Alder trees grow mostly in the Northwest where they reach heights of up to 100 feet. Alder was used by American Indians for smoking, often in the form of alder planks. Perhaps best known in the Pacific Northwest where it is the favorite wood that pairs naturally with fresh salmon, it provides the least heat of all natural woods.
Alder has an inherent sweetness and a delicate flavor that is beautifully suited for the slow cooking of fish, shellfish and pork. However chicken, lamb, game birds and game also take well to this mellow wood. To further enhance the flavor, Alder chips can be soaked in wine or fruit juice as an alternative to water.
