Big Ed’s is all about top-quality, long-burning charcoal, made from a mix of Eucalyptus and Mangrove wood. Each 10kg box is packed with around 80% large (some very large!) chunks, and about 20% smaller pieces. That mix is very deliberate – and here’s why:

🔥 Big lumps vs. small pieces – what’s the deal?

Big lumps burn longer and steadier, which is exactly what you want for low ’n’ slow cooking – think brisket, ribs, pork shoulder. But they can take a bit longer to get going. That’s because of something called surface area.

👉 In simple terms:
Smaller pieces have more surface area exposed to the flame, so they catch fire more easily and faster… but subsequently they burn out quicker
Bigger chunks have less surface area for their size – so they take longer to light, but once going, they burn hotter for longer.

That’s why the smaller pieces in the box are actually really useful:

• They help you light the fire faster

• They can act as a bed to support the larger chunks

• And they’re great for quick grilling – burgers, steaks, kebabs, that kind of thing

• Lump size isn’t a pre-requisite for quality as such, but there are additional, flexible, reasons to prefer larger lumps..

If we only packed massive pieces in the box, you’d find it harder to light, and less versatile for different BBQ styles. Plus, those smaller pieces help cushion the big chunks during shipping, so you get more of the high-quality charcoal you paid for, not dust.

❗️Should I smash the big lumps down?

Some people do – but honestly, you don’t need to. If you want smaller pieces, just pick them out of the box. The big chunks are gold for longer cooks, and smashing them means you lose some of the benefit of those long burn times.