Mali Gourmet Lump Charcoal (US)
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Quick Stats
Date Of Review: May, 2008
Purchased From: Donated by reader
Date Purchased: May, 2008
Price: about $10
Weight: 20 pounds
Burn Time:
Ash Production:
Type of Wood: American Hardwoods
Strange Material?: None
Scrap Lumber Pieces?: None
Smell: Mild US hardwood smoke
Country of Origin: USA


Quick Links
Other Information: Click Here
Unusual Or Unique Statements: Click Here
Statements From The Bag: Click Here
Lighting Instructions: Click Here
Photos of Contents: Click Here
Other Photos: Click Here
Photo of UPC Code: Click Here
Contact Information: Click Here

Rate And Comment On This Charcoal: Click Here


Commentary

We have been hearing about Mali Hardwood lump charcoal for several years and we have finally got our hands on a bag for review thanks to one of our readers and a frequent contributor to the Primo forum, best known as Ask-A-Butcher. When we emptied the bag onto the ground for sorting, we were actually a bit disappointed in the overall size distribution of the charcoal. There were just a few large pieces, a very moderate amount of medium-sized pieces, and an enormous pile of small pieces. The 12.5% chips and dust content was average compared to other charcoals:

Large 0.7 pounds 3.5%
Medium 2.4 pounds 12.0%
Small 14.4 pounds 72.0%
Chips/Dust 2.5 pounds 12.5%



Total 20.0 pounds

There was no scrap in the bag, and aside from one small pine cone looking thing, there was nothing in the bag that didn't belong.

When we started the charcoal in our chimney starter test, it took 5 sheets of newspaper to get the charcoal started. This was high compared to other charcoals and a bit surprising considering the charcoal wasn't particularly dense. This may explain, however, a later observation. But we digress. There was very little sparking and no popping while the charcoal burned in the chimney starter. The smell of the smoke was a mild American hardwood type of smoke.

In our maximum temperature test, we recorded a value of 940 degrees which is high compared to other charcoals. The fire spread relatively slowly and there was very little sparking or popping while it was burning so furiously. Starting with a MAPP torch also produced very little sparking and popping, however as always, excercise care when using a torch to start charcoal. The burn time was a big surprise. The charcoal's burn time was among the longest burning charcoals we have ever tested, with a very high burn time. The ash production was very low compared to other charcoals.

So, we have a pretty good charcoal here, but how good? It burns hot, burns for a very long time producing little ash and is relatively inexpensive. (Note you can find this charcoal, among other places, at Spartan Stores and some restaurant supply places.) However, the size distribution of what you find in the bag holds it back. While some feel that the poor size distribution of some charcoals is the result of poor handling during shipping, we have observed over the years that it is far more likely that the poor distribution is more a function of what the producers put into the bag to begin with. If the distribution were better this charcoal would have easily earned our Highly Recommended rating. As it is though, it gets our Recommended Rating.

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Other Information

OTHER INFORMATION


Unusual or Unique Statements

UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE STATEMENTS


Statements From The Bag

STATEMENTS FROM THE BAG


Lighting Instructions

LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS


Photos Of Contents

This is the contents of the bag. Those are 1 inch squares on the measuring bar.


Here is a closer view.


Here are the larger pieces we found in the bag.


This is a small pine cone (about 1" long) we found in the bag.


Here are the contents of the bag sorted into large, medium, small, and too small/chips/dust.


Other Photos

This is how the bag arrived.


Photo of UPC Code

Here is a photo of the UPC code on the bag:


Contact Information

Mali's All Natural Barbeque Supply
161 Bramblewood Lane
East Amherst, NY 14051
(716) 688-2210

buymali@adelphia.net


About This Review

If you are unfamiliar with our testing procedures, you may wish to read How We Review Lump Charcoal before reading this review. Also, you can read How We Score Lump Charcoal to learn about our scoring system.

Prices listed in our reviews are current as of the date of the review. We do not attempt to keep these prices current.

The conclusions and final rating given any charcoal are based upon the opinion of the author. We recommend that you use our rating only as a guide. You should read the entire review and decide what is important to you in making any buying decision.

Performance ratings are designated with stars, 1 star being the worst and 5 stars being the best:

= Performance is Far Below Average
= Performance is Below Average
= Performance is Average
= Performance is Above Average
= Performance is Far Above Average

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