Wood sources- Pimento wood
- Thread starter ccase39
- Start date
Jodischoenauer
New member
We are the seller of pimento wood. It may seem expensive but when I explain it will make sense.
First it's a very STRONG wood - a little goes a long way. You shouldn't use as much as other woods.
Next, the process to export it from Jamaica is insanely complicated and regulated. There have been other sellers illegally importing to USA, and customs seized the product and people were out their $$. We've received many calls about this. The government is Jamaica outlawed all export of pimento wood until recently. We've worked to establish a SUSTAINABLE program to import the wood. This started in 2006. We must pass rigerous export rules and inspections and the same upon receiving the wood in the USA. The amount of inspections we are required to pass and the documentation we must provide is daunting. That is why we are the only approved seller of pimento wood. It's a national treasure to Jamaica and they are very protective of this resource. Why? Because at the turn of the century the entire species of tree was almost extinct from
over export - it was used for women's parasols and men's walking canes. That's when Jamaica outlawed export.
So, buyer beware of random vendors selling what they call pimento wood. It's usually not, and if it is its illegally imported and can host a variety of pests that the USDA tries to keep out of this country.
First it's a very STRONG wood - a little goes a long way. You shouldn't use as much as other woods.
Next, the process to export it from Jamaica is insanely complicated and regulated. There have been other sellers illegally importing to USA, and customs seized the product and people were out their $$. We've received many calls about this. The government is Jamaica outlawed all export of pimento wood until recently. We've worked to establish a SUSTAINABLE program to import the wood. This started in 2006. We must pass rigerous export rules and inspections and the same upon receiving the wood in the USA. The amount of inspections we are required to pass and the documentation we must provide is daunting. That is why we are the only approved seller of pimento wood. It's a national treasure to Jamaica and they are very protective of this resource. Why? Because at the turn of the century the entire species of tree was almost extinct from
over export - it was used for women's parasols and men's walking canes. That's when Jamaica outlawed export.
So, buyer beware of random vendors selling what they call pimento wood. It's usually not, and if it is its illegally imported and can host a variety of pests that the USDA tries to keep out of this country.
Jodischoenauer
New member
One more thing - chunks are not optimal for getting the most smoke flavor from pimento wood. You want lots of surface area to produce smoke and steam. Pimento wood chips and flakes soaked for an hour and wrapped in a tinfoil burrito with holes poked in work best. Ditto for pimento wood leaves. Sticks work ok, and can be reused if not burnt, but not as wall as chips and flakes. There's a great video on you tube from 2013 on CBS of Gary demonstrating the technique.
pimentowoodproducts
New member
You can purchase the wood direct at www.pimentowoodproducts.com
Durangosmoker
Member
I bought some a few years ago from www.pimentowood.com. I got the large chips, which are really large chunks that I had to split with a hatchet.
