Incense Sticks: Charcoal and Gum Paste Rolled onto Bamboo Cores

A cored incense stick is a thin bamboo stick coated in a thick layer of combustible paste that smoulders away with the core. Charcoal dust is the fuel, a little saltpetre keeps it burning and a gum binds it. Roll the paste onto bamboo sticks, trim them and dry them slowly so they do not warp. The picture: our diagram, coated sticks, one smouldering.