The term “bong” may have originated from the Thai word ‘baung’, which refers to a cylindrical bamboo water pipe. Today’s bongs can be made out of glass or other materials while fulfilling their function just as effectively.
American bongs saw tremendous surges of popularity during the hippie movement of the 60s. At that time, young adults were looking for peace, love, and new ideas – thus spurring bong sales to skyrocket!
Origins
Even though they are commonplace today, bongs’ history remains less well-defined than that of other marijuana accessories. Although there is no definitive answer to the question ‘who invented the bong’, there is information we do know. These devices were being used in Asia as long ago as 3,000 BCE.
In China and around the world during the 16th century, cannabis became widespread through trade via the Silk Road. Aristocrats enjoyed it with elaborate silver pipes while common people preferred homemade bamboo pipes as their means to consume their marijuana.
Bongs may have existed from their inception, although they were not called that at first. Their name likely stems from Thai word ‘baung’ which refers to bamboo tubes used for smoking tobacco or herbal mixtures. This term was later adopted by Chinese speakers and then English speakers who may have taken it from the Liberian tribe Bongom (living near a place named Bong).
In 2013, excavations discovered 2,400-year-old burial mounds or kurgans in modern-day southern Russia that contained two solid gold bongs belonging to Scythian tribal chiefs – evidence suggesting they may have been used ceremonially. You can learn more by clicking the link. Tests conducted showed residue testing positive for cannabis and opium residue on these ancient objects; further evidence suggests they may have been utilized as ritualistic objects.
Archaeologists have also unearthed other pieces that might have been the precursors to bongs. A 13th or 14th century Iranian snuff bottle with an arched tube with a bowl at one end and water chamber on the other was one such piece; although not quite the size or shape of modern bongs, this device may well be its predecessor.
Styles
Regardless of what material your bong is made out of, its sole function remains inhaling marijuana smoke through water inhalation; this helps cool it and add more flavorful and smooth inhalations for your enjoyment.
Bongs are generally clear tubes with a downstem and bowl at their bases, often equipped with percolators (small holes that help filter and diffuse smoke for a smoother hit) as well as additional features such as ice catchers that allow users to add ice cubes for a cooler hit.
There are various kinds of bongs to suit every need, and choosing one ultimately depends on personal preferences and smoking habits. You can click the link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/medical-marijuana for more information about the benefits of smoking marijuana.
A beginner may wish to start with a basic straight tube bong since its simplicity makes it ideal for newcomers without needing extra accessories; on the other hand, an experienced smoker might prefer one featuring beakers or recyclers with ice catchers for a smoother and cooler hit.
Another popular style of bong is the zig-zag bong or zong, named for its distinctive Z-shaped up tube. Perfect for beginners looking to break into smoking, they provide natural splash guards while making it simple to add and remove ice cubes for cooling purposes.
Beginner smokers will benefit from using a bubbler bong, as this type of bong is perfect for easier transportation and cleaning. Most bubblers also feature removable downstems for easy maintenance as well as built-in ice catchers to ensure cool hits every time!
Materials
Bongs can be created from many materials, including glass, ceramic, and plastic. The choice of material used will have an impact on its price, weight, and durability as well as accessories like pre-filters, heads, and ash catchers. Each choice offers both advantages and drawbacks that should be carefully considered when making this decision.
Bongs have quickly become the go-to smoking device among modern stoner culture due to their ease of use and portability, not to mention that they can be used with both indica and sativa varieties of cannabis, as well as tobacco, concentrates, and herbal medicines.
While pipes have long been in use, bongs became more mainstream following the Flower Power movement of the 1960s. You can visit this site for more information. This group embraced free love, peace, and drug experimentation as core ideals of their society; using bongs became an extension of these principles.
With time, bongs have advanced from traditional clay and bamboo models into modern glass versions created by glass blowers who create intricate, artistic pieces which serve both as works of art as well as high-quality smoke-catching devices.
Most modern bongs are constructed of durable, lightweight borosilicate glass for its lightweight structure and clear material properties that allow users to observe each hit they take through it.
While some individuals enjoy collecting and decorating their bongs, others find simpler utilitarian ones are preferable; especially those using their bong for medicinal use as these typically feature inbuilt filters that can remove harmful bacteria from the smoke.
Accessories
Bongs have come a long way since their invention. Bongs now transcend simply being smoking devices – they represent art that speaks volumes about who smokes a particular strain!
As soon as cannabis became a serious industry in the early 1900s, bong demand skyrocketed. Thanks to advances in glass-blowing technology, bongs became ubiquitous across smoke shops around the globe; nowadays you can walk into any head shop and find bongs of every shape and size imaginable.
There is also an assortment of accessories that can be added to a bong to customize its use for the user’s specific preferences. For instance, those seeking smooth and cool smoke will appreciate a large bong with an extended smoke path and an ice cube tray. Ash catchers are another useful device that keeps ashes out of your bowl rather than scattering them across your floor!
The bong is an indispensable tool for those who enjoy smoking cannabis, providing an effective filtration system to lower smoke inhalation levels and make smoking easier on the lungs. No wonder its longstanding tradition within cannabis culture remains strong today!
