Charcoal is an essential for a traditional tajine. You light it somewhat dangerously on the gas hob and the transfer it on a metal tray or shovel to the burner, put you tajine on top and leave it for 2 hours. It's also essential for barbecues and cooking the Eid sacrifice. I have always wondered where it comes from as you rarely see it sold. Coming back from the drive we saw where it is made.
About a dozen km north of the Anti-Atlas we came to an area with two large charcoal producers a little far apart on opposite sides of the road. There was nothing to indicate why this area should site large scale charcoal production. Beloved assumed the wood was brought in from the Anti-Atlas; but why bring it so far ; wouldn't you just take it to the first bit of flat valley floor? I thought it may be connected to the argan forest regeneration, That land had been cleared of trees (there were no trees only scrub) and it was being burned more or less in situ; but why would you regenerate a forest by cutting the trees down?
The method is exactly that described in Swallows and Amazons.
The wood is heaped into circular domes, covered with earth, and burnt slowly over a long period of time. The slow burn with limited oxygen produces charcoal rather than ashes.
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