Tips and Tricks

Shii is a complete hookah with electric heat built in, made with XKAH heating technology. No charcoal, no separate bowl. Here is how it works, what is in the box, and how it compares with the XKAH Lite and Pro.

Germany plans to more than triple its tax on shisha tobacco by 2030, and the EU wants shisha to have its own minimum tax rate. Here's what's planned, where it stands, and whether it affects the UK.

On 1 October 2026 UK duty on shisha tobacco rose from £193.87 to £248.07 per kilo. On a 250g tin that's about £13.55 more duty, before VAT. Here's what changed and why.

InterTabac, one of the world's biggest tobacco trade fairs, took place in Dortmund from 15 to 17 September 2026, on new weekdays and with shisha under the shadow of Germany's planned tax rise.

Shisha, hookah, nargile, kalyan, cachimba, chicha: the same water pipe goes by dozens of names. Here is what it is called around the world, and where each name comes from.

Buying your first shisha? Start with a stainless steel shisha of medium height from a known brand, plus a phunnel bowl and coconut charcoal, or simply pick a starter kit. Here is what matters and what doesn't.

A silicone hose is washable, hard-wearing and the best all-rounder. Leather hoses look and feel premium but usually can't be washed inside. Then choose a mouthpiece you like holding. Here's what to look for.

Fill the base, fit the stem, pack the bowl loosely, add foil or an HMD, and put on fully lit coconut coals. Here's how to set up a shisha step by step, plus fixes for the most common problems.

ShishaMesse Frankfurt took place from 8 to 10 May 2026. Quasar won Best Hookah, XKAH won Best Accessory and BlackCoco's won Best Charcoal. Here's the round-up.

Empty and rinse the base, bowl and stem after every session, and give your shisha a deep clean every week or two with brushes and a cleaner. Here's exactly how, part by part.

In March 2026 the BMJ said London has more shisha cafés than McDonald's branches. We looked at the numbers: almost 1,000 shisha cafés across the UK, and around 200 McDonald's in London.

A heat management device (HMD) sits on your bowl instead of foil and holds the coals. It gives even, adjustable heat and less fiddling. You don't need one, but most people who try one keep using it.