Hello Shisha lovers, and welcome to our Amy Deluxe blog, where we discuss different yet significant aspects of hookah smoking. In today’s blog, we will talk about hookah charcoal. Do you often find yourself puzzled by the endless number of options available in the market? They are available in different sizes and shapes, making it extra difficult for you to assess and pick the right piece appropriate for your hookah setup. Without any more delay, let us quickly get on with the topic.

Coconut Charcoals

There are many types of hookah charcoals available on the market: one is the quick light that can ignite instantly using a regular lighter or matchstick. These coals contain a chemical accelerant that often adds a bad odor to your shisha bowl. That brings us to the most popular charcoal variant, natural hookah charcoals, which are manufactured with the crushed shells of coconuts. They provide a clean smoke and bring out the different flavor profiles of the shisha beautifully. Coconut charcoals burn slowly, offering an extended smoking session. There are two primary types of natural hookah coals. One is coconut charcoal flats, and another is coconut charcoal cubes.

Coconut Charcoal Flats: What Are They?

Natural hookah coals initially entered the hookah market in the  shape of the flats, which usually measure 25mm by 25mm by 17mm in dimension. Almost every hookah charcoal company offers its own variation of flat charcoals. Being the first natural hookah charcoal to hit the shisha market, they are the most prevalent in hookah lounges and stores.

Coconut Charcoal Cubes: What Are They?

Comparatively, coconut charcoal cubes are a recent introduction to the market. However, they have been around us for a pretty long time now. In general, these cubed charcoals are 25mm by 25mm by 25mm. Almost all the natural charcoal brands offer both flat and cube hookah charcoals. These days, cube hookah charcoals are available in multiple sizes, such as mini cubes, large cubes, jumbo cubes, and so on. In today’s blog, we are mainly focusing on the regular hookah charcoal cubes for the purpose of this discussion.

Flats vs. Cubes: What Differentiates Them?

Dimension and Surface Area: Simply by looking at both the charcoal types (flat and cube), you can notice that the cube is comparatively larger in dimension and surface area.

Time Taken to Heat Up: Another major difference between the two charcoals is their heating or burning duration. Cube charcoals are bigger in size; thus, they take more time compared to the flats to light up on an electric burner. If you ever try to time it, the flat heats up around one minute faster than the cube. Kindly note that the heating time may vary depending on the power and condition of your charcoal burner.

Weight of the Charcoals: Once you heat them up, their differences get technical in nature. Being larger, the cube coals are heavier. Hence, they exert more pressure on the foil. If you fail to wrap the foil around the hookah bowl firmly, then the coal may end up pressing down the foil and burning the shisha tobacco in the hookah bowl. On the other hand, flat hookah charcoals are much lighter in weight. Therefore, they are more convenient to smoke if you are using standard foil in your hookah setup. Both of the coals perform amazingly, so take your time to learn what suits you and your hookah the best.

Heat Outcome: Just like the difference in the weight, cube charcoals generate more heat compared to the standard flat ones. However, it doesn’t happen all the time. Therefore, you don’t require too many of the cubes to smoke your hookah. For example, if you require three pieces of flats for one bowl, two units of cubes will do the same.

Lifespan of Charcoals: The most important advantage of cube coals is their extensive longevity, making them a top choice for hookah bars and lounges. They can last up to one and a half hours, while the flats typically burn for around 45 minutes.

If you have charcoal that burns longer, then you don’t need to rush around to change the charcoal frequently. Cubes are most convenient, especially if you are running a hookah bar or lounge. Remember, every situation is unique, and depending on that, flats can also serve you well.

We hope you find this blog informative and useful enough to clear your doubts about whether the flats or cubes work best for you. If you have any trouble where to find the best hookah charcoal or other hookah gear for your next smoking session, visit our Amy Deluxe store to get started. We have an extensive collection of premium hookah products to make it a memorable experience for you. 

Happy Smoking!