Bincho-Yaki Hero Premium Binchotan All Natural Hardwood Charcoal - Centennial Oven Carbonization Techniques - Smokeless, Durable, High Heat, Low Ash - Ideal

This Binchotan-style hardwood charcoal performs very similarly to the traditional white charcoal. It is extremely dense, burns clean and gives off a strong radiant heat that is excellent for grilling. Lighting it is the challenge. This is not like regular charcoal where you throw a match and it catches. I used a charcoal chimney and layered regular hardwood charcoal on the bottom, then placed this charcoal in the middle, and another layer on top. After about 10 to 20 minutes it started to catch. You need patience and steady heat, but once it lights, it keeps going. There is very little smoke, almost no ash and it does not flare up. The heat is consistent and strong, which makes grilling really enjoyable. Because the pieces are so dense, they do not burn away quickly. You can reuse them, which makes the cost reasonable in the long run. If you want natural hardwood charcoal that burns hot and clean, this is excellent. Just be ready to spend a bit more time lighting it properly. Once it is going, it performs beautifully.

I was skeptical that this would burn any differently. I used the box for a catering event where I got to use a custom yakitori grill. Half of the grill was regular lump hardwood charcoal and the other half was this. It burned for 6 hours and maintained constant high heat. To maintain the same amount of heat for that long on the other half of the grill it took 50 pounds of regular charcoal. Well worth the price.

I have no idea how to effectively light this stuff

Good quality. Lights easily and burns hot and long. The flavor the smoke imparts is light and sweet. One thing, the size of the individual pieces is pretty large. The pieces vary but most are larger. If you're using something like a small yakatori grill be aware.

Horrible. Doesn’t burn evenly. Barely any heat, doesn’t last long