FUEL
charcoal
Honours degree in
KARL AHMED of The Oxford Charcoal Company, one of the country’s largest
charcoal manufacturers, explains the company’s laser focus on sustainability
and drive towards a zero carbon footprint
At The Oxford Charcoal Company our
goal is simply to create the best
charcoal. We hand grade to eliminate
smaller pieces, packing in paper bags to
help the circular economy model and
craft our charcoal in small batches to
give the best BBQ experience possible.
Easy to light and ready to use in minutes,
we consider it Gourmet charcoal, adding
lovely flavours to cooking, using a variety of
different woods – and because it’s pure,
there are no nasty chemicals spoiling the
taste of your food.
No chemicals; no petrol smells or odd
flavours and we only use 100% British trees
from sustainable woodlands, providing vital
habitats for wildlife and compliant with the
strict Grown in Britain (GiB) Standard.
Always small batch fired, our lumpwood
charcoal is ready to cook within 10-15
minutes and our charcoals are fully
compatible with barbecues made by the
likes of Drumbecue Smoker, Weber
Master-Touch kettle, LotusGrill, Big Green
Egg, Everdure, Barbecook Joya and
Ox-Grill.
The Oxford Charcoal Company is
privately owned and was one of the
first companies to be Grown in Britain
Certified, starting off with a small kiln and
experimenting with making different types
of charcoal.
The business was founded in 2013 by
Simon Fineman and Matt Williams, who
challenged themselves to offer products
made from local Oxfordshire woodland
thinnings – the byproduct of routine, yet
crucial woodland management. Responsibly
worked woodlands are better for the
environment, creating far higher levels of
biodiversity, with log vendors coming to
Oxford Charcoal, recognising the crucial
role that locally manufactured charcoal can
play in making their woodlands bio-diverse,
vibrant and economically viable.
We have developed a pyrolysis process
that creates a better, more natural and less
stressed charcoal product – just like slow
cooking. With direct access to a number of
sustainable British woodlands, we create
charcoal from maple, oak, alder, cherry,
birch, beech and fruit trees, guaranteeing
the source and quality. We also supply a
range of small and large hardwood, oak,
birch and maple logs, as well as smoking
chips and natural flamers.
It is reassuring to know the coals you
cook with are made sourcing from local
woodlands, using a low carbon emission
kiln and helping to create work for a host of
woodland workers, who in turn help to drive
a burgeoning rural economy.
BBQ | Spring 2020 | 35