Binchotan Charcoal Filter by Black+Blum

Use Binchotan active charcoal to filter your tap water, improving both taste and health! The charcoal works by absorbing impurities such as chlorine, and adding minerals such as calcium. These charcoal refills are pre-washed and vacuum sealed so they are ready for immediate use. Simply drop the charcoal into your water (we recommend one stick per litre) then leave for 1 hour and enjoy your filtered water.

Each Binchotan charcoal filter will last for 6 months. After this period, they are recyclable for other uses around the home, such as plant fertiliser.

Where did Binchotan charcoal come from?

It was during the Edo Period (17th century) that a man called Binchuya Chozaemon made it popular. However, the origins are not completely clear. A form of Binchotan charcoal (sometimes referred to as ‘white charcoal’) is thought to have been introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk and scholar called Kukai 1,200 years ago.

What is the process for making Binchotan charcoal?

This ancient process for making Binchotan charcoal is very interesting, and also intense. The wood needs to be raised to very high temperatures in a kiln, and then rapidly cooled by being covered in a mixture of soil, sand and ash. This gives the charcoal it’s very hard and smooth appearance, and if you tap it, you’ll hear a clear, metallic sound.

What makes it a good water filter?

Not only does Binchotan charcoal remove impurities from water, it can also release minerals back into your bottle. This improves both health and taste. The surface of the charcoal is full of tiny holes, which draw in contaminants like chlorine and bind them, away from the water you drink. There’s so many holes in Binchotan charcoal that the surface area of just 1 gram is 500mᒾ.

Did you know that activated charcoal can also help you to keep your body clean? Discover our Charcoal Soap Bars here!

About Black+Blum

A PERSONAL MESSAGE from Dan Black, Co-founder & Lead designer:

“We put our hearts and souls into every product we make. We want our customers to get as much enjoyment from using a Black+Blum product as we got from designing it. Our aim is to become design leaders and innovators in our product sector, and we can’t wait to share with you the many exciting new products we are currently developing.”

VISION: People who own black+blum products feel great about using them every day!

MISSION: With rigorous attention to detail and a focus on sustainability, we design original products that inspire a sense of well-being.

SUSTAINABILITY & LONGEVITY: We design our products with re-use and sustainability in mind, ensuring that they have a long life using eco-friendly materials where possible. We discourage single-use plastics and food waste

HEALTH  & WELL-BEING: Our products encourage a healthy, enriching lifestyle.

JOURNEY: Dan Black and Martin Blum met studying industrial design at Northumbria University. In 1998 they formed black+blum and based it in London. The company allowed them to express their passion and explore their originality for developing their own designs. The award winning designs were adventurous in diversity of category and aesthetic, but always consistently underpinned with unique form and function. In 2014 Dan took over the reins of the organisation and steered black+blum to focus on the ‘food & drink on-the-go’ category.

Learn more about black+blum on their official website here.