When you buy a Kamado you are essentially swearing off traditional charcoal briquettes, although some die hards still use them, but I think it is safe to say that most kamado owners make the switch to lump charcoal. Lump is charcoal in its purest form, where briquettes are made from wood that is pressed together to form the briquettes. I think it is easier to light lump charcoal without lighter fluid (which is a big no-no in a ceramic cooker).
Vision Brand Lump Charcoal
I have been predominately using Vision brand lump charcoal for two reasons:
- I have a Vision Kamado, so why not
- It is pretty cheap at Sam’s Club
While I love my Vision grill, I am not so crazy about the Charcoal.
Taste:
The charcoal is made from mesquite wood, which provides a nice smoky flavor. I like the taste, but my wife routinely complains of stuff having a “fuel” taste from the smoke.
Size/Shape:
The size of the charcoal is pretty inconsistent, there are usually some pretty big pieces, a lot of medium pieces, and then a fair amount of dust. By the time I get to the end of a bag, a lot of charcoal falls right through the wires on my Kick Ash Basket.
Lots of medium-small sized pieces in this brand new bag
Debris:
The Vision charcoal really falls down here. I often find a lot of rocks and miscellaneous debris in this charcoal.
Burn:
This charcoal burns very hot if you let it get up to temperature, I know I have had mine well over 700 degrees. The charcoal sparks a lot as you light it, in fact it sparks so bad I have started wearing my welding gloves when lighting.
Cost:
At ~$10 for a 20lb bag, the Vision charcoal is very reasonable.
Conclusion:
The Vision isn’t too bad for the price, but you can probably do much better. In Hawaii my options are limited so I have stuck by the Vision charcoal. When we return to the mainland, I will be shopping around for something else.