The Art of Smoking a Chillum

If you are a stoner or a cannabis connoisseur, odds are you have smoked out of a chillum, somewhere sometime, and you may not even be aware of it.

Knowing your tool helps you get the job done. Today I’ll explain everything about chillums, so next time you take a hit from one, you’ll get the best high.

What is a Chillum?

A chillum is a straight pipe with a funnel bowl at one end to hold the cannabis and a hole at the other end used as a mouthpiece. The difference between a Chillum and a ‘one-hitter’ or a ‘cigarette holder’ are two indentations near the mouthpiece. Chillums are typically used to smoke marijuana, tobacco, and other herbs. Unlike handpipes and bubblers, it consists of a simple end-to-end channel with no need for a carb, resulting in a robust high like no other.

When and Where did the Chillum originate?

Originating in the 18th century in India, chillums are one of the most widely used smoking pipes throughout the world. It wasn’t until the birth of the hippie movement in the 1960s that chillums made their way into the American smoking circle. Hippies were introduced to this magnificent smoking device by Indian sages who believed smoking herb through a chillum was a direct passage to Shiva, the Hindu God of Cannabis!

Types of Chillums

While all chillums share similar characteristics, there are still some different types to enjoy during your smoke sesh!

The Traditional Pipe

This is the generic yet classic type of chillum that can be made of various materials formed into a tubelike structure. While the sizes may vary, most chillum pipes can hold the same amount of herb as a bowl or a bong. Indentations on both sides of the chillum allow it to be comfortably held between the fingers to create an air tight seal. Smokers then place their hands together like a hand flute and inhale by placing their lips on their hands instead of the chillum to maintain individual cleanliness. Because chillums pre-date glass accessories, this was the only way to not swap germs in the sesh circle. These days, all one needs to do to ensure a sterile hit is to flash the mouthpiece of your glass pipe with a lighter. The flame sterilizes the mouthpiece.

One- Hitter

While centrally the same, a one-hitter holds a significantly smaller amount of bud. It was initially created as a tasting pipe. It delivers a single hit allowing you to fully enjoy the flavor and aroma of the flower.

Monkey Pipe

Known as the fisherman’s friend because of its ability to float in the water, the monkey pipe is designed with discretion in mind. Invented in the 1990s, it is the perfect chillum to take with you while you’re on the go. Constructed to resemble a pocket knife, this type of chillum swivels on a joint to open and shut, making it easy to fit in your pocket.

Materials used for Chillums

Chillums, being one of the oldest known smoking pipes, have been created over the years with many different materials. When they originated in India and made their way into Africa, they were shaped with various forms of clay, stone, and even wood. Today, however, glass chillums are the most popular due to their smooth hits and easy-to-clean construction.

How to use a chillum

You may think that if you know how to smoke a hand pipe, you can smoke a chillum too, but it is a different ball game. Here are the essential steps to ensure you get the most out of your chillum pipe.

Grinding and Packing

The first thing you want to do is crush up your favorite bud in your grinder! Then, instead of using your fingers to pack the chillum like you would a regular bowl, put it face down directly into your grinder and slowly twist it until your bud is firmly packed in the bowl. The twisting motion not only ensures the bowl is tightly packed but reduces the chance of any loose leaf pulling through!

Light and Hold

Chillums tend to heat up very quickly due to their small size, so it is vital to lightly put your lips to the mouthpiece, keeping it as far away from your face as possible. The most efficient way to hold a chillum is to keep it firmly in place with just your ring and pinky finger. When it comes to lighting, torching the bowl is unnecessary. Gently light the corner of the bowl and lightly inhale. Don’t worry, you will still get a nice hit! This just ensures that no ash will pull through!

Puff Puff

Because chillums heat up so fast, they tend to cherry and stay lit! Perfect for a quick smoke sesh! Just puff and pass. Remember, it is crucial to pull gently to both keep the herb from pulling through and to better control your hits! Don’t forget to inhale and hold 10 seconds before you exhale! You don’t want to waste any precious smoke! The bowl hole should limit the ash, however, not all chillums are created equal. If you really dont like ash, try an Ash Catcher Chillum.

Tap Out

Once you’ve burned through your bud, you can empty your chillum by lightly tapping it on the side of a garbage can or an ashtray. If it still needs to be cleared out, you can lightly blow through the mouthpiece. Make sure you properly empty the bowl before your next pack to ensure it doesn’t get clogged. If you don’t like ash, you probably wont like the taste of old burnt leaf either. Clean pipes always taste better!

How to Clean a Chillum

Like all pipes, eventually, the chillum will also have to be cleaned. Luckily, they are one of the most accessible types of glass pipes to clean. One of the easiest and most practical ways to clean them is to use a cleaning solution specifically designed to clean glass pipes such as Kleen Soaker. If you don’t have any cleaning solution handy, there are many home remedies that make cleaning your chillum a breeze.

Boiling water

Boiling water is an effective solution to clean your chillum. Simply place your chillum in a pot and submerge it in about an inch to an inch and a half of water, then bring it to a boil for only a few seconds. This loosens up all of the resin. Let the water cool, then rinse it off with warm water, as using cold water could damage your piece.

Pipe Cleaner or Paper Clip

Take a lighter to the end of your chillum to heat up all the built-up resin. Then take your pipe cleaner or paper clip and push it through; scraping out the debris.

Rubbing Alcohol

If you’re not in a rush to smoke your chillum, you can soak your piece in a bowl of rubbing alcohol for at least two hours to remove all the resin successfully. Don’t forget to rinse off the alcohol with water before next use.

What are the benefits of chillums?

Explicitly designed as the optimal smoking device, chillums gained popularity for their ability to get you truly zonked. Because of their tubelike nature and lack of a carb, they offer the most direct and potent hits allowing you to get more out of your favorite flower! Once you take that first hit, you’re immediately blasted into a blissful state of euphoria that’s almost indescribable. It’s no wonder the Indian Sadhus believed that chillums transported you to a higher realm!

Why should you buy a chillum?

Not only is a chillum small, discrete, and perfect for those on-the-go adventures, it’s a pipe with serious hit potential! They are also affordable and easy to use. If you want the hit strength of a bong, that fits in your pocket, a chillum pipe is a necessary tool for any stoner!