HARDWOOD CHARCOAL For grilling enthusiasts, this is a product of great value. Hardwood charcoal is said to be the building block for anything to do with grilling. In the past, people used to rely on charcoal briquettes for their grilling needs. However, hardwood or lump charcoal, as it is known in some regions of the world, has proved to be the preferred choice for many expert grillers. Using hardwood charcoal requires a little more experience because the heat produced is variable. How to make Hardwood Charcoal Our hardwood charcoal is made from only natural hardwood, for example, oak, hickory, cherry, mesquite or even maple. It can also be made from hardwood scrap from saw mills and from building manufacturing materials and from furniture. All these scraps are then carbonized, that is, the pieces of hardwood are burned in a low oxygen environment which is a process that takes at least a week. In industrial processing, the scraps are put in large concrete or steel silos which have a very little oxygen concentration. The process is stopped before the burning wood turns to ash which then leaves black lumps which are irregular in size. This process of making charcoal has ancient origins which date back to over thirty thousand years ago. Today, charcoal making is still practised in most third-world countries. You can make your own batch of hardwood charcoal in your own backyard. Also, lump charcoal is sold in most hardware stores at an affordable price. How to light Hardwood or Lump Charcoal Lighting hardwood charcoal and maintaining the consistency of heat is the toughest task while grilling. There are two recommended methods for lighting up hardwood charcoal at the comfort of your home. They include; Pyramid method Natural method Hardwood charcoal is also used in water filtration due to its high absorption properties and it is also used in the extraction of metals. Hardwood charcoal adds a smoky or woody flavor to whatever is being grilled which is pleasant. Any hardwood charcoal that does not completely burn during grilling can be used on another occasion. All in all, hardwood charcoal can be used in all types of outdoor cooking appliances such as barrel grills and smoker or even ceramic cookers and is great for use in any occasion. This is the perfect choice for you. FAQs Can you use this with other grills? Yes, any grill that requires lump charcoal. How strong is the smoke? Have had problems with big green egg coal with excessive smoke. Answer: That's why I stopped using the BGE coal. Smoke is much less. You get a little flavor but not as bad. Which is good for me because I use assorted flavor chips when I want that extra kick.