Charcoal guides
How to light hookah coals and a nyama choma grill, use a jiko safely, and choose between coconut, macadamia, quick-light and wood charcoal.
Hookah charcoal
How to Light Hookah Charcoal Properly
Natural shell cubes don't light with a lighter. Here is how to light them on a coil or gas burner, how to tell when they're ready, and the mistakes that cause a harsh first draw.
How-toHow Many Coals for a Hookah, and How Long They Last
Two or three 26 mm cubes is the usual starting point. Here's how to place them, how to fix a session that's too harsh or too weak, and how long a natural cube lasts.
ComparisonCoconut vs Macadamia Hookah Charcoal: Which to Choose
Both are natural shell charcoal pressed into the same 26 mm cube. Coconut burns clean and neutral; macadamia is denser and hotter. Here's how to pick.
ComparisonNatural Cubes vs Quick-Light Hookah Coals
Quick-light discs catch in seconds because of what's added to them. Natural cubes take 10 minutes on a burner. Here's what that means for taste, heat and your session.
ComparisonShell Charcoal vs Wood Charcoal for Hookah
Wood charcoal is cheap and everywhere. Shell charcoal is made for hookah. Here's how they compare on heat, taste, ash and where they come from.
BBQ charcoal
How to Light Charcoal for Nyama Choma
No petrol, no paraffin, no waiting forever. How to light BBQ charcoal, know when it's ready, and set up the grill for nyama choma that's cooked through, not burnt outside.
How-toHow to Use a Charcoal Jiko Safely
Burning charcoal gives off carbon monoxide, a gas you can't see or smell. How to light and use a jiko safely, the warning signs of poisoning, and what to do.