Binchotan - or "white coal" - from Japan is a charcoal with unusual properties. This is a ceramic-like material, which after production is covered with a thin white ash skin. The Japanese holm oak species "Ubame Gashi" is grown specifically for this purpose. The charcoal is fired and activated by hand in a traditional process. In the final step of this process, Binchotan is enriched with minerals from its own wood ash and concentrates them. The cellular structure of the charcoal resembles a system of interconnected pores / tubes in the micromillimeter range, given by the oak wood. Binchotan coal is hard like iron, somewhat brittle, crumbles, does not blacken and is also a very visually appealing material.