Barbecue Wood Chips Flavour Guide
Wood Chip Guide
Wood | What it offers | Beef | Ribs | Pork | Ham | Poultry | Game | Seafood | Cheese |
Alder | Fragrant and delicate, sweet, musky smoke | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||||
Almond | Hickory imparts a nutty and sweet flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Apple | Is the sweetest and strongest of fruitwoods | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |
Apricot | A little milder and sweeter than Hickory | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Ash | Fast burning, with a light smoke flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Beech | Similar to Oak, mild and goes with most meat | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Birch | Similar to Maple but not as hard, burns faster | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Black Walnut | Intense smoke, slightly bitter like walnuts | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||||
Cherry | Slightly sweet and fruity, good for dark meats | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Chestnut | Slightly sweet with a nutty smoke flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Crabapple | Rich and fruity, similar to apple with greater smoke | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Grape Vines | Tart and milder than Hickory, Aromatic like all fruitwood | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||||
Guava | Floral fruity smoke similar to Apple, good all-rounder | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |
Hickory | Adds full rich sweet strong bacon flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ |
Chart Continued
Lemon | Tangy, medium citrus smoke with fruitiness | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Lilac | Very light smoke flavour, with a hint of floral | ⃝ | |||||||
Lime | Medium smoke flavour with a hint of fruitiness | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||||
Maple | Mildly smokey imparting a sweet light taste ideal for poultry | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Mesquite | A strong wood leaving an aromatic smokey flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |
Mulbury | Mild smoke with a sweet, tangy blackberry flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||
Nectarine | Milder and sweeter than Hickory, similar to Apricot | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Oak | Ideal for all meats, good for slow smoking | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||
Olive | Smokey flavour similar to Mequite but lighter | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||||
Orange | Tangy, citrus smoke with medium flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |||
Peach | Slightly sweet, compliments fish and perfect for salmon | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Pear | Great with Poultry, slightly sweet with woodsy flavour | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Pecan | Similar to Hickory but sweeter and milder, with nutty taste | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | |
Persimmon | Medium smoke, perfect for ribs & brisket | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ||||
Pimento | Also known as Allspice, used with Jerk Chicken & Pork | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ | ⃝ |
Warnings
Cedar Not for burning!, only use for planking, soak cedar planks overnight in water, season salmon (or any other fish) and place on the cedar plank on the barbecue and cook on an indirect heat.
