how do you make homemade hookah coals?

we’ve tried wood, but it gives a firewood taste. We want something not as harmful for our lungs. thanks

you need to make sure you use a wood that produces little or no smoke when burnt as a coal. Pine woods, because they are so full of resins, smoke. Oak often has tannins that can leave a taste in your mouth. A light cherry or birch wood would be best to use. Also when making your charcoal, if you are using the old method the charcoal makers used to use, you need to make sure the wood is completely covered by mud, and that the mound doesn’t get broken, allowing air in from one side or the other. You also need to make sure you don’t contaminate the wood with other woods or plant material that could change the flavour.

A better method for you would probably be the retort or indirect method. In this, the wood is placed in a container and cooked. All the volatile gases are driven off and charcoal remains. Do not try to do this in an oven, as you could cause a fire. Place the container on a wood fire and make sure the lid isn’t on tight, so the gases can escape.

You can find plans for building larger retorts, ones that direct the wood gas back down to the fire, but you might not want to spend a lot of money.

I hope this helps.

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