Chillums are straight conical smoking pipes used for smoking marijuana. The specific shape and size of the chillum ensure a smooth inhale and a more substantial hit.

The design quickly allows a large quantity of smoke to accumulate while rapidly cooling the smoke. While it’s hard to pinpoint where chillums were first discovered, many historians believe they were first used in ritual smoking and religious ceremonies in India in the 18th century.

This popular pipe has been on a journey ever since, finding its way to Africa and into the Rastafarian religion and ending up in a modern-day smoker’s stack of apparel. Here, we look at properly using chillum for smoking herbs to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. 

What is a Chillum?

Chillums are believed to have originated in the 18th century in India and were often used by Hindu holy men known as sadhus, who used them to smoke cannabis during religious rituals, often when worshiping Shiva. This type of pipe crossed the border into Africa and has since gained popularity with Rastafarians and modern-day smokers. 

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Chillums are made from various materials, including clay in the early pipes, stone, wood, glass, ceramic, and silicone. This conical smoking pipe’s design provides a smooth inhale and a stronger hit, allowing a large quantity of smoke to accumulate while rapidly cooling the smoke.

The width of a chillum becomes smaller toward the mouthpiece, which prevents ash from getting in a user’s mouth, keeps it cooler, and makes it easy to use. Chillums are also super convenient to transport around with you. 

Preparing the Chillum

Cleaning the Chillum

Before you use a chillum, it’s essential to make sure it's clean to avoid burning old residue. Follow these steps to make sure your chillum is clean before use:

1. Use a pipe cleaner or cleaning tool to clean out residue.
2. Fill a Ziplock bag with rubbing alcohol and a pinch of salt if your chillum is made from glass or metal.
3. Soak the chillum inside the bag for 20 minutes.
4. Clean it again with your cleaning tool and wash away further debris in warm water before patting it dry. 

Packing the Chillum

If you’ve packed a one-hitter before, you’re in luck: packing a chillum is a fairly similar procedure. Grind your herb and pack it relatively tightly to prevent debris and ash from flying into your mouth.

Though they don’t normally come with a filter, some use what’s called a “chillum stone.” A chillum stone is, according to tradition, supposed to be a pebble that you find on the ground.

However, some modern chillums come with their own special fitted stone, which is generally placed in the bowl and used to filter debris and dust that would otherwise move into the smoke chamber. Here’s how to pack a chillum correctly: 

1. Grind herb or tobacco using a grinder
2. Gather herb and delicately place in conical bowl area 
3. Pack down 
4. Repeats steps 2-3 until bowl is filled

It’s essential to use finely ground material to ensure air can flow through the chillum during use. 

How to Smoke from a Chillum

Traditionally, clay chillums required more than one person to light them because they were so long. Modern chillums are much more compact and can be used alone. The best way to light a chillum is:

1. Bring your lighter or hemp wick to the edge of your bowl.
2. Hold the light above the flower without burning it directly.
3. Inhale evenly and slowly. 

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You can achieve a more even burn by grinding your flower finely, using a pebble or filter, and packing it firmly but not too tightly, as this can prevent burning. While you’re burning the flower, there are a few different ways to take a hit, but the traditional way remains a popular choice to prevent the chillum from getting too hot. 

1. Cup your hand over the end and place it between your ring and pinky finger
2. Place your mouth over your cupped hand and use your fist to create a smoke chamber. 
3. This chamber catches embers and cools the smoke, allowing for a more pleasurable smoke session. 

It’s important to remember not to try to inhale too much smoke if you are new to smoking with a chillum. Beginners should take shorter breaths at first to ease themselves into it. 

Chillum and dugouts

Every chillum owner should have a dugout to accompany it. These compact and portable containers are designed specifically for chillums and have space for some cannabis in a chamber separate from the chillum itself. 

Smoking Etiquette

For many people, including some Hindus and Rastafarians, chillums are a sacred tool used in rituals to commune with gods. It’s important for people who use it in the modern era to respect its history and cultural significance, especially in social settings. Pass the chillum around more carefully than a joint, as it can get hot after use, and make sure everybody in the group gets a fair turn. 

Aftercare and Maintenance

Follow the previously outlined steps to clean and maintain your chillum after use and before it. This will prevent resin and residue from building up and making it difficult to clean later. When storing, keep the chillum in a dry place and avoid direct sunlight. Store it in a dugout to prevent further wear and tear. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Chillums need to be packed correctly to give you a smooth hit. If you pack it too tightly, not enough smoke will pass through to the mouthpiece, or the cannabis may not burn enough to produce smoke in the right way.

On the other hand, packing it too loosely can cause hits to be harsher and lead to an uneven burn. Don’t light the flower directly; you could also get an uneven burn. Take your time and savor the more powerful hits the chillum delivers, as they can be pretty intense. 

Benefits of Using a Chillum

Chillums are straight and simple devices that pull the smoke straight through, whereas bongs utilize water to filter the smoke, and pipes have a carb hole and are less likely to lead to residue in the mouth.

Chillums are much more portable than bongs and fit nicely in a dugout, where they can be packed away and traveled. Spiritually inclined people may find using a chillum leads to a better high or meditative state because of its long history of use in religious ceremonies. 

Conclusion

Chillums are a convenient way to consume cannabis with a long and storied history. To use one effectively, you need to grind your herb, pack it relatively tightly but not too tight, and use a chillum stone to prevent flybacks. Don’t light the herb directly; always pull slowly to avoid a harsh hit. Before using a chillum, check local laws and make sure it’s okay for you to use one.