Hookah, also known as waterpipe or shisha, is a method of smoking flavored tobacco. A common misconception is that the sweet flavoring agent—such as apple, mint, or grape—is the source of nicotine. The reality is that the presence of nicotine depends entirely on the base material used in the shisha product, not the added taste.
Nicotine Origin in Traditional Shisha
Traditional shisha tobacco, known as Mu‘assel, is a mixture where the nicotine content originates solely from the tobacco leaf. Mu‘assel is composed of dark tobacco leaves, which naturally contain nicotine, combined with molasses or honey, vegetable glycerin, and flavoring agents. The molasses and glycerin keep the mixture moist and produce the thick, dense smoke characteristic of hookah sessions. Flavoring agents are simply additives to the tobacco base. Nicotine is present because of the tobacco foundation, not the flavor itself.
Flavored Nicotine-Free Alternatives
The market includes alternatives designed to provide the hookah experience without nicotine, often called herbal or non-tobacco shisha. Manufacturers achieve nicotine-free status by replacing traditional tobacco leaves with non-tobacco base materials.
Non-Tobacco Base Materials
Common substitutes include:
- Tea leaves.
- Sugarcane fiber.
- Cellulose.
- Various fruit pulps.
These plant-based materials are soaked in molasses, vegetable glycerin, and flavoring extracts. The resulting mixture mimics the taste and smoke density of tobacco-based shisha but contains zero nicotine. Other options include steam pastes or steam stones, which use minerals or gels to vaporize flavored liquid without any plant material.
Nicotine Delivery Through Waterpipe Smoking
When nicotine is present in the shisha, the waterpipe mechanism facilitates its delivery to the user. The process involves heating the shisha mixture with charcoal, generating a smoke aerosol drawn through the water in the base. This water primarily cools the smoke, making it less harsh and easier to inhale deeply.
The cooling effect does not remove a significant amount of nicotine. Because waterpipe sessions are typically long, lasting 30 minutes or more, and involve a high number of deep puffs, the total amount of nicotine absorbed can be substantial. Studies show that a single hour-long hookah session can lead to nicotine exposure comparable to smoking multiple cigarettes. The water merely changes the delivery experience, not the fundamental exposure, which depends on the initial tobacco content.