Premium Binchotan All-Natural Hardwood Charcoal – Century-Old Kiln Carbonized Techniques – Smokeless, Long-Lasting, High Heat, Low Ash – Ideal for Japanese Style Yakitori & Outdoor BBQ (11, Pounds)

For yakitori grilling these are the thing. Very dense and heavy. Burn really hot and for a good long while.

I have no idea how to effectively light this stuff

Easy to light up. Just have some starters ready right by them

Bincho-tan is a charcoal traditionally made from Japanese Ubame Oak and the finished pieces look like 3-D copies of the branches they were made from. Bincho-tan’s claim to fame is its high (up to 95%) carbon content vs. the ~75% carbon content of typical BBQ charcoal. With adequate oxygen, burning carbon will generate a lot of radiant (infrared) heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, but no smoke nor odor-causing byproducts. Japanese-style table top grills, such as Yakitori or Hibachi grills, are designed to take advantage of this Infrared energy by placing the food just a few inches away from the coals. Note that the farther away from the coals the food sits, the less cooking benefit you get from radiant heating; Kettle-type (“weber”) grills and ceramic “egg” grills can certainly burn Bincho-tan, but they aren’t really optimized for this type of charcoal.Although they use the Bincho-tan carbonization process, this BINCHO-YAKI HERO brand charcoal is made in Indonesia using Fruitwood rather than Ubame Oak. This difference explains the significantly lower price-point vs. “genuine” Japanese Bincho-tan. That said, once the wood has been converted to carbon, any differences in the original wood species used are largely irrelevant.The large number of “how-to” videos available on-line attest to the challenges many folks experience in getting (and keeping) Bincho-tan lit, which can take up-to-30 minutes. The instructions on the box recommend starting this in a charcoal chimney, which is helpful, but the most important detail is to avoid packing the charcoal too tightly. Open space between the charcoal pieces is what allows air to get in (you can’t convert carbon to CO2 without oxygen); a bellows, or even a hair dryer, will also help move oxygen into the combustion zone.In Short: This BINCHO-YAKI HERO branded product is 92+% carbon, looks like it should, and even makes the tell-tale ceramic “clink” of high-carbon charcoal. Sourcing from Indonesia makes this an economical choice for fueling your Yakitori or Hibachi grill.

This Japanese-style charcoal is the BEST that can be found and used. The process takes 14 days with around-the-clock patrols to ensure that everything is done correctly.What you get is a smokeless, long-lasting, and high-heat charcoal that reaches 1562°F. This high-carbon, low-ash charcoal cooks your foods by searing in the flavors, resulting in more of a rich compounded natural juicier taste.I enjoy using this premium-grade charcoal; you can tell by the sound when you tap them together—it has a metallic type of sound. The only problem I can see with this charcoal is that it’s tough to light; you need a torch or a chimney. Please never use lighter fluid! Also, wear glasses because when lighting this charcoal, it has a tendency to pop due to its low moisture content. But once heated, it’s all good!Overall, this is something that everyone should try. It offers 11 lbs., and the value is well worth it!

This charcoal burns pretty well. The piece sizes varies from medium to big and my bag didnt have small pieces or powder which is good. Big solid log charcoals burns hot and for a longer time than briquettes. It didnt smoke too much. Great but a bit expensive, you have to use the right charcoal for what meal you cook.

Key Features:Brand: Bincho-Yaki HeroMaterial: Fruitwood.Flavor: Natural Wood.Weight: 11 Pounds (5KG).Form: Stick.Size: Approximately 8–11 Inches in Length, 2.5 Inches in Diameter.Features:Low Smoke & Odor.Long-Lasting Burn.Handcrafted in Indonesia.Traditional Japanese kiln carbonization method. Versatile for Yakitori, Yakiniku, and Outdoor BBQ. Benefits:Clean Burning: Minimal smoke and no unpleasant odors, suitable for indoor and outdoor grilling. Extended Grilling: Long-lasting burn provides consistent, intense heat for extended cooking sessions. High-Quality Craftsmanship: Handcrafted using a century-old technique for superior quality. Versatile Use: Ideal for various Japanese-style grilling and outdoor barbecues. Natural Flavor: Fruitwood material imparts a natural wood flavor to food.Detailed Description:The Bincho-Yaki Hero Premium Binchotan Hardwood Charcoal is a top-tier grilling fuel designed to elevate your culinary experience. This 11-pound pack of stick charcoal is crafted from fruitwood and meticulously produced using a traditional Japanese kiln carbonization method, a technique perfected over 14 days. This process ensures a high-quality product that burns cleanly and efficiently. One of the key advantages of this Binchotan charcoal is its low smoke and odor production, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor grilling. It provides an intense, long-lasting heat, perfect for extended grilling sessions. Whether you're preparing Yakitori, Yakiniku, or any other outdoor BBQ dishes, this versatile charcoal delivers consistent results and imparts a natural wood flavor to your food.

This is unusual charcoal for me. I am used to briquettes of pressed sawdust. Binchotan charcoal is much cleaner, both when handling it and also when it burns. It does not leave behind ashes so much as fine dust. As you can see in the picture, this is carbonized whole wood. That my be what makes it so hard to light. I spent five minutes with a blowtorch getting just a corner of one stick to burn. It looked like it didn't really light, but actually was giving off a lot of heat. This charcoal would be good used in small high temperature cooking as with a Hitachi type grill.