The Types of Braai Wood
in South Africa

If you would like to discuss the different types of braai wood, please give us a call on 081 390 3814 or email us at sales@randwood.co.za

Paying attention to the type of wood that you use for your braai will make the whole BBQ experience so much more successful and enjoyable, always ensure you get wood from a reputable firewood supplier. A good braai wood ought to be:

• Clean burning (i.e. it does not generate a lot of smoke)
• Dense and hard - this means that it will burn slowly and your braai will last longer
• Low in moisture - this stops the wood from spitting and the fire from going out

In addition, you might want wood that:

• Adds a smoky flavor to your braai food thanks to its aromatic resin.
• Is pre-chopped (like the wood that we sell), as some dense slow burning woods can be very hard

What types of braai wood are out there?

We only sell the very best quality braai wood, and there are certain types of firewood that are especially well suited for use on the braai. Let's take these one by one and examine their key qualities.

1. Kameeldoring

Also known as 'Camel Thorn', this wood's key advantages are that it:

• Has a lovely musky aromatic fragrance, which adds extra smokiness to the food.
• Burns nice and hot.
• Generates almost no smoke.

This is a dense and heavy wood which burns for a long time and at a high temperature. In short, it is the perfect braai wood.

2. Mopani

Key advantages of this wood are that like Kameeldoring it is:

• Dense
• Slow burning
• Dry.

It is also -

• Abundant throughout Africa and so easy to source
• Naturally termite resistant and so good for storing outdoors for long periods.

One provison is that this wood can be hard to light. You may wish to use fluid to light the braai when you use Mopani wood, though be warned that this can prevent you enjoying the natural aromatic smoke of this braai wood.

3. Sekelbos

A classic braai wood with a distinctive yellow wood, Sekelbos braai wood is perfect for:

• Adding aroma to your braai meats, as its fragrant resin is well known to enhance the flavor of your braai.
• Burning for a long time with little smoke.
• Offering a hotter flame than your average braai wood does.

Hot tip: another aromatic wood to use is Apple Wood, though it tends to be harder to source than Sekelbos as it is rarer.

4. Blue Gum

This wood, which comes from the Eucalyptus tree, does not burn with such a hot flame as woods like Sekelbos do. What it does offer though is longevity: your braai will keep on burning for hours on end when you use Blue Gum firewood. Need an extra tip? Dampen your Blue Gum braai wood slightly as this will help it to burn for even longer (though it will turn down the heat a little more too).

5. Rooikrans

This is a brilliant all round braai wood as it is:

• Dry
• Dense
• Slightly aromatic

Want to make your braai even better? Try mixing together various types of wood to get the temperature, longevity and aroma that you desire.

Order your braai wood from us today. Call 081 390 3814 to order or email us at sales@randwood.co.za