600 shisha bowls home collection: Interview with Mike from Brazil

Hey Mike, I remember how I met you on our event in Sao-Paulo — HookahBattle Brazil Cup 2024 at the Expo Hookah Brazil, where you took part as a contestant. Can you please tell how you came up to the idea to participate and what was your impression about hookahbattle?

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Yes! We met at the HookahBattle Brazil Cup 2024, it was my first time participating. The idea came from a friend of mine who lives in Russia and sells Russian products here in Brazil (VKalliano). He knew Enver, who works at Original Virginia.

So we put together a group and came up with the idea of me representing Original Virginia here in Brazil at HookahBattle.

As my first experience, I found HookahBattle itself to be very organized, even though ExpoHookah 2024 was rainy and cold, which makes things much more complicated, especially at an open event.

I really want to participate in 2025. And I’m already preparing for it.

After the event I have visited your instagram page and been so surprised! I have never seen so big collection of shisha bowls. Can you please tell how and when have you started with your collection? What is your story about it?

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Hahaha, everyone is quite surprised by the collection of bowls that I have. I also collect hookah accessories, for example: mats, mouthpieces, heat controllers and I also have some hookahs…

The collection started by accident in 2017, when some brands here in Brazil closed down and I started buying the bowls that I liked the most and taking more care of them.

When I realized it, I already had more than 100 national bowls! Hahaha

Then I started to have a different view of the collection and to select more and more national and international bowls.

Today I have around 500/600 bowls, all of which are different models, I don’t have any duplicates.

What was the first bowls of your collection? 

The first national bowls that I started collecting were Dukhan:

and Taylor Made

and OHT (brands that no longer exist in Brazil).

The international bowls that I started collecting were Alpacas:

and Hookah John:

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How many bowls you have in your collection as a result for today?

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What your friends say when they visit and see your collection?

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Some friends think it’s crazy, others think it’s cool!

In general, it’s interesting to see their reactions.

For me, it’s really cool to see this, because it was something that I didn’t plan on, it just happened over time and today I’m proud of it.

What is the best small shisha bowl in your opinion for quick shisha smoking session?

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In general, I have some bowls that I think are perfect for quick sessions (50 minutes) and also for smoking alone.

Tangiers Pico,

Hookah John 80 Feet,

Alpaca Mini Rook are some international ones.

Meduse Bowl,

Amicis,

Styx Tree Stx,

Mahalla Minimi are some national ones.

In general, these are bowls that hold around 8 grams of essence and, as our custom in Brazil is to use more aluminum, these are very good bowls for stretching aluminum.

What is your TOP 3 favorite bowls?

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Hookah John Alien 2018, 12 to 15 grams in an overpack, lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes of session with a very pleasant flavor and smoke flow.

Japona Hookah Samurai, 20 grams of essence with heat controller, makes the session wonderful, combining all this with a beautiful Bowl with an unique design improves the visual even more.

OHT Classic, Brazilian Bowl that is simple and works very well! Unfortunately it is no longer manufactured, but it is in my top 3 because it has a balanced central spire compared to the size of the Bowl, putting 12 to 15 grams is a bowl that easily gives you 1 hour and 30 minutes of pleasurable session.

What is the most expensive bowl in your collection?

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I have 3 Bowls that stand out for their value

Hookah John Alien 2012, which has become expensive in Brazil mainly due to its rarity

Bowl Kong X Maklaud Project 22

Mason Helyx 2

These last 2 are quite expensive Bowls to bring to Brazil with shipping and fees.

Which shisha bowls you want to have in your collection, but you dont have it yet?

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Bowl Ascent, I think the design and details are wonderful.

Electric Bowl, for example Hookamonk, I’m curious to know what it’s like.

Irmin Yggdrassil Bowl, for the artwork involved

There are many manufacturers of shisha bowls in Brazil. Can you tell 3 specifics what makes brazilial bowls different compare to bowls from other countries?

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To understand the differences between Brazilian bowls, we must first know that Brazilians smoke 95% of the time with aluminum, 3 rings of holes with different sizes (usually) and 2 or 3 hexagonal coals.

So here comes the difference: usually the bowls you find in Brazil have a central spire with thinner edges to make it easier to stretch the aluminum.

Another difference is the central hole, which is often a much narrower hole in small bowls and very open in large bowls, to allow for greater control of the flow of aluminum.

And another difference is that it is difficult to find a traditional Brazilian bowl, most of them here are Phunnel.

What is your TOP3 the most favorite shisha tobacco brands? And TOP 3 the most favorite flavors?

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My top 3 tobacco, I’ll divide it into 3 Top Brazil and 3 Top International, okay? hahaha

3 Top Brazil, I’ll only be talking about mint, because in my opinion it’s the easiest flavor to mix

Zomo — Strong Mint

Ziggy — Burley Mint

Onix — Mint

3 Top International

Tangiers — Cane Mint

DarkSide — Cola

Original Virginia — PopCorn

Do you think that any tobacco brand works good with any bowl OR specific tobacco works good with specific bowl?

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The truth is that each bowl has its own special point.

Some are better in duration, some in flow and others in the presence of flavor.

I have a clay Trad Bowl that I only use mint in. However, I am not in favor of not washing the clay bowl to «climatize». I wash it every time with water and let it dry in the sun. Does this process take a little longer for it to absorb the flavor? Yes! However, it is more hygienic.

If you do this process 10/15 sessions, your clay bowl will already have a MUCH greater smell and presence of your favorite flavor.

Have you ever practice the concept — 1 flavor smoking only on 1 bowl (With each session the clay absorbs the aroma)

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As I said in the previous question

I think it’s really cool to make it with your favorite flavor, without leaving hygiene behind.

Anything done wisely and calmly never goes wrong.

What do you think — which bowls are better — with a glazed coating inside or without?

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Speaking as a collector, I prefer glazed coated bowls. Even after being used several times, they still look beautiful.

Now speaking as a consumer, we cannot miss the experience of a raw clay bowl. Does it stain after use? Yes! Is it harder to preserve its beauty? Yes!

But the presence of flavor that a raw clay bowl brings to your session is what sets it apart!

Do you have a bowl in your collection which change own colour during the change of temperature? What do you think about this concept (the paint reacts to temperature) ?

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I have it! The Oblako Trio Line Fake.

The first time I used it I didn’t really believe it. Because Oblako says that the Bowl is ready for use after the letter FAKE appears in its entirety. It was strange the first time, but I was really surprised! It worked perfectly.

I think this is a technology that can even be used more! A hookah beginner would know the right time to start their session.

Do you prefer to smoke on foil or with HMD? Do you believe that some bowls works better with foil and another bowls better with HMD? Or its a myth and any bowls can be good as with foil as with HMD

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It really depends on my mood! hahaha

I use a heat controller a lot and I also use aluminum foil a lot

I tell Brazilians a lot that everyone has to try both to know the differences. In the last 2 years I have acquired a lot of heat controllers from different brands and materials to learn a little too

I really like the idea of experiencing other cultures, each country has its own assembly method. Whether it is with a heat controller, aluminum or even Batcha.

And yes, each method has to be in the bowl of each region. Would it be wrong to get a Brazilian bowl with tobacco from Brazil and smoke it Russian style? No! But you won’t be exploring it to the fullest.

Want to try new cultures? Buy a bowl from that region, watch how they prepare it in videos on the internet, buy tobacco sold in the region and then you will be able to feel, experience and give correct opinions.

What do you think about the idea if we will organize a kind of BOWLS HookahBattle? Like a competition for the best shisha bowl. How do you think it should be organized with which procedure and rules to make it fair?

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I think it’s a great idea!

I have my opinions about maybe a Bowls HookahBattle and even about hookahs.

Maybe a competition where only what is manufactured in that country participates in the competition.

Example: Bowls HookahBattle BRAZIL! A Brazilian bowl, in a Brazilian Hookah!

What would be evaluated? Beauty of the Bowl, Functionality, Presence of flavor and Price

Fully tested in a Brazilian hookah.

And I even have other ideas! Have you ever imagined the setup of each country being taken to other meetings? That way each country gets to know the culture in the right way.

Or maybe even bring together the winners from each country or each continent to exchange ideas and opinions?

Tip: Count me in! hahaha

Will we see you in some of our online hookah battle shows? Where contestants just record a video for us with some concept? For example extreme hookahbattle or mix and story: events.hookahbattle.com

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Of course!

I didn’t know about online events, I have some individual projects for next year!

Wait for me! hahaha

What do you think about shisha bowls made of glass? For example: French Quasar Raas

or Dschinni Glassbowl Nero

I have 2 glass bowls!

Lule Bowl and Dschinni Glassbowl Nero.

My opinion is that these are bowls dedicated to beauty and less to functionality.

I did some sessions in different ways and unfortunately none of them pleased my taste.

I think that if it is for a collector it is worth it for the beauty of the product.

However, for a normal user who is looking for a bowl for their own use, I do not recommend it.

What do you think about Shisha Presso from UAE bowl designed for tobacco capsules?

I believe that the hookah world is changing every day.

Some things stay and others don’t work.

I usually say that hookah is something cultural, nothing will replace what already exists, but it can be innovative!

Tobacco capsules? Creative! You can use them to go to a party! Instead of taking a bowl that could break, you can simply take the capsules with you. Interesting

Are we going to stop using our tobacco and bowls? NO! But it could be something else for us to use.

What do you think about Italian Olla Bowls?

I thought about buying one now, but some things are harder to get to Brazil.

I think a Bowl is really pretty! My favorite models are the ADE and the Colab Kaloud models.

What is your future plans about your role in the shisha industry? Ever thought to open a shisha lounge with a big museum of your collection of bowls? Maybe this article helps to find some investor for such an idea, what do you think?

I have another job in Brazil (Im a business financier and I am also the owner of a Bistro), and I have always taken the hookah world as a pleasure and love.

Working with hookah? We can never say never hahaha

I have a YouTube channel (MikeTV Hookah), which I recently launched, and there I show Brazilians many things that I have, my opinions and comparisons

Not to mention the hookah groups that I participate in to help many people who are just starting out.

I have always said that everything I do is for love, I am happy for everything I have achieved and for the wisdom I have to pass this on to the people.

About investors? I am open to ideas without ever leaving aside my love and pleasure for this hookah world.

What do you think about Koza Bowls Custom Studio? Its not a bowl manufacturer, but the artist — whom you can give your bowl for a custom painting making it unique

I didn’t know about it.

I thought the work was VERY beautiful, and everything that is handmade is even more beautiful, right?

I admire people who have this gift of being able to make such beautiful and unique things!

Congratulations!

What do you think about this collection of 300 hookahs from German collector Aaron?

Hahaha, I follow him on Instagram!

What a wonderful collection!

I admire his beautiful hookahs, and I also admire his care! After all, I know that taking care of and cleaning 500 bowls is not easy, imagine with 300 hookahs? LOL

It must be cool to have almost 1 hookah to smoke every day for 1 year! Hahahaha

Insane!

What do you think about BR MADE brand history (shisha bowl manufacturer from Brazil)?

Aaa I know the History of BRMade very well, I also have some of their Bowls in my collection. Today 2024 is unfortunately no longer active in the Brazilian Hookah market.

I believe that since 2022 the Brazilian Hookah market has undergone a reformulation of brands and customers.

Few old brands have resisted the post-pandemic impact. The Brazilian market has changed a lot, customers have become more demanding, PODs have appeared, what in 2017 was fashion, today in 2024 is culture.

All of this transforms the market a lot, some brands stand the test of time and follow the market’s swing. Other brands cannot keep up.

Thanks for the interview!
I would like to ask our community members:

1. Go to Mike’s HookahBattle profile and «+» his KARMA
2. Subscribe Mike’s Instagram
3. Subscribe Mike’s YouTube Channel

4. Type in comment — what do you think about «BOWLS HookahBattle»? I believe its could be a nice YouTube show which we can make one time per year and which will help people around the world to know about different shisha bowls and help to select one they need for home smoking. I want to collect more opinions what should be the procedure of such a contest? Author of the most rated comment will be invited to be the Jury member of such a contest.