BINCHOTAN

Binchotan is a Japanese activated carbon stick, which is used to purify unwanted elements in tap water and improve its taste. 

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It is a traditional product from Japan, which was invented in the Edo era (17th century). It is now classified as a Japanese cultural heritage. It takes its name from a supplier called Bichuya (BI) Chozaimon (CHO), while TAN means "coal".

 

It is made from a typical tree in southern Japan, the Ubemegashi holm oak, a wood so dense that it has the property of sinking in water. This is why real Binchotan cannot be made anywhere but in southern Japan.

 

Thanks to this rare wood, the Binchotan stays well submerged in the water instead of floating on the surface, which allows it to act more efficiently. In addition, Ubamegashi wood is very rich in minerals which it restores to the water (see under "efficiency").

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You should know that all binchotan coals made in Japan are not intended to purify tap water. The Japanese use different types of binchotan: barbecue bichotan for cooking delicacies (including eel and yakitori skewers), binchotan for cooking rice, binchotan for sanitizing and regulating humidity in homes and binchotan for water purification.

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If these different kinds of Binchotan are all made from the same raw material (Ubamegashi),   the cooking process and the work of the artisan will be different from one product to another. The cooking will take a few days for a barbecue binchotan, while the cooking of the binchotan intended to purify the water will take about fifteen days. The water purification binchotan requires more work from the craftsman, it is the most accomplished version and one of the most valuable Japanese bichotan.

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There are 3 regions that produce binchotan in Japan  : 

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- Tosa binchotan, from Koshi prefecture

- Hyuga binchotan, from Miyazaki prefecture

- Kishu Binchotan, from Wakayama prefecture

 

The latter is reputed to be the highest quality in the world, with a carbon content of 96%. As a result, it is closer to diamond (99.9% carbon) than coal.

 

I exclusively market binchotan from Kishu, because it is the one with the highest quality. In Japan, it is recognized as a brand in its own right, which was registered by a collective of craftsmen in order to differentiate Binchotan charcoal from Kishu from that of other Japanese regions.

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The coal prefecture of Kishu issues passes authorizing the air transport of coal intended for water purification. She certifies that binchotan was indeed produced in Kishu and that it is intended for water purification. It can attest to the high quality of my Binchotan.

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Source: http://www.iip.co.jp/minabegawa/index.html

               http://www.charcoal.eskimeit.com/pages/binchotan-blog-binchotan-histoire.html

               https://binchotan.wordpress.com

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All water filtration systems contain activated carbon (osmosis units, filter jugs, etc.). 

In these systems, the activated carbon is presented in the form of a powder which is enclosed in a plastic cartridge or filter. 

 

With Binchotan, the activated carbon remains in its natural form: instead of being reduced to powder, it comes in the form of sticks.  The advantage of this process is that it does not require plastic cartridges to operate. 

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Activated carbon has the ability to fix unwanted molecules contained in drinking tap water and retain them in order to purify the water. So,it acts both on the quality of the water, but also on its taste and smell. 

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The effectiveness of activated carbon is no longer to be demonstrated: it has been used for hundreds of years for the purification of water, air or the body:  

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- in wastewater treatment plants, the water passes through activated carbon filters 

- in the filter jugs, the water is treated by plastic cartridges containing activated carbon powder 

- this is also the case for air conditioner air filters or cabin filters.

- in cosmetics, it is used for its purifying and detoxifying properties for the skin.

- in medicine, activated charcoal is used to detoxify the body during poisoning. Also sold in pharmacies, it helps to fight against bloating and facilitates digestion by effectively adsorbing gas (the famous "Belloc charcoal").

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Activated carbon acts in particular on: 

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- chlorine, responsible for the bad taste of tap water

- limestone  

- heavy metals

- pesticide residues

- drug residues (including hormones, from birth control pills)

- sulfur residues, responsible for the bad odors and bad taste of tap water

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Water purified by Binchotan is even suitable for preparing baby bottles! You will no longer need to buy plastic bottles: it is ecological and economical. 

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You will have pure and quality water, directly at home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ... and without having to carry the water packs!