備びん長ちょう炭ずみ

also: びんちょうたん

び

ん

ちょ

う

ず

み

Meanings

noun

binchō charcoal; high-grade charcoal made from ubame oak

A premium, hard charcoal traditionally produced in Wakayama Prefecture. Known for its long burning time, high heat, and clean smoke, it is prized in Japanese grilling and cooking.

Written forms

備長炭
- びんちょうずみ
  Standard kanji spelling. The reading びんちょうずみ is the more traditional and common pronunciation.
- びんちょうたん
  Alternate reading using the more familiar 炭 (たん) reading. Also widely understood.
びんちょうたん

Kanji

備equip, provision, preparation
長long, leader, superior
炭charcoal, coal

Similar words

炭すみ
炭 is the general word for charcoal. 備長炭 refers specifically to the high-grade binchō charcoal.
ウバメガシ
Ubame oak is the raw material for binchō charcoal. 備長炭 is the charcoal product made from this wood.

Etymology

Named after Bichūya Chōzaemon (備中屋長左衛門), a merchant from the Edo period who popularized this charcoal. The name combines 備 (from 備中) and 長 (from 長左衛門) with 炭 (charcoal).