Lump charcoal, some is good—some is bad.
To explain somewhat; consider Royal Oak. It's made in several different countries and some of it is pathetic. Some locations bag foul smelling wood and may package some pieces as big as softballs. The countries of origin: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, USA, and Canada. FWIW, both the Canadian and USA products are considered pretty good. Users need to read the bags.
We need to be certain that it's all hardwood as some packagers appear to use anything available.
Foreign objects—some are fine with me 'cause it's often stored outside on dirt or crushed stone. When it is scooped up you are bound to get some of the objects in the bagged mix. However, insulation, chunks of wiring, glass, and other building products are bad. That indicates that they are using old buildings for some their wood source. Wall studs are not hardwood. Tree bark is not considered troublesome, some users welcome it.
Maple Leaf from Canada and Ozark Oak from Arkansas are the two most loved lump charcoal brands.
In a pinch, you could use both Wicked Good and the Royal Oak that is made in the USA.
