This traditionally handcrafted charcoal is made from Japanese holm oak from Kishu, Japan. Binchotan is the highest grade of charcoal, and it is known for its purifying and mineralising effects in the water or in the air. The forests in Kishu, Japan, have been maintained and harvested by skilled craftsmen who have been gathering knowledge and perfecting their skills over generations. The slow growing Japanese holm oak used for the making this charcoal stick has a finely pored structure and high density, and would be baked over several days – at first at low temperatures, and then changed to a high temperature with restricted oxygen. In order to trap the carbon, the charcoal would be "put out" with white ash at the finish, and which gives the "white" charcoal its name. It mineralises and purifies tap water by absorbing unhealthy chemicals and lime, making the tap water clean and much softer to drink. This product can be used also as an air freshener, as the sticks would capture automatically the odor from the air from its anti-odor feature. Furthermore, it can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants after its lifespan, and could provide a good protection against electro-smog. When simply added to a carafe of water, the thousands of microscopic cavities left in the wood effortlessly remove unwanted toxins and impurities, while softening and improving waters taste. Completely natural, the sticks are great for the garden and can be disposed of in soil once they start to diminish in efficacy. Size: Dia. 15 x L150 mm Effective to filter: 2 litres of water Suggested lifespan: 4 to 6 months User instruction: it is recommended to boil the stick at 100 degrees every 3 weeks, in order to clean and to remove the potentially absorbed bad elements from the stick. Fair trade, 100% Recyclable, tree-free product labels, printed with vegetable inks. Bio-degradable, recycle-compatible adhesives. Bio-degradable wrapping and bag. Please note that the carafe is not included.