White Charcoal

White charcoal is made by charring the wood at a relatively low temperature for some time, then, near the end of the process, raising the kiln temperature to about 1,000 degrees Celsius to make the wood red-hot. The charcoal is then pulled out and quickly smothered with a covering of powder to cool it. The powder is a moist mixture of earth, sand and ash, and gives a whitish hue to the charcoal surface. The rapid rise in temperature, followed by a rapid cooling, incinerates the bark and leaves a smooth, hard surface. If you strike it, you’ll hear a clear, metallic sound. White charcoal is excellent for a variety of uses. We add a little piece to the center of our arrangement every day. It makes the coals burn longer and hotter, changing the water texture noticeably. White charcoal is more expensive, but if you only use a small piece in the center of your arrangement, it will last a long time. You can’t start it on gas. (A gas flame would cause this kind of charcoal to crack and pop apa