There are a variety of different methods used when producing our charcoal products that all have their own unique and technical processes in order to make the products that people use today.
Different types of charcoal products
Traditional charcoal
Also known as hardwood lump charcoal, our charcoal is made from different types of wood within the Encroaching Bushlands of Africa. The traditional method of the charcoal production process begins with stacking the harvested wood into metal drums, Once the charcoal kiln is full the charcoal burn process can begin, with the charcoal being burned in an oxygen deprived environment. A low oxygen environment is used to remove all the moisture content from the pieces of wood as it turns into charcoal piles. The lower the moisture content in the bits of wood the better quality charcoal you will get after the burn. Finally, the charcoal kiln/metal drum is left to cool before the kilns can then be emptied and the charcoal can be harvested, ready for further processing/grading.
The hardwood lump charcoal produced usually results in a wide range of irregular shape pieces which is great for air flow in barbecue charcoal and outdoor cooking.
Edward Kingsford helped to invent charcoal briquettes with a chemist named Orin Stafford, who invented pillow-shaped lumps of fuel from sawdust, bound together with cornstarch and tar. Kingsford utilized the large amount of wood scraps that were being discarded within Henry Ford’s Model T production lines to create a Ford charcoal production next to the assembly line and processed and sold charcoal under the name of Ford within the Ford dealerships.
Modern charcoal briquettes are very effective for daily barbecuing and are available within our online store. The modern method to create Briquettes uses a mix of raw materials, usually charcoal powder/charcoal dust and a binder to condense the powder (cornstarch) into the pillow shape that people use on charcoal BBQ’s today.
Our Instant Light Charcoal is made by our production team in South Africa, the charcoal is made using only organic materials, and involves dipping our lump charcoal into an odorless, natural and refined wax and coating the outside of the charcoal with a very thin layer. Wax is used to remove the need for lighter fluid and is a popular fuel for people wanting speed and simplicity from their backyard barbecues.
