Indonesia is an important producer of coconuts in the world. Despite the mass production of coconuts, application of the coconut is still generally limited to the fruit of copra, and coconut oil for home use. Other by-products such as coconut shells are usually treated as wastes and not fully utilized. Indeed, the weight of the shell reaches 12% of the weight of the coconuts. With this, we can see a big potential of such a large shell production for productive activities that can increase the value added.
One of the products made from coconut shell is the coconut charcoal briquettes. These are very green products because no trees are cut down and the waste that would otherwise be thrown away is now processed to be sustainable natural resources. Amazingly, compared to other conventional charcoal made by wood or coal, coconut charcoal briquettes have distinctive advantages, which make them more popular in the world market.
Among these, coconut charcoal burns hotter and longer that makes it especially perfect for slow grilling. There’s no added chemical on the charcoal, so everyone gets a clean burn. It is more like grilling with real wood rather than charcoal briquettes. The smell of the charcoal is rather neutral other than just having a grilling smoke smell with the foods.
Coconut charcoal briquettes are also reusable. When finished grilling the meal, the remaining charcoal can be used as a bottom or base for the next grill out. The coconut charcoal definitely has staying power.
Availability may be an issue in some areas, but it will never be the problem in Indonesia.