Where there's smoke, there's charcoal?!

Waar rook is, is houtskool?!

In this post, we'll tell you more about the 4 best types of charcoal and which one is our favorite.

The better a charcoal burner masters the process as a professional, the better and longer the charcoal in your BBQ will burn.

1. Binchotan

The best and most expensive charcoal comes from Japan and is called Binchotan. (It's 95% pure, unlike regular charcoal, which is between 75 and 85 percent pure, so it's only natural that the price is the same.)

FSC quality mark

Not all wood is the same. And that also applies to charcoal. While there used to be little control over the origin of the wood or the charcoal production process, it's now perfectly normal to use only wood from responsibly managed, FSC-certified forests. And that's a good thing, because that's how you get the highest quality charcoal for your barbecue.

Taste:

  • Beech, resembles oak.
  • Light mild smoky flavour.

Suitable for:

  • High temperature
  • Grilling

The Windmill Cast Iron Rating:

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2. Acacia

South African, very hot burning, but also well suited for low & slow dishes due to its long roasting.

We know this charcoal as Black Wattle, a nickname derived from the Acacia tree introduced to South Africa by Australian pioneers and a common sight in the landscape ever since. We consider it the best value for money, and because of its excellent quality, we've even included Black Wattle in our own product range, both as charcoal and as briquettes. See our category for more information. fire supplies.

Taste:

  • The pure quality gives you the right aroma and a delicious taste
  • Mildly smoky, perfect heat source to add your own smoke wood to create the perfect flavor yourself.

Suitable for:

  • Professional use due to the coarse chunks
  • Low & Slow

The Windmill Cast Iron Rating:

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Marabu

This Cuban charcoal is perfect for low-and-slow sessions. This rampant, fast-growing, and highly invasive mangrove plant poses a real challenge to the native inhabitants and plants. So, it was a welcome change for the residents to see companies using the bushes to produce charcoal. Because the wood is incredibly hard, it burns an average of 50% longer than traditional charcoal. It's a bit more difficult to light, but when it does burn, it burns well.

Taste:

  • Neutral

Suitable for:

  • Low & Slow
  • Low smoke and a neutral taste

The Windmill Cast Iron Rating:

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Quebracho

This Argentinian last-place charcoal, Quebracho, is certainly just as hard as Marabu. Quebracho is made from holm oak and literally means "break your axe." Of all the charcoal types in this post, it undoubtedly delivers the most smoky flavor.

Taste:

  • Very smoky

Suitable for:

  • Long BBQ sessions
  • Smoking
  • Beef and Pork

The Windmill Cast Iron Rating:

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Conclusion:

Whichever of these four types you choose to grill on your BBQ, you're guaranteed a delicious meal, and now you can share some interesting facts about it too!

These are our top picks. Let us know on social media which charcoal meal you prefer to make.