Rooikrans vs Sekelbos vs Plum Wood: The Best Braai Wood and Why

Sekelbos gives the longest-lasting coals and is the wood for big braais. Rooikrans is the classic Cape braai wood: hot, fragrant and easy to work with. Plum wood is all about flavour, with a sweet, fruity smoke for pork, chicken and fish. For the best of all three, build your coals with Sekelbos and add plum for flavour.

Rooikrans: hot fire, long-lasting coals, sweet fragrant smoke. Best for everyday braais, chops, steak and boerewors.

Sekelbos: the hottest fire and the longest-lasting coals, with a mild, clean smoke. Best for big braais, potjies and more than one round of meat. R1,000 for 10 bags or R2,200 for 20.

Plum: medium heat, medium coals, sweet fruity smoke. Best for flavour, especially pork, chicken, fish and slow smoking.

Rooikrans is the wood many Capetonians grew up braaing over. It's a dense acacia that burns hot, settles into an even bed of coals and gives off a sweet, fragrant smoke that suits red meat. It catches more easily than Sekelbos, so it's forgiving if you're still learning to braai.

Rooikrans is also an invasive tree from Australia that spreads through fynbos and uses a lot of water. Every bag you burn helps clear it from the Cape.

Sekelbos (sickle bush) is one of the densest braai woods in South Africa. It burns very hot, and its coals last far longer than most woods, so one fire can carry a few rounds of meat or keep a potjie going for hours. The smoke is clean and mild, so the meat does the talking.

Because it's so dense, Sekelbos takes longer to catch. Start it with kindling or a few pieces of gum, then let the Sekelbos take over. It can spark when it first catches, so give the braai a little space.

Sekelbos is an encroacher bush that takes over grazing land in drier regions, so harvesting it helps the veld recover.

Plum is a fruit wood, and fruit woods are prized for their sweet, mild smoke. It doesn't burn as long as Sekelbos, but it's hard to beat for flavour, especially with pork, chicken, fish and anything you smoke low and slow. Plum wood comes from old or pruned orchard trees, so supply is limited and seasonal.

You don't have to choose just one. Build a bed of Sekelbos or Rooikrans coals, then add a few pieces of plum just before the meat goes on. You get long-lasting heat and a fruity smoke.

Whatever wood you choose, it has to be dry. Wet wood smokes, hisses and gives weak coals. We test-burn our wood over three months before packing, so every bag arrives ready to braai.

Order Sekelbos online at allgoodfirewood.co.za/products. For Rooikrans and plum wood, WhatsApp us on 065 811 1759 for prices and availability. We deliver across Cape Town within 3 days, with free delivery to the Peninsula, Southern Suburbs, CBD and Atlantic Seaboard on orders over R1,200.

Want to compare more woods? Read our guide: Best Braai Wood in Cape Town: Sekelbos vs Swarthaak vs Black Wattle vs Gum.