Mini Charcoal Review (UK)

[adm]

All,

I've recently found an excellent source of very high quality lump charcoal
in London, UK. Although it is very easy to get lump in the UK, it is harder
to get it of this quality, so I though this may be of interest to a few
people....

See the photos here:

"Clear Skies Charcoal"

http://adm.smugmug.com/gallery/565943/1/23594846

This stuff is by far the best lump I have found in over 20 years of outdoor
cooking. It is all recognisable "bits of tree" shapes, has no "bits" and no
dust at all. Pricing is also good (for the UK) at £10.45 per 15 Kilo box
(33lbs). I don't know what wood it is unfortunately and when I called the
distributor, the girl on the phone there couldn't help me.

The charcoal is HEAVY when you pick it up as well - seems to be denser
volume for volume than the regular lump I get. It lights easily in a chimney
and burns evenly and for a good long time. It does burn VERY HOT if you let
enough air get to it - absolutely ideal for searing steaks etc...however it
also works well in a smoker if the air supply is regulated

The distributor has no minimum order quantity if you pick up from them, and
will deliver free of charge for orders over £50 (I don't know what delivery
radius they would consider though - probably South London only. I'm moving
out of London next week to a bigger house in the country with a huge
backyard ideal for BBQ and even whole hog roasts, so I'm stocking up on a
few boxes of this stuff before I move...

Anyway - I am now on my second box of this stuff, and can honestly say that
a single box lasts far longer than three five Kilo bags of "standard" grade
lump charcoal would. Pound for pound, this is the best I've found so
far.....

Hope this is of interest to someone.....

[Graeme...in London]

Post by adm
All,
I've recently found an excellent source of very high quality lump charcoal
in London, UK. Although it is very easy to get lump in the UK, it is harder
to get it of this quality, so I though this may be of interest to a few
people....
"Clear Skies Charcoal"
http://adm.smugmug.com/gallery/565943/1/23594846
This stuff is by far the best lump I have found in over 20 years of outdoor
cooking. It is all recognisable "bits of tree" shapes, has no "bits" and no
dust at all. Pricing is also good (for the UK) at $B!W(B10.45 per 15 Kilo box
(33lbs). I don't know what wood it is unfortunately and when I called the
distributor, the girl on the phone there couldn't help me.
The charcoal is HEAVY when you pick it up as well - seems to be denser
volume for volume than the regular lump I get. It lights easily in a chimney
and burns evenly and for a good long time. It does burn VERY HOT if you let
enough air get to it - absolutely ideal for searing steaks etc...however it
also works well in a smoker if the air supply is regulated
The distributor has no minimum order quantity if you pick up from them, and
will deliver free of charge for orders over $B!W(B50 (I don't know what

delivery

Post by adm
radius they would consider though - probably South London only. I'm moving
out of London next week to a bigger house in the country with a huge
backyard ideal for BBQ and even whole hog roasts, so I'm stocking up on a
few boxes of this stuff before I move...
Anyway - I am now on my second box of this stuff, and can honestly say that
a single box lasts far longer than three five Kilo bags of "standard" grade
lump charcoal would. Pound for pound, this is the best I've found so
far.....
Hope this is of interest to someone.....

Adm, it is of interest to me. The charcoal is imported by "Big K" and
packaged at their plant in Norfolk (maybe Suffolk) and sold on from there.

The wood is acacia from Argentina.

You might also want to try their "restaurant charcoal" (widely available in
Greek grocery shops). It's of similar size but slightly lighter in density.
It has a similar burning time and heat output but is considerably easier to
light. I have been mixing both styles and can get often an 8 hour burn fron
a single grate.

Graeme

[adm]

Post by adm

Post by adm
All,
I've recently found an excellent source of very high quality lump charcoal
in London, UK. Although it is very easy to get lump in the UK, it is

harder

Post by adm
to get it of this quality, so I though this may be of interest to a few
people....
"Clear Skies Charcoal"
http://adm.smugmug.com/gallery/565943/1/23594846
This stuff is by far the best lump I have found in over 20 years of

outdoor

Post by adm
cooking. It is all recognisable "bits of tree" shapes, has no "bits" and

no

Post by adm
dust at all. Pricing is also good (for the UK) at $B!W(B10.45 per 15 Kilo box
(33lbs). I don't know what wood it is unfortunately and when I called the
distributor, the girl on the phone there couldn't help me.
The charcoal is HEAVY when you pick it up as well - seems to be denser
volume for volume than the regular lump I get. It lights easily in a

chimney

Post by adm
and burns evenly and for a good long time. It does burn VERY HOT if you

let

Post by adm
enough air get to it - absolutely ideal for searing steaks etc...however

it

Post by adm
also works well in a smoker if the air supply is regulated
The distributor has no minimum order quantity if you pick up from them,

and

Post by adm
will deliver free of charge for orders over $B!W(B50 (I don't know what

delivery

Post by adm
radius they would consider though - probably South London only. I'm

moving

Post by adm
out of London next week to a bigger house in the country with a huge
backyard ideal for BBQ and even whole hog roasts, so I'm stocking up on a
few boxes of this stuff before I move...
Anyway - I am now on my second box of this stuff, and can honestly say

that

Post by adm
a single box lasts far longer than three five Kilo bags of "standard"

grade

Post by adm
lump charcoal would. Pound for pound, this is the best I've found so
far.....
Hope this is of interest to someone.....

Adm, it is of interest to me. The charcoal is imported by "Big K" and
packaged at their plant in Norfolk (maybe Suffolk) and sold on from there.

Hmmm interesting......standard Big K lump is available pretty much
everywhere in the UK, but I've never seen this "Clear Skies" packaging
before. It's certainly a diferent animal to the rest of the Big K
products...

Post by adm
The wood is acacia from Argentina.

Ah - thanks !

Post by adm
You might also want to try their "restaurant charcoal" (widely available in
Greek grocery shops). It's of similar size but slightly lighter in density.
It has a similar burning time and heat output but is considerably easier to
light. I have been mixing both styles and can get often an 8 hour burn fron
a single grate.

I'm going to pop down to the distributor next week and load up with as many
boxes as my car will carry, so I'll get some of the Restaurant type as
well.. To be honest though, I have no issues lighting this stuff at all
(mind you, I never have issues lighting charcoal as I had a weber chimney!)

Cheers,

Al

Post by adm
Graeme

[Graeme...in London]

<snipped>

Adm, it is of interest to me. The charcoal is imported by "Big K" and

Post by adm

Post by Graeme...in London
packaged at their plant in Norfolk (maybe Suffolk) and sold on from there.

Hmmm interesting......standard Big K lump is available pretty much
everywhere in the UK, but I've never seen this "Clear Skies" packaging
before. It's certainly a diferent animal to the rest of the Big K
products...

Post by Graeme...in London
The wood is acacia from Argentina.

Ah - thanks !

Post by Graeme...in London
You might also want to try their "restaurant charcoal" (widely available in
Greek grocery shops). It's of similar size but slightly lighter in density.
It has a similar burning time and heat output but is considerably easier to
light. I have been mixing both styles and can get often an 8 hour burn fron
a single grate.

I'm going to pop down to the distributor next week and load up with as many
boxes as my car will carry, so I'll get some of the Restaurant type as
well.. To be honest though, I have no issues lighting this stuff at all
(mind you, I never have issues lighting charcoal as I had a weber chimney!)
Cheers,
Al

Al, drop the caps from my address and fire me an email, otherwise do you
have access to abf? I have some pictures of the "Big K" boxed lump.
Different animal to the bagged stuff. They have their distribution depot in
Tottenham and will deliver FOC within M25 corridor.

I cannot recommend the "Big K Restaurant" charcoal highly enough. It is
extremely good gear.

Graeme....smokin' in Barnet