What is the best wood to braai with? Ultimate Braai Secret
Introduction
So you find yourself asking the question, “What is the best wood to braai with?”..
Imagine this: A warm, golden sun sinking into the horizon, laughter filling the air, and the sizzle of meat on the braai. That’s the essence of a perfect braai, a cherished South African tradition that brings friends and family together. But here’s the secret that sets apart the masters of the braai from the amateurs — the choice of firewood. In this article, we’ll explore the best wood for braai, namely Sekelbos (sicklebush). By the end of this journey, you’ll hold the key to unlock the secret to a perfect braai and find out why this wood holds so much value and popularity.
Exploring the finer details of Sekelbos Firewood
Sekelbos may not be a regular household name when it comes to choosing the right braai wood, but it’s the unsung hero of the braai world in our opinion. Sekelbos, also known as Sicklebush, is a thorny, dense shrub native to Southern Africa. It’s valued for its beautiful pieces and remarkable burn qualities. It is a firewood gem with its own unique characteristics which we’ll discuss in this article. This wood type may not be as familiar as Kameeldoring or Rooikrans, but it’s certainly about to steal the spotlight.
The Uniqueness of Sekelbos Firewood: A Hidden Gem
Sekelbos is a wood with character. Its dense, thorny branches make it a top choice for creating the ideal braai or fire. It’s prized for its high energy density, meaning it burns hot and for an extended period. This means you can braai that steak or lamb chop to perfection without constantly tending to the fire or worrying about the lack of coals. But what sets Sekelbos apart is its aromatic qualities, imparting a subtle, smoky flavour to your meat. It’s as if it were cooked out in the bushveld. This wood is also known to boast a slow-burning quality, making it perfect for those long, leisurely braai sessions. It’s loved for its low smoke production too, meaning you won’t be engulfed in a cloud of smoke, which allows you to really savour the flavours of your carefully prepared dishes.
High Energy Density: The Key to a Perfect Braai
High energy density means more heat and longer-lasting flames. When it comes to the perfect braai, this is a game-changer. Sekelbos excels in this regard, providing consistent, intense heat to sear and cook your favourite meat, ensuring nothing but mouth-watering meals.
The Slow-Burning Benefits of Sekelbos
One of the key factors to a perfect braai is control over your fire, and Sekelbos delivers just that. This wood burns slowly and evenly, allowing you to manage the temperature with precision. No more frantic flipping and fanning; instead, you can focus on the art of braaiing, achieving that ideal balance between crispy fat and a juicy centre for all your dishes.
Enhancing Flavour: The Aromatic Qualities of Sekelbos
Sekelbos adds a subtle but distinctive smoky flavour to your food as described. While this aromatic beauty burns, it infuses your meats with a tantalizing fragrance. It’s this subtle infusion that distinguishes your creation, leaving your guests wondering how you mastered the extraordinary taste. If you’re looking to add a new dimension to your braai skills, Sekelbos will undoubtedly be your ally and secret weapon.
Minimal Smoke, Maximum Flavour
One common frustration in the braai world is the overpowering smoke that can obscure the flavours of your carefully prepared dishes. Sekelbos comes to the rescue with its low smoke production. Say goodbye to watery eyes and smoky clothes; this wood allows your ingredients’ natural tastes to shine through, ensuring an unforgettable culinary masterpiece and a even more pleasant braai experience.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: A Win-Win Choice
Beyond the delicious results, this wood offers another layer of appeal. It is a sustainable and eco-friendly choice. Sicklebush is not only readily available but also fast-growing and easy to harvest responsibly. By choosing this wood, you’re making an environmentally conscious choice while savouring the best that nature has to offer.
Unlike Kameeldoring being a protected and controlled specie, Sekelbos is a pest in various parts of Namibia and Southern Africa encroaching on local bushveld terrain. It is destined to become the number one wood to braai with soon because of this reason in particular. It’s not near as heavily controlled. So, as Kameeldoring production and the local growth rate of Rooikrans decreases, the rise of Sekelbos will continue and it may inevitably take over the market as the best Braai wood in the near future.
Seasoning and Storing Sekelbos Firewood
Storage: It’s not just about picking the right wood; it’s also about storing it correctly too. Sekelbos is properly seasoned to maximize its burn efficiency. Make sure to store the wood in a dry, well-ventilated area once received. Best stored in a garage, firewood rack, shed or Wendy house, underneath your braai or in a covered space outdoors. In or outside of the bags is fine and wont be a problem. There is also no real area of concern for storing it indoors as the woods are usually fumigated, killing most unwanted critters and leaving you with little to no unwanted stress, or risk.
Seasoning: Seasoned wood not only burns better but also contributes to a safer and far more enjoyable braai experience. In general, has a very low moisture content because it is grown in dry, drought-stricken or desert-like regions with far lower than usual rainfall. It is left outdoors in natural elements to dry and is then it’s cut and bagged for shipping or delivery to various locations. But.. the bottom line is, it has a very low moisture content which means the wood is dry and you won’t need to wrestle with it to get it lit or struggle to keep it going once burning. You may in some cases see slight moisture, maybe a fizz or bubble could appear occasionally but the moisture levels in Sekelbos is always kept low enough to ensure optimal burning, and minimal effort.
Differences Between Sekelbos And Other Woods
While Sekelbos has its merits, it’s essential to understand how it stacks up against other wood choices. Rooikrans, Kameeldoring, Black Wattle and fruitwoods are also common options for braaiing. Weigh out the pros and cons to determine the best wood for your specific preferences and braai style.
- Sizes: In our experience Sekelbos comes in a great variety of sizes making it ideal for various occasions. A bag or load will contain both bigger and smaller pieces. The smaller pieces are fantastic to use when making a traditional Potjiekos pot, or for getting a fire started, while the larger pieces are good for indoor warmth or long-lasting social fires at a braai. The sizes give you options and make the experience way more enjoyable with far less hassles.
- Aesthetics: Sekelbos is well known for its aesthetics, once stacked in a certain area it enhances the quality of the room or space it is packed in. Its vivid colour scheme offers guests a rustic look and stands out, making it look phenomenal to all guests. Its a favourite among most interior decorators and regularly welcomed by the rich and famous as a feature in their homes.
- Splitting: Its an easy wood to chop by axe compared to other hardwoods, and is classed a Softer Hardwood, therefore, splitting the wood is a breeze.
- Popularity: There’s an ongoing increase in demand for Sekelbos, both internationally to various English and European countries, as well as, among locals in most provinces across South Africa. It is increasingly popular and is well respected by many Braai enthusiasts globally.
- Low Moisture: Unlike local braai woods such as Black Wattle or Rooikrans, moisture is of less concern as Sekelbos is basically bone dry and requires far less love to get it going or maintain.
- Usage Factor: You generally burn less wood for a braai when making use of Sekelbos due to its high performance. Where one may use 20 pieces of Rooikrans for a good bed of red hot coals with Sekelbos you may only need 10 or 12 pieces. Meaning you save in usage over time and would use far more local wood than needed. Sekelbos has a great price to usage scale and delivers on its promise, compared to its local rivals.
- Coal Density: Sekelbos offers a superior coal compared to majority of all local woods. Its coals are stone-like, dense and last long enough to cook your meat and leave you with remaining coals even when done. It’s unlike most local woods that’s coals break apart and become soft ash, these coals are known to endure. They retain their heat well, it’s a slow release of heat, over an extended period of time.
-
Budget-Friendly Excellence
Let’s dive into the cost of Sekelbos and see how it ranks among other wood types. When buying wood you shouldn’t just be looking at the cost solely, you should rather be considering a price to quality ratio. Meaning how good is the wood for the price charged. Phenomenal braai experiences come at a cost of course and if you buy based on price your experience may be more painful. Sekelbos would definitely be a good selection when it comes to price vs quality. Its price range is somewhat higher than Rooikrans, and usually the same, or a few rand cheaper than Kameeldoring and Mopane.
Market prices will change so we cannot put a specific number on it but there are factors that affect prices such as transport, labour, packaging, etc and gradually do increases in cost, over time. At the time of writing this article you could easily pay between R99.00 to R129.00 for a 18KG or 20KG Bag, however it is not the most expensive, and in most cases will be less heavy on your pocket than some other wood types. We guarantee you may need just a handful of pieces (less than a big bag) to create a lovely bed of braai coals, enough for you to braai for the entire family. So don’t let price be the driving factor when making a purchase, consider the ease of use, aroma, performance and aesthetics too. These should not be overlooked to simply save a few bucks because we all know and understand, that buying cheap, becomes far more expensive in the end. Get the right thing the first time round and pay a little fraction extra for proper quality wood you can really rely on, without fail. Its the Lambo of firewood's, so expect that it shouldn’t be too cheap. Quality is usually complimented with premium pricing, but honestly, it’s more about making memories and enjoying the best life has to offer, is it not?
Safety and Precautions When Using Sekelbos
Safety should always be a priority when handling firewood and lighting a braai. Learn about the most common hazards when using Sekelbos to ensure your braai adventures are not only delicious but also safe for you and those around you.
- We suggest not storing it near gas of flammable solvents because should a fire arise for any given reason, your wood pile may pose a bigger threat and add fuel to the unwanted flames.
- In general Sekelbos isn’t hard on your hands but it is advised to be mindful of splinters when handling it.
- Not recommended for dogs to chew on as splintering if swallowed could become an unwanted problem.
- The other major concern is to ensure you keep a safe distance between you and your braai when cooking, as Sekelbos can become scorching hot, it could very easily char your skin in seconds or burn your arm hairs clean off so try making use of longer tongs, fire gloves or other utensils.
- Keep a safe distance from children and your eyes to avoid unwanted harm.
Where to Source Sekelbos Firewood
Ready to embark on your wood-braai culinary journey? The best source for Sekelbos firewood at a fair price would be, Mother City Firewood, or one could try other local firewood suppliers around the Cape region. You can browse online, in store or at garages etc but we make ordering Sekelbos and various other wood types super easy plus offer very competitive pricing. Sekelbos is widely available in and around South Africa. Some sellers may push Sekelbos from local provinces like Limpopo and the Northern regions of Southern Africa but we prefer the Namibian quality unlike many other distributors and rely on its density and low moisture contents to ensure customers. Sekelbos will usually be delivered in bags whether ordered individually or by bulk load. It is rare that it will arrive loose as it is weighed when loaded and transported by trucks making weighed bags the primary packaging choice for resale.
Conclusion: Elevate Your Braai game with Sekeldoring!
As we wrap up, we confidently conclude: What is the best wood to braai with? It’s clear that Sekelbos is the best Braai wood to braai with, and is the key to unlocking the perfect braai experience. With high energy density, slow-burning qualities, a unique aroma, and minimal smoke, this wood offers a one-of-a-kind braaiing experience. What’s more, it’s eco-friendly and sustainable, making it a responsible choice. So, the next time you fire up your braai, choose Sekelbos, and savour the magic. Your taste buds will thank you, and your guests will wonder how you suddenly became Braai Master.
Disclaimer:
This article contains links to our own website for further reference and additional information. These links are included to provide readers with convenient access to relevant resources. Please note that these links are intended to supplement the content and are not endorsements. We strive for transparency and want to clarify that the inclusion of these links is for informational purposes. We encourage readers to explore a variety of sources and make informed decisions. Thank you for your understanding.
Originally published at https://mothercityfirewood.co.za on October 22, 2023.
