spikes due to their lack of versatility. Quick lights typically resemble cuboids, so be cautious.
Hexagon
Besides coconut shells, another source of sticks, hexagonal sticks, can also be made from them. In addition to being more stable, sticks are also an excellent source of heat because they are steadier.
Flats
Like cubes, these flat hookah charcoals have a single flat bar, unlike several cubes. Consequently, short hookah sessions are best suited to these hookahs. To prepare a shisha, use flat coals if using foils to cover the fire. Heat management devices have difficulty accommodating their shape.
Quarter Circles
HMDs shaped like lotuses and Razor Heat Management Devices are used to construct these coals. It’s easy to manoeuvre them with tongs when fresh, but as they burn and lose shape, it becomes more difficult.
Cubettes
The cubettes are another type of coal that comes somewhere between flats and cubes, though they have the same drawbacks as the cubes.
Cubes
As this is the most common hookah charcoal you will find on the market, it is not surprising it is the most widely available. Charcoal is shaped like dice, so it heats evenly because of its six flat sides. It burns slowly, so it is compatible with all hookah bowls. As well as charcoal cubes in different sizes, hookah charcoal cubes are also available. During the hookah session, rotate the cubes to get the best effects and heat; otherwise, the cubes become black.
Finger Charcoals
Charcoal sticks, also known as stick coal, are another popular type of coal. Some cylindrical shapes make them perfect for stacking on top of a hookah bowl.Â
Types of Shisha charcoal
Natural Hookah Charcoal
As the name implies, natural hookah charcoal is made up of natural ingredients, which makes sense given its use. Coconut shells are generally used for making them, but bamboo, orangewood, and lemonwood can also be used. An average coal stove will light in 6-10 minutes and then remain lit for a longer period. The coke burns faster in a natural coal hookah, producing an even heat source throughout the smoking session. They also make less mess due to them being compressed and natural ingredients!Â
pros
- Don’t add any taste to your session!
- Usually, sessions last an hour or longer without adding additional coal
- Less smoke when lightingÂ
cons
- Doesn’t light as quickly
- It can only be lit in certain places.
Quick Light Hookah Charcoal
As the name implies, these coals light up quickly. These coals are great for hookahs. A torch or lighter usually burns them in about 30 seconds or less. As benzene is an accelerant, quick light charcoal makes travelling and smoking outside more convenient. Smoke the coal fully lit before lighting, so no carbon monoxide is released. A hookah session can be convenient and enjoyable when quickly lit coals are used.
pros
- Easily lit
cons
- Make your session last longer
- Can make your flavour taste bad
- Lighting usually leaves a bad smell
Hookah-Shisha Charcoal Material
The process of making shisha coals may not be something you think about much, but it is vitally important. When you smoke shisha with a friend or at a hookah bar, do you get a buzzing sensation or a big hassle? I’m guessing it had to do with instant-light charcoal, which contains nasty compounds for ensuring shisha coal burns quickly. Many hookah coal brands also incorporate wood and sawdust as fillers at a low price to minimise production costs. Smoking shisha with these fillers produces a strong, unpleasant odour when they are consumed. To determine a coal’s quality, you can look at how hot it burns while still lit: lighter coals burn hotter and tend to be made of cheaper compounds, while darker coals typically contain more expensive compounds. Hookah experiences are best with natural coal, ideally coconut cubes. It is tasteless and odourless to burn coconut shell charcoal. It gives you a consistent burn along with a great shisha flavour.
Characteristics Of Hookah Charcoal
High-Quality
- Light does not produce much of a smell
- When you smoke, it has no impact on the tasteÂ
- Produces very little ash
- Provides sufficient heat for a long time
Poor Quality
- Does not emit an unpleasant smell when lit
- Smoking allows you to taste the charcoal
- However, there is lots of ash to clean up
- makes your session shorter because it does not provide enough heat for a long time
How to Choose the Right Charcoal?
Hardness
Charcoal should be hard enough not to break when being dashed or held with tongs. Test the hardness of charcoal by trampling it. On a hard surface, tromp it under your heel, lift your other foot and gently tap it. If it crumbles, you pick the wrong one.
Thickness
Unlike charcoal made from wood, coconut charcoal is dense. The coconut shell is tested by dunk testing the charcoal in a pond to determine whether or not it is made from coconut shell. Wet the charcoal with water, and then we try it. Charcoal from coconuts will float in high-specific gravity water. Throw it away.
Ignition
The initial ignition of charcoal usually takes between seven and ten minutes, depending on its size. The surface of charcoal must be covered with ash for it to be used.
Milder odour
Charcoal’s binder content causes an odour to be released during early ignition. The smell will disappear as soon as the hookah is lit, so it is no longer detectable once placed in your hookah bowl. This is a hallmark of good coal.
Small Smoke
Charcoal, like all charcoals, has a certain degree of volatile content. When ignited, these volatile contents emit smoke. Smoke will still be present at first, but it will quickly disappear. An unpleasant odour usually accompanies smoke. Smoke and smell will be produced by charcoal; it is not smokeless or odourless.
Where to Buy Hookah-Shisha Charcoal?
You can find everything you could need here at Tuah Shisha online store, from quality products from Australia to the best hookah coals. If you have a business or need a few products, we can help you. Our team works hard to provide everything you need for your hookah experience, including shisha charcoal, hookahs, bowls, and accessories.Â
Tuah Shisha, the Best Online Hookah-Shisha Charcoal Store
The Tuah Shisha Company is one of Australia’s largest hookah companies. There is no mistaking that as our hookah coal stands the test of time. There is no denying that Tuah Shisha hookahs are known to be the highest quality on the market. You can choose from a wide variety of hookah styles and sizes. Tuah Shisha charcoal has become a household name because of our premium blends, and fans have been raving about them for years.