Shisha vs BBQ Charcoal Briquette: What’s the Difference, and Which One Should You Buy?

(By CHARNESIA)

If you’re exploring charcoal briquettes for export, chances are you’ve come across two common types: shisha charcoal briquette and BBQ charcoal briquette. While they may look similar at a glance, they’re built for very different purposes and choosing the wrong one can cost you not just money, but also trust from your buyers.

So, what exactly sets them apart? Let’s walk you through the essentials:

🔸 Shisha Briquette: Pure, Controlled, and Lounge Ready

Shisha charcoal is designed for one thing: a clean, steady burn with no surprises. That’s why most premium brands use 100% coconut charcoal, it burns longer, doesn’t spark, and doesn’t produce any strange smells.

In a shisha lounge, that matters. Customers don’t want charcoal that interrupts the session with sudden sparks or strong odors.

These charcoal briquette are usually:

• Cube-shaped, often 25mm x 25mm x 25mm
  
• Packed neatly (like 72 cubes per 1kg box)
  
• Used indoors, in lounges or cafes
  
• Burn time: around 120 minutes
  
• Always low ash, smokeless, and odorless
  

They’re made for professionals who care about consistency. And in regions like the Middle East or Europe, this is the standard.

🔸 BBQ Briquette: Strong Heat for Outdoor Grilling

BBQ charcoal briquette is a different story. It’s made to deliver strong, direct heat for open grilling. The material can still be coconut charcoal, but often it includes hardwood or sawdust to boost flame power and heat consistency.

Shape-wise, BBQ charcoal briquette vary:

• Pillow, hexagonal, or custom-cut shapes
  
• Burn time: around 5-6 hours(Hexagonal), but also depending the size of the briquette
  
• Suitable for restaurants, home cooking, and bulk retail
  
• Slightly more smoke and heat output, ideal for outdoor use
  

They’re not meant for shisha lounges, but they perform incredibly well on grills and barbecues.

❓ So, Which One Should You Choose?

It depends on your customer.

• If your clients run hookah lounges or want premium grade fuel: go for shisha charcoal. The cleaner burn and stable performance will keep them coming back.
  
• If you’re supplying restaurants, barbecue brands, or retail cooking markets: BBQ charcoal offers better value and firepower.
  

And if you’re not sure? That’s where we come in.

At CHARNESIA, we supply both with reliable packaging, and the flexibility to match your market’s needs. Whether it’s 1kg branded boxes for shisha or 10kg bulk packs for BBQ, we help importers source with confidence.
📦 Need guidance or a quotation?
📲 Message us at WhatsApp and tell us about your market, we’ll recommend the right product for you.