Hackberry Tree

[Mark Etheridge]

Hello Everyone,

First post in a looonnnnggg time. Still check out the site on a daily basis though.

Anyway, I have a Hackberry tree that fell and my neighbor has subsequently cut up and I was wondering if it would make a good smoke wood.
If so, what kind of flavor will it impart to the meat?

It is a hardwood according to several websites I have looked at.

 

[K Kruger]

My guess would be that it would be much like other fruitwoods, mild but with a bit of an edge. If I'm right I think it would be quite good.

 

[Clark "Harbormaster" Hodgson]

I went to a comp last year and I am pretty sure one of the teams was using hackberry in their pit. In fact, it may have been the only wood they used.

 

[Rob A.]

Here's a great resource. Some say yes and there are few that say no.
http://www.barbecuebible.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=3332...ostorder=asc&start=0

 

[Jeff T Miller]

I haven't tried it but hackberry is just as stringy as hickory. For some reason I was thinking hackberry was in the hickory family. I am not sure on that though. My memory isn't what it used to be.

I have ground up a lot of hackberry trees and have yet to see any kind of berry on them. I wonder where their name is derived from?

 

[K Kruger]

Good question. Ive no idea where the name comes from. Hackberries were considered members of the elm family or of their own family. According to a few sources, genetic testing puts them in the Cannabaceae, the hemp family. Maybe it's really good for smoking.

 

[Mark Etheridge]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Maybe it's really good for smoking </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Oh hell yeah!! That tree is definitely looking right for smoking now!!

But seriously...thanks for the replys. I'll probably just let the tree folks pick it up since I don't have any really definitive info. I ain't about to risk a piece of meat just to find out.