The binchotan is a thick vegetal charcoal made of ubamegashi oak from sustainably harvested forests in the Wakayama prefecture. Beside its use as firewood for smokeless barbecues of the highest quality, a single piece of binchotan can be used as the most natural way to filter water, thank to its micropores' structure.
Just by rinsing it, then boiling it for 10 min and letting it dry, it is ready to use.
After 6 hours sitting into a pitcher, it purifies tap water from toxins such as chlorine, lead, mercury, cadmium and copper, while releasing at the same time useful minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphates.
Every one or two months it must be boiled again to regain its filtration properties: depending on its use, when it won't produce bubbles anymore while boiling, it means that the stick has reached its capacity to absorb toxins.
At that point it can be composted in the garden, used as an odor absorber in the fridge or as firewood. Around 12cm.
Store in a cool dry place, away from light.