Wood Flavor Chart
We currently carry the fruitwoods shown as in bold italics below.
Click on the link to go to that product's page.
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Wood Type
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Characteristics
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Use with:
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| Alder |
Very delicate with a hint of sweetness. |
Good with fish, pork, poultry, and light-meat game birds. Traditionally used in the Pacific Northwest to smoke salmon. |
| Almond |
A nutty and sweet smoke flavor with a light ash.
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Good with all meats.
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| Apple |
Slightly sweet with a denser, fruity smoke flavor.
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Good with beef, poultry, game birds, and pork (particularly ham).
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| Apricot |
About the same as hickory, but with a milder and sweeter flavor.
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Good with most meats.
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| Ash |
A fast burner with a light, but distinctive, flavor.
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Good with fish and red meats.
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| Birch |
A medium hardwood with a flavor similar to maple.
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Good with pork and poultry.
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| Cherry |
Slightly sweet, fruity smoke flavor.
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Good with all meats.
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| Chestnut |
A slightly sweet, nutty smoke flavor. Plentiful in the United Kingdom.
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Good with most meats.
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| Grape Vines |
Aromatic.
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Good with most meats.
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| Hickory |
Pungent, smoky, bacon-like flavor.
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Good with all meats, especially pork and ribs.
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| Lemon |
Medium smoke flavor with a hing ot fruitiness.
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Good with beef, pork and poultry.
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| Lilac |
Very light and subtle with a hint of floral.
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Good with seafood and lamb.
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| Maple |
Mildly smoky, somewhat sweet flavor.
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Good with pork, poultry, cheese, vegetables and small game birds.
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| Mesquite |
Strong earthy flavor.
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Good with most meats, especially beef and most vegetables.
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| Mulberry |
Sweet and reminiscent of apple.
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Good with beef, poultry, game birds, and pork (especially ham).
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| Nectarine |
Similar to hickory, but milder and sweeter.
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Good with most meats.
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| Oak (White) |
One of the most popular woods, with a heavy smoke flavor.
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Good with red meat, pork, fish and heavy game.
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| Olive |
Similar to mesquite, but distinctively lighter.
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Delicious with poultry.
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| Orange |
Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruitiness.
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Good with beef, pork, and poultry.
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| Peach |
Slightly sweet, woodsy flavor.
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Good with most meats.
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| Pear |
Slightly sweet, woodsy flavor.
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Good with poultry, game birds and pork.
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| Pecan |
Similar to hickory, but lighter. Try smoking with the shells, as well.
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Good with most meats.
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| Plum/Prune |
Similar to hickory, but milder and sweeter.
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Good with most meats.
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| Walnut (English) |
Very heavy smoke flavor. Usually mixed with lighter woods such as pecan or apple, as it can be bitter if used alone.
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Good with red meats and game.
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