Coconut charcoal briquettes have rapidly become the top choice for hookah enthusiasts around the world. With their clean burn, minimal ash, long-lasting heat, and eco-friendly properties, it’s no wonder they’re the go-to option for both casual and professional shisha smokers. But what does it take to transform a humble coconut shell into a premium hookah charcoal briquette? At PT Gunawan Putra Persada (UICHARCOAL), we take pride in our meticulous process that ensures top-tier quality every step of the way. In this article, we take you behind the scenes of how we craft our renowned coconut charcoal briquettes from start to finish.
Step 1: Sourcing the Raw Materials
Everything begins with the coconut. We work closely with local farmers across Indonesia to source high-quality, mature coconut shells. These shells are often considered waste in the coconut industry, but for us, they are the key to creating premium charcoal. Using only fully dried and hard shells ensures a consistent carbon content, which is essential for producing high-performance briquettes.
By using agricultural waste as our primary raw material, we not only reduce environmental impact but also support local farming communities.
Step 2: Carbonization Process
Once the coconut shells are collected, they are subjected to a carbonization process. This involves heating the shells in a controlled, low-oxygen environment using traditional kilns fueled by firewood and used oil stoves. This method helps retain the shell’s carbon content while minimizing emissions.
The carbonization process turns the coconut shells into charcoal by removing moisture and volatile compounds. The result is a lightweight, carbon-rich material that serves as the base of our briquettes. At this stage, quality control is essential. We check for impurities and ensure the charcoal has the correct carbon structure, which will later affect burning time, ash content, and strength.
Step 3: Crushing and Screening
After carbonization, the charcoal is cooled and then crushed into fine powder using industrial-grade crushers. This powder is then screened to remove any oversized particles or foreign materials. The result is a fine, uniform charcoal powder that provides excellent compressibility and ensures a solid, consistent briquette.
Our strict screening process guarantees that only the best-quality charcoal powder proceeds to the next stage, ensuring consistent performance for our customers.
Step 4: Mixing with Natural Binders
To shape the charcoal into briquettes, we mix the charcoal powder with natural binders, usually made from organic starch. No chemicals or synthetic binders are used in our production, making our briquettes 100% natural and safe for hookah use.
The mixture is carefully measured to maintain the right consistency and optimal moisture level. This precise control ensures the briquettes will not crack or crumble during drying or shipping, which is crucial for maintaining product quality.
Step 5: Pressing and Molding
Once the mix is ready, it is fed into our high-pressure briquette machines. These machines compress the mixture into uniform shapes, such as cubes, flats, or hexagons, based on customer preferences and market demand.
The high pressure used in this process ensures that the briquettes are dense and long-lasting. Their hardness and structure directly influence their burn time and heat output, both of which are critical for an enjoyable hookah session.
Step 6: Drying Process
The freshly pressed briquettes still contain moisture and need to be dried thoroughly. At PT Gunawan Putra Persada, we use traditional drying ovens heated with firewood and used oil stoves. This slow and even drying process ensures that each briquette dries uniformly, reducing the risk of cracks and breakage.
Depending on humidity and weather conditions, drying can take anywhere from 3 to 7 days. This step is vital, as improperly dried briquettes can produce excess smoke and have inconsistent burn qualities.
Step 7: Quality Control and Testing
Before packaging, every batch of briquettes goes through a rigorous quality control process. We test for:
- Ash Content: Our briquettes produce less than 2.5% ash, ensuring a cleaner smoking experience.
- Burn Time: Premium briquettes should last at least 90-120 minutes.
- Odor: Our products are 100% odorless and flavorless, so they don’t affect the taste of your shisha.
- Hardness: We test the hardness to ensure the briquettes won’t crumble under pressure or during transportation.
We also conduct random burn tests in-house to simulate real-world usage, ensuring consistency across all batches.
Step 8: Packaging and Export
Once the briquettes pass all quality checks, they are packed according to client requirements. We offer a wide range of packaging options, from plain boxes to fully customized branded packaging. All packaging is designed to protect the briquettes during transit and storage.
Our factory exports to over 10 countries and is trusted by more than 15 global brands. Whether you’re a shisha brand owner, distributor, or importer, we tailor our packaging and logistics solutions to meet your needs.
Why Choose Our Coconut Charcoal Briquettes?
- Eco-Friendly: Made from renewable coconut shells, with no trees cut down.
- High Performance: Long burn time, minimal ash, and consistent heat.
- Safe and Natural: Free from chemicals and synthetic binders.
- Customizable: Shape, packaging, and branding options to fit your market.
- Trusted Worldwide: Proven quality, loved by shisha lovers around the globe.
Crafting premium coconut charcoal briquettes for hookah is a blend of tradition, technology, and dedication to quality. At PT Gunawan Putra Persada (UICHARCOAL), we ensure that every step of the process, from sourcing to export, is carried out with care and precision. The result? A product that meets the highest standards of performance, safety, and sustainability.
Whether you’re a hookah business owner looking for a reliable supplier or a distributor wanting to bring top-quality charcoal to your market, our team is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can support your business.