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__The origins of the hookah come from the north western provinces of India
along the border of Pakistan in Rajasthan and Gujarat nearly a
millennia back. These hookahs were simple, primitive, and rugged in
design, usually made from a coconut shell base and tube with a head
attached. They were designed to smoke opium, and hashish. The hookah
made its way through the Persian Kingdom, which also included Pakistan,
Afghanistan, much of Middle Asia and Arab parts of Northern Africa. The
hookah acquired tombeik on its way through Persia. Tombeik is a dark
tobacco grown in modern day Iran. Tombeik is rinsed and packed in the
large older style heads where hot coal is applied directly to the wet
tombeik, which gives it a strong flavor. These heads and style of
hookah, referred to as "ghelune" in Persian, are available on our web
site. The hookahs designed in the Persian Empire are still hand crafted
with each one being cut from a piece of wood. In the 19th century,
cigarettes were made easily available and mostly women smoked the
ghelune because they were not on the go. Women used the ghelune in the
home for entertaining and as a past time.
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