A hookah is a wonderful souvenir that will always remind you of the mysterious East
The Indian tradition of hookah smoking rapidly spread to other Asian countries and began to be used not only for medicinal purposes but also for pleasure. At the end of the 16th century, along with medicinal herbs, tobacco began to be used, the first major producer of which was the Syrian capital Damascus. In Syria, the hookah industry still flourishes, supplying a variety of smoking products to many countries around the world.
At the beginning of the 17th century, hookahs appeared in Egypt, where they were made from pumpkins. In Persia, a porcelain flask and a bronze tobacco bowl were invented for the smoking device, which served as gifts or tokens of attention among the Persian elite.
Hookahs achieved particular popularity in Turkey. In the mid-17th century, the Turkish hookah was not only an attribute of every home but also often served as a work of art. Individual specimens of the device, intended for sultans and foreign ambassadors, were equipped by craftsmen with expensive metals, stones, and rock crystal. Turkish artisans replaced the porcelain flask with a glass one, which is still used in the industry today.
From the 19th century, the tradition of hookah smoking spread to European countries. Today, travelers from around the world purchase both traditional and original German Amy hookahs as bright, stylish gifts and souvenirs. The products of the online store Amystore.com.ua include high-quality hookahs and related accessories that can bring not only pleasure but also an element of Eastern culture into every home.
Hookah smoking as a national custom has its own meaning in each nation. In Yemen, hookah smoking is a sacred ritual of asking for God's grace; in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan – a sign of peaceful life and harmony; in Turkey – a symbol of trust and goodwill towards a person. Offering to smoke a hookah in Eastern countries is regarded as a friendly gesture, a wish for well-being.
Today, the abundance of hookah products enriches the markets of many countries – Egypt, India, Turkey, Iran, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, China, and the USA. Therefore, purchasing a hookah as a souvenir, imbued with deep meaning and centuries-old history, is possible almost anywhere in the world.