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In a German forest, 2 brothers keep the ancient tradition of charcoal burning alive
The brothers produce about 40 tons a year and run a museum, store and restaurant to help support the craft.
In the Harz Mountains near Hasselfelde, Germany, Immo Feldmer uses ancient earthen kilns to produce charcoal, continuing a tradition practiced over 1,000 years ago.
Charcoal production was once essential for mining ore in the Harz Mountains, where intense heat was required to smelt valuable metals, employing hundreds of families across Germany.
The Feldmers produce around 40 tons of charcoal annually at Stemberghaus, supplementing income through a museum, store, and restaurant while workers monitor smoldering wood day and night.
Feldmer claims their charcoal, made from pure beech wood, is superior to imported alternatives, and the final product is packed into 10-kilogram bags for sale.
Though only a few coal burners remain in Germany, Feldmer hopes his family will keep the business operating at the Harzk site, preserving the traditional craft for future generations.