Traditional Korean wood charcoal (sut: soot) is a made of sections of Korean oak with all the water and vaporous elements removed through heat. It has no oil or anything else added, and as a result it burns very purely and cleanly. For this reason it’s the preferred charcoal for use in BBQ, and used at the best Korean restaurants.
It’s surprisingly hard to find outside of Korean grocery stores. When I needed some to make doenjang years ago, I searched all over Manhattan trying to find wood charcoal, but didn’t have any luck. Many people thought that I was looking for charcoal briquets, those uniform lumps of charcoal made of wood, binders and additives.
Eventually I found it in a Korean grocery store. These days, more Americans are using wood charcoal, which they usually call “lump wood charcoal.”
I’ve hoping to make doenjang soon, but struggling to find korean branded charcoal, as no korean stores anywhere near me! but have found 100% natural oak and lump wood charcoal, is this basically the same?
Yes, I think that charcoal should be good to use, as long as it’s light and will float in the brine!
Hi Maangchi,
I took your advice and went to HMart but it was sold out. I was able to find the wood charcoal at a store in Queens. It had a multitude of Korean household, clothing, and beauty products.
New Korea Town Plaza
159-10 Northern Blvd
Flushing, NY 11358
(718) 661-0990
http://www.yelp.com/biz/newkorea-town-plaza-flushing?utm_source=ishare
In two weeks I will be taking down my meju blocks and starting the second heating process. I will make sure to take a lot of pictures to document this amazing experience and enjoy the smell of the meju blocks while it lasts.
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Thank you so much for the information! I’d like to visit the store soon. The wood charcoal looks so pretty! Anybody who reads your comment will feel how passionate cook you are!
Hello Maangchi,
I live in Brooklyn and I am trying to find the traditional Korean wood charcoal so I can finish making the fermented soybean paste and soy sauce. I walked along Norther Blvd. yesterday to Korean grocery stores but they did not sell the traditional Korean wood charcoal. Is there a store in NYC that you know still sells them? I have really enjoyed watching your videos and trying your recipes. They always come out so delicious.
Sincerely,
Christopher
Hi Christopher,
I’m very excited about your doenjang ganjang project! I thought wood charcoal is easily found at any Korean grocery store. Check out the store on 32nd street in Manhattan. I got my wood charcoal there. http://www.yelp.com/biz/h-mart-new-york-2
Good luck with making delicious doenjang and ganjang. Let me know how yours turn out and save some photos if you can. I’d like to see them. : )
I am about to hang my meju blocks soon. This year I double the recipe because the doenjang tastes so addictive!