Short answer: Herbal flavours have no tobacco and no nicotine; regular flavours do. Herbal tastes a little lighter and costs the same, from ₹249.
We get this question a lot on WhatsApp: what is the difference between a herbal hookah flavour and a regular one, and which should I order? Here is the straight answer, from what we carry and what our customers tell us after the night.
What a regular hookah flavour is
A regular flavour, sometimes called shisha or molasses, is tobacco leaf soaked in syrup, glycerine and flavour. The tobacco is what most people mean when they talk about a "proper" hookah. It burns slowly under the heat, gives a full, thick draw and holds its flavour for a long session.
Because it has tobacco, it has nicotine. That matters for some people and not for others. If you smoke cigarettes, you will feel it less. If you never do, a strong regular flavour can make you light-headed early in the night.
We carry 33 regular flavours, from desi paan blends to fruit and mint. You can see them all on the flavours page.
What a herbal hookah flavour is
A herbal flavour is made without tobacco. Instead of tobacco leaf, the base is other plant material, soaked in the same kind of syrup and glycerine. There is no tobacco and no nicotine in it.
We carry 6 herbal flavours, picked to match our most popular regular ones:
- Commissioner (Herbal), our house blend.
- Blueberry Blast (Herbal), strong and sweet.
- Grape Mint (Herbal), black grape with mint.
- Electric Mint (Herbal), very strong mint.
- Clove Mint (Herbal), laung and mint.
- Elaichi Mint (Herbal), good after dinner.
See them together on the herbal hookah page.
How they taste side by side
The flavour itself is close. A herbal Grape Mint tastes like grape and mint, same as the regular one. The difference is in the body of the smoke.
- Regular feels fuller and a bit heavier. The flavour sits on the tongue.
- Herbal feels lighter. The first half of the session is very close to regular. Towards the end it can taste a little more like the base and a little less like the fruit.
Mint flavours hide the difference best. If you are trying herbal for the first time, start with Electric Mint or Elaichi Mint.
Smoke and how long it lasts
Both make good clouds, because the clouds come from glycerine, not tobacco. Herbal can even look thicker in the first few minutes.
On length, regular usually lasts a bit longer per fill. With herbal, keep the session to the evening you planned and add a second chillum for a long night.
Is herbal "safe"?
No. Herbal means no tobacco and no nicotine. It does not mean no smoke. You are still breathing in smoke from heated plant material. We will not tell you herbal is healthy, because it is not. It is simply the choice without nicotine.
Both kinds are for adults only. We deliver to people who are 21 or older and check photo ID at the door for every order, herbal or not.
When to pick herbal
- Some of your group do not smoke at all and want to join in without nicotine.
- You want a lighter session on a weeknight.
- You get a headache or feel dizzy with regular flavours.
- You are hosting a mixed group and want one chillum that everyone can try.
When to pick regular
- You want the full, classic hookah feel.
- You want desi blends like Meetha Paan, 5 Paan or the Teen Paan range. These are only in regular.
- It is a long night and you want each fill to last.
Can I mix both in one order?
Yes. Add a herbal chillum and a regular chillum to the same cart and they come together. A common pick for mixed groups is a herbal mint on one and a regular paan or fruit on the other. If you want herbal in a group order, message us on WhatsApp before you order.
If you are not sure how many chillums you need, our house party checklist helps.
Price
A herbal chillum costs the same as a regular one. A filled chillum starts at ₹249, and ₹300 more with our hookah base. See the full price list in hookah on rent in Kolkata: what it costs.
How to order
- Pick your flavours on the herbal or flavours page.
- Choose a mitti or silicone chillum, and whether you need our hookah base.
- Choose Deliver now or a time slot. Deliver now can take up to 1 hour, depending on weather and traffic.
- Pay by UPI, and we dispatch once it arrives. Keep your photo ID ready.
- We collect the kit the next day.
Still not sure? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 89100 03072 and tell us who is coming. We will suggest a mix.