Rooikrans or blue gum for a braai? Rooikrans. It lights easily, burns hot and gets to coals quickly, which is why it’s the Cape’s braai wood. Blue gum (bloekom) is our fireplace wood: steady heat for the whole evening.
Rooikrans Bulk Bag: R80 (20 pieces). Bloekom: R109 for 20kg. Rooikrans is seasoned and stored under cover, but it is not covered by our Dry Guarantee. Bloekom is. Delivered and stacked in Cape Town from R200 a drop.
The Firewood Company, Parow · 25 years, 700+ Google reviews at 4.9
Rooikrans vs blue gum, side by side
| Rooikrans | Blue gum (bloekom) | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | Hot | Strong, steady |
| Burn time | Quick to coals, made for one round of meat | Longer, even burn |
| Smoke | Seasoned under cover. Not Dry Guaranteed | Little smoke once it’s burning. Dry Guaranteed |
| Best use | Weeknight braai: chops and boerewors for four | Indoor fireplace, including closed-combustion units |
| Price per bag | R80, bulk bag of 20 pieces | R109, 20kg |
Why rooikrans wins on the braai
Rooikrans is the wood the Cape grew up on. It catches easily, burns hot and drops to a good bed of coals quickly, so you are cooking sooner. Buy it for the weeknight braai, when you want coals fast and don’t need the fire to last until midnight.
Rooikrans Bulk Bag, 20 pieces, R80 →
Why rooikrans isn’t Dry Guaranteed
Every rooikrans bulk bag is seasoned and stored under cover. It isn’t covered by the Dry Guarantee because rooikrans is scarce and often sells before it has dried down to the level the guarantee needs. If you want a guaranteed-dry braai wood, go for kameeldoring or sekelbos (both R120, ±18kg). See kameeldoring vs sekelbos.
Where blue gum fits
Bloekom is our nightly fireplace wood: strong heat, an honest price and properly dry, so it lights the way it should. It will do a braai if it’s what you have, but its strength is a long, even fire indoors. For a closed-combustion fireplace, bloekom or blackwattle is our recommendation.
Blue Gum / Bloekom, seasoned, 20kg, R109 →
Delivery in Cape Town
We deliver and stack across Cape Town, the Winelands and the West Coast for one flat fee per drop, from R200 in the Northern Suburbs and Parow. Your area’s fee and delivery days are on the delivery page. You can also collect from our factory shop at 35 Tredoux Street, Parow (Mon–Fri 08:00–16:30, Sat 08:00–12:45).
“THE FIREWOOD COMPANY has the most amazing staff and they are always willing to go the extra mile. Jacques team always help offloading and packing neatly for easy use. They wood is always DRY and great for both indoor winter fires and summer Braai days! I can highly recommend them for all your wood requirements.”
Michael, B-Secure Solutions, Google review ★★★★★
