Charcoal briquettes now become a product with elegant shapes and dominant quality. They offer a longer burning time, more heat, consistency, stability, no smell, no smoke, and eco-friendliness.
The history of charcoal dates back thousands of years when people first used it for cooking. However, the exact year of its initial use remains unclear, as the early generations did not document their use of charcoal. It is believed to have been in use for many years.
The 19th century witnessed the emergence of the familiar American form of charcoal briquettes. Ellsworth B. A. Zwoyer invented this form in 1897, and it was produced by the Zwoyer Fuel Company. Henry Ford later recognized that charcoal briquettes could serve purposes beyond industrial fuel, leading to a transition. Ford used wood sawdust as the material for charcoal briquettes, making it one of his sideline businesses alongside cars. Ford’s Kingsford Company further popularized the process.
Charcoal briquette production is environmentally friendly. The largest briquette manufacturer in the United States utilizes only waste products for its wood supply.
The American form of briquettes is only one part of the story. There is also an Asian history related to these products. In Japan, homemade charcoal briquettes known as “tadon” were discovered after charcoal production in Japanese history. In the Edo period, the first binder used was not tapioca flour but a polysaccharide extracted from red algae. After the Meiji period, coal and clay became the primary ingredients for charcoal briquettes in Japan. These briquettes, known as “rentan” and “mametan,” were exported to China and Korea. Modern mass-consumed briquettes in Asia mainly consist of coconut shells or coffee dust.
Today, charcoal briquettes are commonly used for hookah/shisha and BBQ, offering flexibility in their usage. They are gaining popularity as people seek eco-friendly alternatives to regular charcoal due to their various advantages.
According to a report by Expert Market Research, the global charcoal briquette market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period of 2023-2028. This growth presents opportunities for the charcoal briquette market, particularly for businesses involved in importing, retailing, reselling, and more.
Understanding the history of charcoal briquettes can provide new insights into this fascinating world, potentially leading to innovative products that offer valuable benefits to users and the environment.
