Charcoal (Carbo vegetabilis), Croatian: drveni ugalj, ugalj or karbun, in use since the Bronze age, is today used mostly as raw material and fuel. In Croatia the predominant technology of charcoal production is still the traditional way.
Traditional ‘burning' of wooden coal in Croatia has been for long time the source of incomes for families and communities.
Generations of families were dependant of the charcoal production in the charcoal kilns called the 'karbunice' and this tradition was transferred from father to son. At the beginning of the 21st century this tradition is still evident though in traces in the mountain areas of Ćićarija, Gorski kotar, Lika and Slavonija. In Istria charcoal i.e. karbun is made entirely in traditional way.
Overall Istrian tourist offer is dependant of this production as the final product is regarded as valuable good for barbecue preparation. Most appreciated barbecue is made of beech charcoal produced in specially designed charcoal kilns karbunice.
