White Binchotan Charcoal

Binchotan, or White Charcoal, is the ultimate charcoal for both indoor and outdoor grilling, whether you are using a Grills of Japan Hibachi or Konro grill, Big Green Egg, Everdure, Kamado Jan, or a Weber. It is a firm favourite amongst Yakitori bars all over Japan.

Why braai with White Charcoal over Black Charcoal?

• Binchotan boasts very long and clean-burning properties, and due to the unique infrared nature of the heat, food grilled over Binchotan results in a much juicier texture and heightened flavours.
• There is little to no smoke and the Binchotan charcoal is odourless when burning, so the flavour of the food is kept pure and what's more, there are minimal flare-ups. This, of course, all changes when you add fatty meat to the grill.
• Depending on the length of your meal, Grills of Japan Binchotan is reusable between 2-3 times. If using Binchotan in any of the above listed grills, simply close all vents once finished grilling in order to extinguish your Binchotan ready for its next use. Otherwise, use a Grills of Japan Ceramic Extinguishing Pot, or simply immerse in water, remove and leave to dry.
• Unlike Japanese Binchotan, which has a total burn time of up to 4-5 hours and very little ash, our Acacia Binchotan has a minimum burn time of up to 4 hours with slightly more ash content. Be sure to knock off the ash during grilling to release the heat.
• The Binchotan we source is 100% produced from Acacia and grown and processed in Africa. Due to Acacia being an invader species it is a much more sustainably sourced.

Lighting Binchotan can simply be achieved by placing into a charcoal chimney starter outside and transferring the lit coals to your grill, or by using a Grills of Japan Binchotan Charcoal Starter pan on your gas hob for indoor grilling. This can be found on our LIGHT page.

PLEASE NOTE: Occasionally the Binchotan charcoal can pop when heated in the Starter Pot, due to moisture expanding in the many air pockets in the coal. We recommend covering the filled starter pot with tin foil, leaving a small gap for air flow facing away from the kitchen area, to avoid any fragments spitting from the pot and landing on flooring, upholstery or skin.  

TIP:  If grilling fattier meats place your grill directly under your kitchen extractor and put it on full and grill your favorite cuts.  Remember to clean your kitchen extraction canopy on a regular basis.

Grills of Japan Binchotan comes in varied sizes so should you want to make smaller pieces they can be broken up by simply knocking them firmly together.

SAFETY

• • Store binchotan in an airtight plastic container or Extinguishing pot to keep dry.
  • If you notice any cracking or popping sounds you need to dry out the charcoal first. This is because binchotan absorbs moisture from the air. Any moisture inside the charcoal will expand on heating causing cracking sounds/spitting/popping. To dry out A) place in the sun or B) If you want to use straight away, put it on low heat for approximately 10+ minutes. After drying out you can increase the temperature or C) Place into a warm oven at 100 degree celcius for 10 minutes before lighting on a direct flame.
  • Additionally you can place tin foil (per above) or a metal grill net over the top of the charcoal chimney or Starter Pot for the initial heating phase. 
  • Always allow sufficient ventilation.