Sisha smoking at Salt & Pepper

Salt & Pepper Restaurant, known for its kebabs, hummus, tandooris, curries, pizzas and pastas, brings to Manila the art of shisha smoking.  Salt & Pepper introduces these colorful and decorative glass water-pipes with a variety of flavors to choose from.  

Shisha pipe or water-pipe smoking has become a favorite pastime and is fast gaining popularity throughout the world. The popularity of the shisha and the lifestyle behind it has increased immensely in recent years, due to the social nature of shisha smoking of bringing people together and sharing good times with friends.

Shisha, is from the Persian word shishe, literally translated as glass.  Also known as hookah or sheesha, narghile or narghila, tombac, gouza, moassel, and hubbly-bubbly, it is a special blend of fresh leaves, fruit pulp, honey or molasses, and glycerine. A shisha pipe is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) water pipe device for smoking.  The passing of the hose is significant — a shisha is placed in the center of a group and smokers pass the hose to the next in the circle, while sharing words and ideas in a lighthearted mode. It has long enthused great discussions on politics, economy, fashion, and the daily happenings.

Shisha pipes have been around for hundreds of years, and the original design for it is believed to have come from Persia. In the 17th century, shisha pipes were often seen in coffee shops or small restaurants along the streets of Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries. This day, it has become a form of relaxation and social activity amid the fast-paced lifestyle, and clusters of shisha smokers can now be seen in most cities in the US and Europe as well, either in the privacy of homes or at local shisha lounges.

Because it contains only 0.5 percent nicotine and no tar, many people prefer shisha smoke to cigarettes or hand and glass pipes because of the cool, smooth flavorful taste of the smoke and soothing sounds of the bubbling water in the decorative glass vase. 

 Just remember the sisha etiquette:

• Be nice. Always pass the hose with the mouthpiece pointed away from the next person. It’s considered respectful.

• Be worldly. When finished smoking, wrap the hose around your hookah. It’s the traditional way to signal you’re done.

• Be wise. Try not to light a cigarette from the hot coals on a shisha. It’s disrespectful.  But really, nobody wants to see what you’d look like without eyebrows. Save everyone the trouble, use a lighter.

• Be safe. Use your own mouthpiece when smoking with strangers.

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Enjoy shisha smoking at 205 EDSA, Greenhills (beside Mazda Car Showroom).  For more information, call 725-7545 or 722-9925.