- Binchōtan
Binchō-tan or white charcoal or binchō-zumi (備長炭) is a traditional
charcoal ofJapan . It dates to theEdo period , when during theGenroku era, a craftsman named Bitchū-ya Chōzaemon (備中屋 長左衛門) began to produce it inTanabe, Wakayama . The raw material isoak , specifically "ubame" oak ("Quercus phillyraeoides"), now the official tree ofWakayama Prefecture . Wakayama continues to be a major producer of high-quality charcoal, with the town ofMinabe, Wakayama producing more Binchō-tan than any other town in Japan.The fineness and high quality of Binchō-tan are attributed to steaming at high temperatures. Although it is often thought that Binchō-tan burns hot, it actually burns at a lower temperature than ordinary charcoal but for a longer period of time. Because it does not release smoke or other unpleasant flavors, it is a favorite of "
unagi " and "yakitori " cooks. Due to difficulties in identifying the producing region, the name "binchō-tan" has come into broader use to designate white charcoal generally, and even products from outside Japan, as well as those made of other species, have come to use the name. The amount of Binchō-tan sold domestically in Japan markedly decreased following a2004 export restriction promulgated for forest protection by thePeople's Republic of China .To differentiate the aforementioned "non-pure" products, there is a movement to call Binchō-tan produced in Wakayama "kishū binchō-tan".
Binchō-tan has found uses other than as a fuel. Because it has numerous small pores, it can absorb chemical substances. Bits can be added to rice during cooking to remove chalky flavor, placed in shoe-cabinets to absorb odors, and put in rooms to freshen the air. There are many more supposed benefits and health values of white charcoal. Currently there are numbers of manufacturers had came out with final products such as socks, shirts, shampoo, cosmetic products, and many more.
Binchō-tan or white charcoal is harder than the usual black charcoal, and rings with a metallic sound when struck. Wind chimes and a musical instrument, the "tankin" ("charcoal-
xylophone ") have been made from it.* [http://www.sortofcoal.com Sort of Coal.com]
* [http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia19/en/topic/index.html Japan Community Site]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.