Hickory Smoking Wood Chips Alternative

[drcook]

I have found that sometimes Hickory chips can be a little strong (sometimes). As a "green/free" alternative, I pickup the husks from Shag Bark Hickory trees. The husks are up to 1/4" thick.

I found this out by accident when we were camping at a local campground near Mohican State Park in Ohio. I wanted something to grill with and had left the chips at home. The property has a large stand of Shag Bark Hickory trees and the nuts had been falling (it was fall of course). I picked the green husks up, left the nuts for the squirrels. I mashed them up with a hammer, soaked in water an bit and used them just as I would have used Hickory wood chips.

They provided a nice, mild Hickory flavor, were free and don't harm the trees to use. I pick them up in the fall and stick them in the freezer (seems to help with preventing them from drying out too much).

[fla-gypsy]

Hickory is the preferred wood in this part of the world along with blackjack oak. If you are looking for something less smoky try pecan or cherry

[Ron3rd]

Hickory can be very harsh and strong as you say. I don't smoke with it much, but when I do, I do a light smoke.