Narghile
Smoking
At
least three times a week the entrepreneur Michel Wajchman, 24 years
old, sits in his living room with friends or his girlfriend to smoke
narghile.
Michel
is not an Arab descendant, doesn't like cigarettes, but is part
of a generation of Brazilian youths who is discovering the pleasures
of the table pipe, very popular in Arab countries such as Egypt,
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Yemen and Iraq.
About
seven months ago, a friend of Lebanese origin showed Michel the
narghile. One month later he bought the gear, which is now a central
piece when his friends, mostly from the corporate sector, get together
to chat or talk about business.
The
narghile transcended the doors of the Arab
houses in São Paulo about two or three
years ago. Today, not only do many Brazilians
own their own narghiles,
but the hip bars and restaurants in the city
offer the pipe to their clients.
Alibabar,
a chain of bars in the São Paulo neighborhoods Vila Olímpia
and Jardim São Paulo for example, owns about 30 narghiles
in each of the two units.
Entirely
decorated with Arab articles, the bar normally receives clients
varying from 20 to 40 years of age. "I had a narghile at home
and I noticed my friends were interested in it," says Bil Rajab,
one of the proprietors and Lebanese descendant.
When
he opened the first bar in 2002 he had no doubts about transforming
it into one of the establishment's attractions. And he was right.
"When we have a full house, all narghiles are taken, there
isn't one left," says Rajab.
A
group will pay from US$ 5.00 to US$ 7.00 for
a round, which lasts for about one hour and
a half. The hookah
tobacco flavors available at the Alibabar
are melon, double apple, mint, strawberry
and assorted fruits. The most popular one,
according to the owner, is the double apple.
However,
not only the Arab places have narghiles. Bazzi, a trendy bar and
flirting scenario to the sound of pop-rock music, also offer the
pipe to their clients.
From
Decoration to Application
Farid
Mekhael Kheir, director of the Arab products retail and wholesale
chain Maxifour, said he noticed a change in the buying trends along
the last three years.
"People
used to buy narghiles to decorate their houses, now it's for the
real purpose," he stated. Kheir says the greatest increase
in the demand for the pipe happened this year. "Today it is
Brazilians who are buying and learning how to smoke narghiles, not
only Arab descendants," he says.
Maxifour
imports the devices from Syria and Lebanon and sells something between
200 and 300 units every month. The stores have both the simple types,
made with light metal, and the more special kind, made of solid
metal, glass and crystal.
The
prices vary from US$ 43 to US$ 103. As well
as the pipes, he also sells accessories
and tobacco with the flavors double apple,
almonds, mango, apricots, mint and orange
flower.
Origins
The
narghile has four parts: the bottom part called vessel or recipient,
which holds the water that filters the tobacco; the pipe bowl at
the top, where the flavored tobacco is placed; the tube or hose,
through which the smoke passes; and the mouthpiece at the end of
the tube. In bars and restaurants the mouthpiece normally is disposable.
The
pipe is popular in most eastern countries. As well as the Arab countries,
China, India, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran also enjoy the narghile.
There are many versions to the story about its origins. Most theories
however point at Turkey. The Arab countries would have incorporated
the Turkish habit.
In
some places the pipe is also called arghile.
In Egypt, the narghile is known as shisha.
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