We hope this will encourage you to drink tap water and stop buying bottled water! Intro It may seem counterintuitive to purify your drinking water with a stick of charcoal, but the Japanese have been doing it for centuries. Binchotan is an active carbon made from tree branches and it is renowned for its ability to soften water, add good minerals and absorb unwanted tastes and odors, such as chlorine. Our binchotan is cut to a fixed length, so it slots perfectly into most water bottles, carafes and jugs out there.   How to Use The charcoal stick is ready to use. Simply fill your bottle / carafe / jug with drinking (potable) tap water and wait for the charcoal to filter impurities from the water. Leaving your charcoal in water overnight is ideal, but you will taste the difference after just one hour. Then, enjoy great tasting water! Leave it overnight in ordinary tap water and it will transform it into delicious tasting pure water. IMPORTANT NOTES - It must only be used with drinking safe tap water. - Occasionally you will notice tiny particles / fragments of the charcoal in the water, but do not be alarmed as it will do you no harm if you swallow them (active charcoal tablets are prescribed to treat diarrhoea, digestion and flatulence). - Your binchotan charcoal is already washed and ready to use. - Please do not wash with detergent or soap. - Please do not use with flavoured cordials or juices. - Please remove the binchotan from the bottle you are using it with these before washing it. - Boiling the binchotan for 10 minutes in water will release the impurities it has been holding. What is the history of Binchotan charcoal? The origins are not completely clear, but it is believed that a form of Binchotan charcoal (sometimes referred to as 'white charcoal') was introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk and scholar called Kukai 1,200 years ago. It was during the Edo Period (17th century) that a man called Binchuya Chozaemon made it popular. How is it made? Sustainably sourced wood is placed in a kiln and charred at a relatively low temperature for some time, then, near the end of the process, the kiln temperature is raised to about 1,000 degree Celsius to make the wood red-hot. The charcoal is then removed and quickly covered with a special powder made from earth, sand and ash, and this gives the charcoal surface a whitish hue (explaining the name 'white charcoal'). The rapid rise in temperature, followed by a rapid cooling, incinerates the bark and leaves a smooth, hard surface. If you strike it, you'll hear a clear, metallic sound. How does it work? Binchotan charcoal has an incredibly porous surface with tiny cavities oriented in many directions. Just 1 gram has a surface area in excess of 500 m2 (about one tenth the size of a football field). It is also known as active carbon as the ions of contaminants are attracted to the surface of the carbon, where they will be held. It is also able to release minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium back into the water which enhances its taste and health benefits. How long will it last? If you are using your Binchotan with your reusable water bottle and fill it up once a day, then it should last three months. You are then able to recharge it by boiling it in water for ten minutes and then leaving to dry in sunlight. You should be able to keep recharging it for a further three months.