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

1

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.

Kanji

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

Related 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.

Built from

備びん長ちょう+炭すみ

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

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).