A Few Questions

[cafesaden]

Hi, my name is Matt and I have been browsing this site as a guest for quite some time now. I am in the process of starting my own lounge/cafe and shooting for grand opening right before spring break. I have been doing a lot of competitive research at the lounges nearby (which isn't many). I have been smoking hookah for close to three years now and would like to consider myself very experienced.

Okay, now on to the questions. I frequently visit this lounge called Aladdin's cafe here in sacramento. They have all the basic al waha flavours but then they have a custom list. These smoke like nothing I have EVER experienced before. I have a friend that works there and he was trying to get as much info about this tobacco as possible. He said the owner (just moved from the middle east where he owned his own hookah parlor there) makes it himself and part of the process is he washes plain tobacco with vinegar, then adds other ingredients. I have searched online and saw the how-to make your own tobacco. I am just wondering if maybe this guy is pulling the employee's legs or that process is really feesable in supplying a extremely booming hookah lounge. (Flavors last around an hour with perfect full-body flavor, and smoke incredibly.)

Next question. I visited a new hookah lounge just the other night and was suprised at this flavor. Casbah, which is their "house flavor," supposely a mix of pomegranate tropical melon. The owner says he has a tobacco company make this special for his lounge. Okay, I can buy that. But I have smoked virtually every tobacco, and this tobacco gives off a "perfumey" taste. Not candy like or even a hint of molasses. Just a light, refreshing accurate flavor. Then I went inside and saw their "assembly" table where a hookah master sets up the hookahs and packs the bowls. He is using taqseem coals, and the only two tobaccos I recognized were Havana tubs, and Pharoah's tubs. I have never tried Pharoahs, and have a feeling that this might be the tobacco that fits the description?

The only three tobaccos I haven't tried:
Starbuzz, Pharoahs, Fusion

I appreciate any help you can give me, and am not asking people to reveal secrets but maybe point me in the right direction.

Also, any other cafe/lounge owners know of a good website or company to get furniture from? I have found some middle-eastern furniture I would like to implement in my place, but do not want to blow 10,000 just on furniture.

Thanks,

Matt
Cafe Saden

[Sonthert]

Yeah...um whats your question? I manufacture tobacco and run a lounge...

Making your own stuff is one thing, getting the flavors is something else...I've heard about a guy in Sacramento making his own tobacco...doesn't mean its true. He needs to have his State of California Distributor's License and a State of California Manufacturers' license (5/1/07) to legally make tobacco...as well as a federal tobacco manufacturer's license and a California retailers license. Go in there and ask to see them...they are required by law to post them or have them on file for people to examine. I'm skeptical because its an expensive proposition to make tobacco on such a small scale. If he doesn't have one or more of those licenses he is violating California or Federal laws. Note: California Board of Equalization Tobacco manufacturer's license is not required until 5/1/07...$2000 price tag on that one alone...$1000 on California Distributor's license +$3000 security deposit. Federal license is in the ballpark of $15,000 to get one, including $1000/year + bonding premiums.

Your perception of taste of the tobacco doesn't ring any bells.

[cafesaden]

Yeah...um whats your question? I manufacture tobacco and run a lounge...

Making your own stuff is one thing, getting the flavors is something else...I've heard about a guy in Sacramento making his own tobacco...doesn't mean its true. He needs to have his State of California Distributor's License and a State of California Manufacturers' license (5/1/07) to legally make tobacco...as well as a federal tobacco manufacturer's license and a California retailers license. Go in there and ask to see them...they are required by law to post them or have them on file for people to examine. I'm skeptical because its an expensive proposition to make tobacco on such a small scale. If he doesn't have one or more of those licenses he is violating California or Federal laws. Note: California Board of Equalization Tobacco manufacturer's license is not required until 5/1/07...$2000 price tag on that one alone...$1000 on California Distributor's license +$3000 security deposit. Federal license is in the ballpark of $15,000 to get one, including $1000/year + bonding premiums.

Your perception of taste of the tobacco doesn't ring any bells.

Wow that is good to know, I thought that as long as you were using pre-approved plain hookah tobacco (narghouls) then it was okay to add flavor? This guy hates me already because I pester him for answers every time I am there. Oh well, time to ask to see those licenses. If he doesn't, then it will definitely narrow down the options.

Yeah, thats why I am asking, I have never smoked a "perfumey" tobacco before. Fumari, to me, has the most flavour out of all the tobaccos. Tangiers is pretty strong as well. But after smoking fumari (only tobacco that does this) I want to gag. It's like I can taste it on my lips. But this tobacco at Casbah Lounge, something different. No coal taste (ill contribute that to the wonderful taqseem coals), nothing but a wonderfully flavored air that just 'touches' the senses. Sorry, I don't know how to explain it!

Thanks again
Matt