A great grilling experience starts with great charcoal, but the majority of charcoal options are filled with fillers, additives, and chemicals. All of these ingredients affect the taste of your food and produce excessive ash. Choosing a better charcoal not only is healthier to use, but it burns better, cleaner, and for longer than petroleum products. Furthermore, supporting an eco-friendly product comes with other resulting benefits; it reduces the presence of the invasive Acadia species, helps wildlife, and works to help communities in need. On a mission to deliver the best chemical-free hardwood lump charcoal in the US, the sustainable charcoal company The Good Charcoal is showing off a product that's flipping good – their pun, not ours.

BBQ enthusiasts and founders Ben Jablonski and Rob Silverman had a threefold idea when they invented this revolutionary product:

  1. Deliver the best-made chemical-free hardwood lump charcoal in the US (no, you won't need lighter fluids)
  2. Feed Americans experiencing food insecurity
  3. Improve the economic prosperity of farmers in Namibia while restoring grassland habitats to their native state

Since the product's inception, The Good Charcoal has worked to protect the cheetah population of Namibia, provide over 32,000 meals for free to communities, and continue to create a safe and delicious alternative for grillers. They've also generated a cult following of chefs and grilling enthusiasts including dozens of brand ambassadors across the country.

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Is The Good Charcoal the best eco-friendly charcoal? We think so

  • The sustainable charcoal brand offers grillers a chemical-free option made from Acacia trees in Namibia, South Africa.
  • Acacia is a dense hardwood — denser than hickory or oak — allowing for efficient burning. Plus, it has a pleasant scent and burns clean, leaving minimal waste and charcoal dust to clean up.
  • The super briquettes are larger pieces, which enables low-and-slow cooking for a smoky flavor (much better than traditional charcoal briquettes or smaller wood chips)
  • Partnering with the FSC®, removing Acacia trees helps restore 45 million hectares of grasslands overgrown by these dense thorny plants, aiding the survival of endangered species like cheetahs.
  • Every purchase supports the mission to combat food insecurity in the US. The Good Charcoal Company partners with local communities nationwide to sponsor free weekly BBQs for those in need.
  • Recently added to TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2024