The Grate Debate: Charcoal versus Gas



This month we’re testing charcoal. Briquettes and natural lump charcoal. Mesquite charcoal. Coconut shell charcoal. Kiawe charcoal from Hawaii. And the world’s most expensive charcoal: bincho-tan from Japan. Do you have a favorite brand of charcoal? Tell us about it on the Barbecue Board.



Here’s Steven at Tanagokoro, the legendary charcoal shop in Tokyo, where Japan’s rock-hard, slow and clean-burning, super-premium bincho tan charcoal $4 a piece!



Coconut shell charcoal in Malaysia

Log shaped charcoal briquettes in Korea



A Korean tabletop barbecue pit



Venetian olive wood charcoal