Heat
Strong, consistent heat.
Coals
Forms good, long-lasting coals, ideal for cooking through once the flames die down.
Smoke
Moderate.
Lighting
Lights reasonably well; benefits from a bit of kindling or a firelighter.
The wood
Geelhaak (Yellow Hook) is the Blue Thorn, a dense bushveld hardwood. The name comes from its peeling, yellowish bark and the distinctive hooked thorns on the branches. It’s a common species in our mix and is prized as an all-rounder: it gives a lively flame and transitions into reliable, long-lasting coals. When you buy Geelhaak, you’re getting a versatile wood that works for almost any fire.
The look
Bark & shape
The bark is thin and papery, peeling in curling strips. Logs can look a bit ragged or scruffy. Under the peeling layers you’ll see a pale yellow to grey-yellow colour; that’s the ‘geel’ (yellow) the name refers to. Paired, hooked thorns (or their scars) are often visible.
Standard round or split logs; no unusual shape.
Heartwood & sapwood
Warm golden-brown to russet when split. It’s dense but not as dark as the ironwoods. It's more of a uniform, earthy tone, sometimes honey-gold in younger wood, deepening to reddish-brown.
A clear creamy-white to pale yellow band around the darker core, with a relatively soft transition.
Quick ID: Peeling papery bark and hooked thorns; golden to russet heartwood.
The burn
How it performs
Heat
Strong, consistent heat. Dense wood means it burns hot and steady.
Coals
Forms good, long-lasting coals, ideal for cooking through once the flames die down.
Smoke
Moderate. Not the smokiest; not the cleanest. A solid middle ground.
Lighting
Lights reasonably well; benefits from a bit of kindling or a firelighter.
Best for
Weekend braais and family fires
Fire pits and outdoor gatherings
Anyone who wants a visible, crackling flame and coals that last
Gallery
Get Geelhaak
We sell Geelhaak as a standalone product (12 kg bags) and it also appears in our Braai Mix.
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