It is known that the coal for hookah should be of high density, easy to ignite, and burn long enough at a constant temperature. According to statistics, 77.59% of hookah smokers prefer coconut charcoal as the most hyped; 16.22% prefer charcoal. As for the quality, much depends on the raw material from the shisha charcoal supplier.
Charcoal properties and requirements
Despite the thousands of brands, experienced smokers imbibe hookah charcoal regardless of the labels. The smoldering charcoal itself should not interrupt the smell of tobacco. In addition, other rules must be followed. First of all, smoldering coal should not be scattered in ticks. There is a simple test: put the coal under the heel and lift the other foot. If crumbled, then – not condition. Secondly, it should be heavier than water, about 30%. If it floats, it will also be difficult to sell. Thirdly, being in water, the coal should not quickly dissolve.
Machines for making hookah charcoal, also called shisha, are not expensive. Such a machine is capable of pressing about 253 tablets of shisha per minute. We are talking about portions of 254x254x153mm, that is, flat square briquettes. There are also square shapes of 254x254x254mm.
This standard is tied to inches (for reference, 1 inch = 254mm). By the way, YP-12 can stamp “tablets” with widths of 33, 35, 38, 40, and 43 mm in addition to the specified format. Such a portion should burn for at least 90 minutes.
As a raw material, charcoal powder is used, which can be bought or made by yourself. Even though the equipment for the production of charcoal is technologically complex, the small volumes required for the production of shisha can be made by yourself and on a small site.
Art forging masters or barbecue enthusiasts usually use this method. “A sealed metal tank and a compressor for rarefaction or forcing air into the lower part will be needed; an ordinary fire is made in the tank from dry logs up to 40 cm long, with the air being pumped out when it is possible to ignite the raw material well, at the same time not letting it burn down to soot. The container is then sealed for pyrolysis in an enclosed space. Experience comes with time.
The logs are chosen according to the density of the wood, which in dry form should not be less than 700 kg per cubic meter. Experts from shisha charcoal factory advise maple, pear, common ash, hornbeam, or white acacia. If it is not possible to produce charcoal from these species, buying only charcoal powder from them is better.
If the experience turns out to be successful, it remains to grind it and send it under the press machine to manufacture hookah charcoal. By the way, you can grind it in an electric meat grinder.
Charcoal situation in the world
The total production and consumption of charcoal in the international market is slowly growing and is approaching 54 million tons annually. Between 2010 and 2020, the international production of all types of charcoal grew by 15.8%, which is not an impressive result overall. Compared to the growth in production and consumption of other forest products over the last ten years, charcoal is an outsider, and its market is stagnant.
Brazil remains the world’s main producer of charcoal (12% of the global volume) and has maintained its leadership for decades. The charcoal industry of this country is based on exports to the USA and other countries, as well as consumption at local metallurgical plants. Technologically, Brazilian charcoaling is poorly developed and limited to using homemade charcoal incinerators. In some states, the population is engaged in charcoal burning due to the availability of large amounts of fast-growing biomass and the technological simplicity of the process.
