Wood Smoking Flavor Chart

Wood type Smoking Characteristics

these trees are in the same family as mesquite. When
Acacia burned in a smoker, acacia has a flavor similar to mesquite but not
quite as heavy.
A sweet, musky smoke that is the traditional wood of the Northwest.
Alder

Almond A nutty and sweet smoke flavor, light ash.

Slightly sweet but denser, fruity smoke flavor. Serve
Apple chutney made from the same fruit to accentuate the flavor even
more.

The flavor is milder and sweeter than Hickory. Serve

Apricot chutney made from the same fruit to accentuate the flavor even
more.
Ash Fast burner, light but distinctive flavor.
Avacado Unknown
Bay medium floral smoke with hints of spice & cinnamon
Beech A mild much used wood like oak. Great for whatever you
care use it with.

Birch Medium hard wood with a flavor similar to maple.

Much like the woods provided from fruit trees, the small diameter
trunks of the Blackberry bush provides a slightly sweet and delicate
Blackberry
flavor.

Butternut Strong smoke, like walnut, bitter when used alone

Carrotwood Unknown
Cherry Slightly sweet fruity smoke that's great with poultry (turns skin dark
brown). This smoke is a mild, sweet and fruity smoke which gives a
rosy tint to light-colored meats.

Wood type Smoking Characteristics

Chestnut Slightly sweet nutty smoke flavor
Although not considered to be a true wood.The heart of the cob that
holds the kernels is the fuel section of this alternative for wood. It is
ground into small granular bits that can be added to a smoking box or
it can be combined with other woods such as woods from fruit trees,
to impart several flavors. The Corncob provides a sweet flavor that
Corncob may overpower the food if too much is used to season the food as it
cooks. Begin by trying small amounts until the desired flavor is
achieved.
 It is a softer wood than alder and very subtle in flavor. Use
it for fuel but use some chunks of other woods (hickory, oak, pecan)
COTTONWOOD
for more flavor Don't use green cottonwood for smoking.

CRABAPPLE Similar to apple. Provides a lot of smoke. Rich and fruity.

Fig Mild & fruity like mulberry- Boston butt & ribs
Fruitwood Medium fruity sweet smoke- all BBQ meats
Grapefruit Produces a nice mild smoky flavor.
Grapevines Tart. Aromatic, similar to fruit wood. The flavor is milder
and sweeter than hickory.

Guava Flowery fruity taste similar to apple.

Sweet to strong, heavy bacon flavor. This great flavor
works well with pork, ribs, hams, poultry, and beef. These chips should
Hickory
be soaked for 1-2 hours to prevent a bitter taste.

Made from the mellowing charcoal used to make Jack Daniel's that
Jack Daniel's smooth sipping whiskey. This is a STRONG,
sweet smoke flavor with an aromatic tang.

Kiawe Hawaiian Mequite of sorts although somewhat milder.

Wood type Smoking Characteristics
A tangy, citrus smoke. Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruitiness.
Lemon Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruitiness.

Lilac Very light, subtle with a hint of floral.

Lime Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruitiness.
Mildly smoky, somewhat sweet flavor. Maple chips add a
sweet, subtle flavor that enhances the flavor of poultry and game
Maple birds. Smoke a pork roast with them for a sensational taste
experience.

Strong earthy flavor. One of the most popular woods in the country,
mesquite is a scrubby tree that grows wild in the Southwest. Sweeter
Mesquite and more delicate than hickory, it's a perfect complement to richly
flavored meats such as steak,
duck or lamb.

Mulberry A mild smoke with a sweet, tangy, blackberry-like flavor

Nectarine The flavor is milder and sweeter than hickory.

Oak Most versatile of the hardwoods blending well with most meats. A
(White and Black Jack) mild smoke with no aftertaste. Oak gives food a
beautiful smoked color.
Olive The smoke favor is similar to mesquite, but distinctly
lighter.
 A tangy, citrus smoke. Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruitiness.
Orange Orange gives food a golden color. Produces a
nice mild smoky flavor.
Peach Slightly sweet, woodsy flavor, milder and sweeter than hickory.

Pear A nice subtle smoke flavor much like apple. Slightly sweet,
woodsy flavor.

Wood type Smoking Characteristics

Sweet and mild with a flavor similar to hickory but not as
Pecan strong. Tasty with a subtle character an all-around superior smoking
wood.
Persimmon Medium smoke- great for boston butt & ribs

Also referred to as Allspice, Jamaican Pepper, Myrtle Pepper, or

Newspice. This wood adds a natural and somewhat peppery flavor that
may also include flavors of several spices combined, such as cinnamon,
cloves and nutmeg, similar to the flavors provided when allspice is
Pimento
used as a seasoning to enhance the flavor of various foods.

Pistachio Nut If you like the taste of pistachio nuts why not?
Shells

Plum/Prune The flavor is milder and sweeter than hickory.

Sassafras A mild, musky, sweet smoke with a root beer aftertaste.

The seaweed is washed to remove the salt and air or sun- dried
Seaweed before use. It provides a somewhat spicy and natural
flavor to the foods being smoked or grilled.

While pecan is hickory's milder cousin, black walnut is the strong one.
Often mixed with lighter woods like almond, pear or apple, can be
bitter if used alone. An intense smoke that is slightly bitter like
Walnut (Black)
walnuts. Can easily overpower
poultry.

Walnut (English) Very heavy smoke flavor, usually mixed with lighter woods like
almond, apple, pear or pecan.

Whiskey Barrels Made from whiskey soaked oak barrels.

Wood type Smoking Characteristics
Smoking Herb Blends
A strong smoke flavor that is completely unique! This blend
Italian Herbs of oregano, rosemary, thyme with oak wood gives zesty and robust
flavors like these herbs.
 A strong smoke flavor with oak that's truly amazing ! A
Oriental Herbs blend of Sesame seeds and Ginger Root with oak wood or Mesquite
gives a nice oriental BBQ flavor.

Throw a spoonful of your favorite dried herbs into your water pot - as
Dried Herbs it moistens your meat it also adds aroma and
flavor!

Other Woods
Other trees suitable for smoking: 

Avocado, Bay, Carrotwood, Kiawe, Madrone, Manzanita, Guava, Olive, Beech, Butternut, Fig, Gum, Chestnut, Hackberry, Pimie
and willow. The ornamental varieties of fruit trees (i.e. pear, cherry, apple, etc.) are also suitable for smoking.

The ornamental varieties of fruit trees (i.e. pear, cherry, apple, etc.) are also suitable for smoking.

Wood that is poisonous when used for grilling.

DO NOT USE any wood from conifer trees, such as PINE, FIR, SPRUCE, REDWOOD, CEDAR, CYPRESS, or SWEET GUM TR
make you sick!
Also ELM and EUCALYPTUS wood is unsuitable for smoking, as is the wood from SYCAMORE and LIQUID AMBER trees.

More woods that you should not to use for smoking:

Never use lumber scraps, either new or used. First, you cannot know for sure what kind of wood it is; second, the wood may h
chemically treated; third, you have no idea where the wood may have been or how it was used.

Never use any wood that has been painted or stained. Do not use wood scraps from a furniture manufacturer as this wood is
chemically treated.

Never use wood from old pallets. Many pallets are treated with chemicals that can be hazardous to your health and the palle
been used to carry chemicals or poison.

Avoid old wood that is covered with mold and fungus that can impart a bad taste to your meat.
g Flavor Chart
Meats or Veggies used with

Good with most meats, especially beef and most vegetables.

Good with fish, pork, poultry, and light-meat game birds.

Traditionally used in the pacific Northwest to smoke Salmon.

Good with all meats.

The strongest flavor of all the fruitwoods. Beef, poultry, game birds,
pork (particularly ham).

Good with most meats.

Good with fish and red meats.

Supposed to be good for all meats.
Good with most meats and veggies.
Good with meat and seafood.

Good with pork and poultry.

Good for grilling poultry and other meats, such as small game birds like
grouse, pheasant, partridge, and quail.

Good on red meats like Beef, Pork, Venison and other game
meats. Can easily overpower poultry.

Supposed to be good for all meats.

Good with all meats.

Meats or Veggies used with

Good with most meats.

Iit is often used as a smoking chip when grilling foods such as poultry,
fish and small game birds.
Use it for fuel but use some chunks of other woods (hickory, oak,
pecan) for more flavor. Good for all smoking, especially pork and ribs.

Good with poultry, red meats, game and lamb.

Good with all meats.

Good with all meats.
Excellent with beef, pork, fish and poultry.
Great on most white or pink meats, including chicken,
turkey, pork and fish.

Good for all meats,

The most common wood used. Good for all smoking, especially pork and
ribs.

It's good for cooking Beef, Pork, Poultry and Game meats.

Good on pork, beef and fish.

Meats or Veggies used with

Excellent with beef, pork and poultry.

Good with seafood and lamb.

Excellent with beef, pork and poultry.
Mates well with poultry, ham, cheese, small game birds, and vegetables.
Wonderful for smoked turkey!

Good with most meats, especially beef and most vegetables.

Good with Beef, poultry, game birds, pork (particularly

ham).

Good on most meats, great on most white or pink meats,

including chicken, turkey, pork and fish.

Good with red meat, pork, fish and big game. RED OAK is good on ribs.
Especially good with beef brisket.

Delicious with poultry.

 Excellent with beef, pork and poultry.

Good on all meats, great on most white or pink meats, including chicken,
turkey, pork and fish.

Good on Poultry, game birds and pork.

Meats or Veggies used with

Try smoking with the shells as well. Good for most things
including poultry, beef, pork and cheese. Pecan is the best for that
beautiful golden-brown turkey.
Excellent with beef, pork and poultry.

It is a common wood often used in grilling Jamaican foods such as jerk

chicken. Often used for grilling poultry and fish.

Allegedly not so hot with fish.

Good with most meats, great on most white or pink meats,

including chicken, turkey, pork and fish.

Especially good on beef, pork and poultry.

Commonly used for smoking shellfish such as clams, crab, lobster,

mussles, and shrimp.

Good on red meats like Beef, Pork, Venison and other game meats. Can
easily overpower poultry.

Can be bitter if used alone. Good on red meats like beef, pork, venison
and other game meats.

Nice.
Meats or Veggies used with
erb Blends
Especially good for lamb, pork and poultry. Good for pizza too, when
you cook it on the grill.
 Especially good for beef, pork and poultry.

Good with any meats

Woods

ernut, Fig, Gum, Chestnut, Hackberry, Pimiento, Persimmon,

are also suitable for smoking.

table for smoking.

OOD, CEDAR, CYPRESS, or SWEET GUM TREES they will

E and LIQUID AMBER trees.

at kind of wood it is; second, the wood may have been

w it was used.

om a furniture manufacturer as this wood is often

an be hazardous to your health and the pallet may have

to your meat.