Chris Thomas JPortfolio

Chris Thomas

2/25/13

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Lighter than Air: Hookah in Austin

Wispy pillars of smoke rise from patron’s exhaling mouths and add to the haze gathering under the carpet draped ceiling of Kasbah Hookah Lounge. The bubbling sound of shisha smokers puffing on their pipes complements the country, Arabian, hiphop and electronic music on the lounge’s extremely diverse playlist.

Coals glow, adding to the dim ambiance emanating from the Arabian lamps scattered throughout the lounge. The atmosphere is laid back, with low couches and fluffy pillows encouraging patrons to put their feet up and stay awhile. Ottomans, Arabian lamps and calligraphy lend a sense of authenticity to the scene, making one feel almost as it they had been transported to morocco.

With each pull on the water pipe, coals heat the tobacco, making smoke. The smoke then travels down the glass base of the hookah, underwater and is pulled back up through the hose into the smoker’s mouth.

Also known as shisha, waterpipe, arghile or qalyan, hookah is a middle eastern tradition dating back centuries. A pastime which has spread to span nearly all seven continents, the practice of smoking hookah has its origins somewhere between India and the middle east. Once the exclusive privilege of Mughal Shahs, Turkish Sultans and Persian Emperors, hookah smoking is now practiced by people of all socio-economic backgrounds, from rickshaw wallahs along the streets of Cairo to students at university.

Kasbah has been serving smokers since 2005, when Romman took over the space from a 24hour coffee shop. The lounge was started by a Moroccan immigrant, but is now run by an American and his Jordanian family. The Romman family make their own hookah tobacco in Jordan. One of the flavors available is imported directly from the middle east. Known as rotana, the tobacco contains subtle hints of mint, watermelon and dragon fruit. Alla is the General Manager. Sammy Romman the Jordanian owner took it over from Rajit.

Kasbah faces steep competition from several other hookah bars throughout west campus and the greater Austin area. Arab cowboy offers a different experience than Kasbah. While Kasbah focuses on an authentic representation of a middle eastern hookah haunt, Arab Cowboy is distinctly western. True to its name, the walls are covered in cowboy themed artwork. The furniture is plastic and modern themed and it all seems so, clean.

A regular at Kasbah, Tim has tried several other hookah bars throughout Austin, including the Arab Cowboy. Smoking a flavor unique to Kasbah called Absolute zero, he says that it is the atmosphere that brings him back time and again.

“I’ve been to Arab Cowboy, but I’m not a big fan of the atmosphere there. Kasbah just has that authentic middle eastern feel to it.”

In recent years, hookah has been steadily growing in popularity among college students. At around $18 a pop, frequent rentals can become difficult to manage on a typical college student’s budget. Some students choose to purchase their own hookah, allowing them to smoke in their homes, rather than renting at a lounge.

Smoke shops have risen to meet the demand around college campus, offering all forms of smoking memorabilia. Will, a worker at IGlow Smoke Shop, located on Guadalupe and 26^th, says he believes that the hookah scene in Austin will only keep growing.

“Hookah has been around for hundreds of years and yet more and more people are trying hookah everyday.”

Will plans to open up his own lounge, Forte as soon as he can secure a space.

“Hookah is big business, very popular with the college crowd. Hookah is here to stay in Austin.”