Why shouldn’t I just go to the bong shop down the street?

Bongs have quite the history on our little blue marble. The exact point at which they appeared isn’t entirely known, nor is the history behind their invention. What we do know is where they originated, that being the Middle East and far Western Asia, in cultures such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India. That is a big, very diverse region of the planet, and this is actually kind of significant to sociologists and the like whenever something seems to be independently invented across various cultures like that, and universally loved despite so many differences between the various peoples of the region. But, that isn’t really important here, but it is pretty neat.

Western culture, and by extension Western-originating cultures like modern New Zealand, Australia and the like, primarily associate bongs with certain counter-culture groups both modern and historic. They are used in narrative shorthand and media to depict purveyors of certain dry herbs, as well as a common prop in college dorm settings, etc. Nobody seems to mind any of this, because it’s all pretty harmless, but if this is all someone knows about bongs, they are not that informed.

Let me start by saying that, by all accounts, bongs were first invented in the region I mentioned before as one of several healthier ways to enjoy tobacco. Any other uses of bongs seem to be later appropriations, simply the prevailing ones in many cultures, thus flavoring our perception of these devices. The point behind them is actually to make the smoke healthier by stripping away nasty stuff like ash, tar and carcinogenic combustion byproducts. When they were invented, the inventors didn’t know any of this, they simply realize that water had “purifying” properties, or a science would say today, being the closest thing to a natural filter and solvent we know.

But, if you like bongs for any kind of use, or are interested in them, let me shake away a little bit of stereotype for you. When you visit a bong shop in your area, or a general type of store that sells things like that, tobacco products and other smoking accessories, you probably see some fairly ornate and rather beautiful bongs. Glassblowing is an amazing craft, and it is not easy. There is no shame in buying one of these to support local blowers and to have a neat looking bong for your collection, and we wouldn’t discourage that. But, when it comes down to buying the bong you are going to use on a daily basis for your tobacco or other herbal needs, don’t buy one of these, they tend to be fragile and rather one of a kind, meaning they need to be used discriminatory really like fine China or antique flatware.

Instead, consider the sleek, modern and scientifically-enhanced glass produced by companies in Australia, New Zealand and Europe, tempered glass designed to withstand being dropped, designed to withstand heat, designed to withstand rigorous cleaning. Shisha Glass is a premier bong shop in Australia where you can shop for ozbongs along with other leading bong products.