That custom bong sitting on your coffee table isn't just a trusted friend and an outstanding way to deep-fry your consciousness. Bongs are a prime example of analog ingenuity and a cultural artifact with a long and proud history. Whether you just purchased your first custom bong from our online smoke shop or you are a long-time connoisseur of water pipes and custom glass pipes you're sure to learn something new in our list of seven things you probably didn't know about your bong.

Bongs are not a modern invention

We tend to assume that just about anything of consequence was dreamed up/invented within the past 100 years or so. And while that's true for a lot of things (especially those that leverage electricity) there are plenty of objects, mechanisms and assorted gizmos we still use today that have deep roots in the past, with the bong being one. As of this writing, the oldest known bong dates from 400 BC and was found amongst other items in a Scythian grave in what is now Russia. But if there was already a fully developed bong in 400 BC (which, by the way, tested positive for cannabis) you know that its roots go back even further than that.

"Bong" is a Thai word, sort of

It is believed by most etymologists that the word "bong" is derived from the Thai word "baung" which was/is a bamboo cylinder modified to work as a pipe for smoking. Whether the ancient Thai people actually smoked cannabis in their buangs is open for debate. But there is evidence of cannabis smoking in China, just to Thailand's north, dating back nearly 3,000 years. So it's possible the ancient Thais also enjoyed a good buzz (which may explain why the country is called "the land of smiles").

The Hookah Connection

There seems little doubt that the modern bong also drew inspiration from/is an offshoot of the hookah. The hookah was invented some 500 years ago in Mughal India and quickly spread across the subcontinent into Persia and then on to the rest of the Middle East. The hookah also uses water to filter smoke produced from the burning of tobacco, hashish, cannabis or opium.

The African connection

The modern bong is a child of the world drawing inspiration from and being adopted by cultures on several continents, including Africa. In 1945 renowned archeologist Mary Leaky discovered an ancient water pipe in Tanzania. Before that, Alfred Dunhill (of Dunhill tobacco fame) published papers detailing the widespread use of bong-style water pipes in numerous African countries including Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. Some of those pipes were fashioned from rhino horns and elephant tusks.

Not just for the peasants

The Empress Dowager Cixi ruled China for 47 years from 1861 to 1908. She was one of the most powerful people in the world at that time, lording over hundreds of millions of Chinese. She was also fond of cannabis, which, as we mentioned earlier, has been part of the Chinese culture dating back 3,000 years. When Cixi died she was buried with a variety of her favorite items, including clothing, furnishings, pearls and jewelry as well as 3 of her most beloved customized bongs. All these items and more (including Cixi's body) were eventually looted by the warlord Sun Dianying in what became known as the "looting of the eastern mausoleum" in 1928.

It's possible to add too much water to a bong

A lot of people who use a bong for the first time do so without consulting anyone first. As a result, they add way too much water to the pipe. When they try to fire up their cannabis they discover it's soaking wet and unable to burn. Either that or they get water in their mouth which leads to coughing and makes the whole experience really unpleasant. The bottom line when adding water to your bong for the first time only add enough to cover the downstem and its slits.

There's no rule that says you have to use water at all

It's a common misconception that you have to use water in a bong. The truth is you are not limited to water. So if you're in an adventurous mood try using tea or red wine or orange juice. We know of people who use cranberry juice, Kool-Aid, Gatorade and even various types of liquor. What's the point of all this experimenting? To mix things up and add a bit of spice to your cannabis experience. (For the record liquor is not recommended simply because it adds a bitter, acrid property to the smoke which can really irritate your throat and lungs.

The Bottom Line

Bongs have been with us for thousands of years and even before the advent of fast, convenient air travel had somehow found their way to the most obscure corners of the globe. Today, there are more types of bongs, along with retail and wholesale glass pipes, available than ever before which means that, in many ways, we are currently living in the golden age of the bong.

Whether you're interested in a customized bong for personal use or you want a dependable wholesale head shop to stock your budding enterprise with bongs, get in touch with the team at Puffr by calling us at 1 (888) 316-4572 or by writing to us acontact@puffr.com.