Charcoal Process

• Photographer
  Sonia Lhommet

These pictures were taken in Tainan county, Taiwan. We can see an old man still making charcoal in a traditionnal way. The kiln used is very rudimentary but effective and the wood comes from longan trees (a tropical tree species which is sometimes called « dragon eye tree ») because they are more abundant and more aromatic in the area. The process needs time (about three weeks) and it is a tough work because of the heat and the dust. But, once old people disappear, traditionnal techniques too because no one wants to take over that kind of activity…