Historical background of Charcoal in the UK

There are signs that Bronze Age people were using charcoal on the South Downs of England by 2,300 BC -- well over 4000 years ago. Only charcoal could generate the high temperatures needed for smelting the copper that is the main ingredient of bronze.

Now, the UK gets through well over 50,000 tonnes of charcoal each year; equivalent to some 250,000 tonnes of green wood. But although the UK has a great deal of unmanaged woodland, we currently produce only about 5 per cent of our charcoal at home. This cannot be right. Unmanaged woodland is of no use to people and is of less than optimal value for wildlife. Charcoal burning is not the only management option but it should certainly be considered, turning landscape that is otherwise wasted into a valuable resource. Besides, Britain's hardwoods provide higher quality charcoal than much of what we import, it burns for longer, and typically at higher temperatures.

Why Woodman's Choice Charcoal

Charcoal can be bought in many places these days, price and quality varies but how many people understand the difference between good charcoal and not so good charcoal.

If you want cheap charcoal, and are prepared to put up with long ignition times, fast burning and not particularly high temperatures, plus usually a good deal of small broken pieces or even dust in a bag then you should buy your charcoal based on the lowest price.

If however you are serious about cooking on your barbecue, you want a long slow burn which produces an even high cooking temperature like that required by professional chefs then you need a particular type of charcoal, usually produced from a hardwood like beech or oak.

Woodman's Choice Charcoal is such a charcoal. Produced by hand in the traditional way each batch consists of only one type of wood so we can be sure that the quality remains the very best.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF WOODMAN'S CHARCOAL

• Easy to light
• Ready to cook in 15 - 20 min's
• Represents good value for money
• Utilizes and maintains U.K. wood lands and reduces Imports
• Woodman's Charcoal is not carcinogenic or a health hazard, is untreated and will not taint food
• Woodman's Charcoal is more expensive than some Imported but its not trying to compete on price otherwise it would not be hand made.
  

© Woodman's Choice Charcoal