Alpha Bowl
Getting to know Alpha bowls
Alpha makes its bowls in a few distinct lines, and each one treats heat in its own way. The quickest way to choose is to decide whether you want bare clay or a glaze, and whether you prefer a phunnel.
The main lines
- Strike: unglazed, with a flat bottom so the tobacco warms more evenly. The bare clay gives you finer control over how hot the bowl runs, and its high quartz content makes it tough against knocks. Finishes include Blue, Black Matte and two-tone pairings such as Red Black.
- Turk Design: artistically textured bowls with a rich glaze in a Turkish style, made from German ceramics. Alpha says the glaze stops the bowl soaking up syrup. Colours include Forest, Mustard and Red Sand.
- Race Phunnel PRO: a phunnel bowl fired with Alpha's own technique for extra strength, with a tougher glaze made to handle sudden temperature changes without deforming. It comes in colours such as Yellow, Red and Black Matte.
Glaze or bare clay?
A glazed bowl, like the Turk Design or Race PRO, is smooth and easy to wipe clean. An unglazed one, like the Strike, takes the heat straight into the clay and needs gentler care: rinse it with water only and let it dry fully before the next session.
Top any of them with foil or a heat management device, and see Alpha hookahs for the rest of the set-up.
Questions
What is a phunnel bowl?
A phunnel bowl has a raised spire in the middle with the hole on top, so juices stay in the bowl rather than running down into the stem. The Race Phunnel PRO is Alpha's phunnel design.
Does colour change how a Strike bowl smokes?
No. Every Strike shares the same description: unglazed, flat-bottomed and high in quartz. Only the finish differs.
Can I wash an unglazed bowl with soap?
It is better not to. Bare clay can hold on to the taste of soap, so rinse it with water and let it dry fully.