Auckland Charcoal sells sustainably sourced, 100% natural Commodities premium lump charcoal.
Our most popular charcoal product with local pitmasters and BBQ lovers, this high quality, restaurant grade lump charcoal can be used in any BBQ and is suitable for grilling or slow cooking.
Commodities Ci5 grade lump charcoal burns significantly hotter than a briquette and is larger in size than most lump charcoals available in New Zealand.
Imported from Indonesia – where it’s produced sustainably under strict licences and controls – Commodities charcoal is made from the hardwood tree, Vitex pubescens. Known regionally as Halaban, Leban or Laban, this tree is a pioneer species in regenerating forest or secondary forest, thriving on riverbanks and assisting villagers with flood control.
Based on information supplied, trees are removed or coppiced at around 12 years of age, with a diameter of approximately 300mm. The wood is remarkably hard and dense at this stage, making it ideal for charcoal production.
Lengths of wood are inserted into brick kilns that resemble beehives, inside which the wood is carbonised. At an optimal time, air vents are blocked to choke the fire, creating lump charcoal with the high levels of heat and volatility required for slow cooking and BBQs.
Typical yield is about 20% of the pre-carbonised weight of the wood, with around 5% moisture content.
The grading and bagging process is far removed from industrial conveyor belts and mechanised lines. All handling is completed manually by workers from local Indonesian communities, creating vitally important employment and support for their local economy.
Lump size in a bag of Commodities Ci5 grade charcoal ranges between 50mm–100mm. The handpicking process helps to reduce the presence of impurities and smaller fragments.