Binchōtan facts for kids

Binchō-tan, also known as white charcoal

Binchō-tan burning brightly

Binchō-tan (備長炭), also called white charcoal, is a special type of charcoal. It is traditionally used in Japanese cooking. People have used it for a very long time in Japan.

The History of Binchō-tan

This unique charcoal first appeared during the Edo period in Japan. A craftsman named Bichū-ya Chōzaemon (備中屋 長左衛門) started making it. He lived in a town called Tanabe. Today, the Wakayama Prefecture is famous for making high-quality Binchō-tan. The ubame oak tree is often used to make it. This tree is even the official tree of Wakayama. The town of Minabe in Wakayama makes more Binchō-tan than any other place in Japan. Binchō-tan from Wakayama is called Kishū binchō-tan. Kishū was the old name for Wakayama.

How Binchō-tan is Made

Making white charcoal is a very careful process. Wood is heated in a special oven called a kiln. First, it's heated slowly at about 240 degrees Celsius for 120 hours. That's five whole days! Then, the temperature is raised much higher, to about 1000 degrees Celsius. Once the wood turns into charcoal, it is taken out. It is then covered in a damp mix of earth, sand, and ash. This special process gives Binchō-tan its unique look. It can look whiter or even metallic.

Uses and Benefits of Binchō-tan

Binchō-tan is mostly used for cooking. It gives food a wonderful flavor. But it also has other cool benefits for your home. It can absorb bad smells, making the air cleaner.

Binchō-tan Versus Oga-tan

Sometimes, restaurants or chefs might mistakenly call another type of charcoal "Binchō-tan." This other charcoal is called oga-tan. It is a type of compressed sawdust charcoal. It's important to know the difference between them.

Telling Them Apart

Oga-tan is made from sawdust pressed together. It often has sharp edges and a hole in the middle. It looks very uniform.

Binchō-tan is different. It is made from real hardwood. So, it keeps the natural shape of the wood it came from. It looks like a real piece of wood. Binchō-tan is also much harder than regular black charcoal. If you tap it, it makes a metallic ringing sound!

Oga-tan, a type of charcoal made from compressed sawdust

Creative Uses for Binchō-tan

Because of its unique qualities, Binchō-tan has been used for more than just cooking. People have made beautiful wind chimes from it. There's even a musical instrument called the tankin. It's like a xylophone made from pieces of Binchō-tan.