Hickory Char Oil

Hickory char oil is a flavoring ingredient made from the smoke of burning hickory wood. The smoke is condensed and then processed to extract the compounds that give hickory smoke its characteristic flavor. It is used to impart a smoky taste to foods without the need for traditional smoking methods.

Manufacturers add hickory char oil to provide a natural-smoky flavor to a variety of food products. It is commonly found in soups, sauces, processed meats, and snack foods where a smoky profile is desired.

Hickory char oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use as a flavoring. Regulatory bodies like JECFA have evaluated smoke flavorings, but did not set a numeric limit for this specific ingredient. At typical consumption levels, it is not associated with adverse health effects. Research into the long-term effects of smoke flavorings is ongoing.