Iwate Charcoal (Iwate): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Shipped throughout the year.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

IWATE CHARCOAL is firm and has long duration of combustion. Since carbon contains approximately 90% (national standard is above 75%), the smoke, the flame and the odor during combustion are suppressed, and the amount of ash after combustion is low. The quality of IWATE CHARCOAL is highly evaluated, and it has been awarded at the Festival of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries every year since 2006.

Link with the production area

Iwate Prefecture has rich forest resources, especially it has various broad-leaf trees such as oak. Thus, the area has thrived in charcoal production from the early times, and has been the largest charcoal production area in Japan since 1912. Since then, it has promoted and preserved its charcoal industry by developing unique charcoal-making kilns called “Iwate Gama” and “Iwate Tairyo Gama”.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s66.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Buy from the producer group (opens in a new tab)Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)Find online (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

Black charcoal produced in Iwate Prefecture. It is hard and burns long, and with a carbon content of about 90 percent it gives off little smoke, flame or odor and leaves little ash. Rich in oak and other broadleaf forests, Iwate became Japan's largest charcoal producer in 1912.

Iwate Charcoal is produced in Iwate Prefecture.

Iwate Charcoal is shipped all year round. Shipped throughout the year.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation), online shops and the producer group's own shop. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Iwate Charcoal was registered as a Geographical Indication on August 6, 2018 (Registration No. 66). The registered producer group is Corporation Iwate Prefecture Charcoal Society.