
Best hookah coals: A guide to natural hookah charcoal for 2023
BY ANTHONY B · UPDATED JANUARY 18 2023
Hookah charcoal is an integral part of the hookah experience. It's important that you buy good coals, and with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is that we at IconHookah.com have done all the hard work for you! In this article, we'll discuss what makes great hookah coal and go through some of our favorite brands on the market today.
- There are many different types of hookah charcoal to choose from, and your decision could affect your smoking session.
- For the average hookah fan, Titanium Natural Coals are unmatched in quality and performance.

- They burn hotter and longer than most other shisha coals and don't leave much ash behind.
There are several different shapes of natural hookah charcoal, including cubes, flats, hexagon, and more. The type of coal that's best for you depends on if you are using foil or heat management device, what kind of shisha you are smoking, and your personal preferences.
By the way, you can purchase all of the below coals on our website. We also carry hookahs for sale so make sure to check out what we have available!
Here are the best hookah coals in 2023:
- Best Hookah Coals Overall: Titanium 25mm Cubes
- Best Budget Shisha Coal: Coconara Natural Hookah Coals
- Best Lotus Head Hookah Coals: Le Orange Lotus Head
Best Hookah Coals Overall
Titanium 25mm Cubes
Titanium Large Cubes is the perfect coal for your larger hookah bowl due to their prolonged duration and higher heat level. The large cubes are also ideal for fruit-flavored shisha heads. These dense coals will stay hot throughout your session, giving you more time to enjoy the flavor of each puff!
Being a US-based company, Titanium is all about quality. Their product is manufactured in Indonesia. As you'd expect with all coconut coals, Titanium Coals are made of coconut shell for maximum heat with minimal ash residue and no chemical smell whatsoever.
Why we love them
- Long-lasting
- No smell
- Low ash
Best Budget Shisha Coal
Coconara Natural Hookah Coals
Coconara is a well-known brand that produces great products for hookah lovers. Coconara offers natural coconut coals, one of the few brands to sell 200g packages containing 20 coal flats with excellent heat dissipation properties!
These flat-shaped charcoals emit little ash and can stay lit for over 90 minutes without producing any odor. The 200g packages can be easily taken on trips along with your hookah set.
Why we love them
- Affordable price
- Consistent heat
- Smaller package
Best Lotus Head Hookah Coals
Le Orange Lotus Head
The Kaloud Lotus has been around for a long time, and its users have struggled for a while to find the perfect shape of coals. Le Orange Lotus Head coals are an excellent choice, they provide moderate heat when three pieces of this coal are used on the device, but it really depends on preference if all 3 should be placed in at once or not.
Le Orange Lotus Head Coals are shaped in thirds from a circle cut into three parts to fit the Kaloud perfectly. They will work well for large and extra-large hookah bowls as they have long duration and high heat levels.
Why we love them
- Circular shape to fit into Kaloud Lotus
- Last to up to 1.5 hours
- High heat level
Additional knowledge about hookah coals
Coconut hookah coals are the best coals on the hookah market. The world's biggest coconut producer is Indonesia. The best coconuts that are used to make hookah coals are grown on Sulawesi Island.

A lot of brands offer coals in the shape of briquettes or cubes. You can also find specially shaped coals for heat management devices such as Kaloud Lotus, which come in different sizes - helpful when you want your coal to fit into a device like that!

Sizes
The typical sizes of cubed coals are: 26x26x26 mm, 25x25x25 mm, 22x22x22 mm, and 20x20x20 mm.
Main characteristics
The key characteristics of hookah coals are: 1. Ash content, 2. Heat duration, 3. Density, 4. Presence or absence of odors, 5. Materials coals made of.
Coconut coals are made from carefully sorted coconut shells and leave only a low percentage of ash which is less than 2%. A good quality hookah charcoal can maintain stable heat for over an hour with no need to replace it. Coconut coals do not contain sulfur or other hazardous chemicals, so they never produce any unpleasant odors.
How to light hookah coals

1. Put the necessary quantity (usually 2-3 pieces) of coals on an electric burner or hot plate.
2. Let the coals heat up on the highest heat level for around 3-4 minutes and gently flip them with hookah tongs. Do not touch the coals with your fingers or bare hands!

3. Leave the coals heating up on the other side for another 3 or 4 minutes. Be very cautious, as coals are extremely hot.

4. As soon as the coals are entirely red-hot, they are ready to be placed on the hookah.
Where to buy hookah coals?
If you type "hookah coals near me" into google, it might bring up a bunch of local smoke shops that offer them. You'll want to double-check if they have natural coals available, though!
Advantages of shopping online at iconhookah.com
Icon Hookah has been trusted by many customers because of the convenience and extensive product selection. No matter what time, you can place an order for coals with our 24/7 support agent to answer any questions about products or the checkout process.