Peat is deep, dark, and ancient, just like the fuel that many people that live in the Outer Hebrides use to warm their homes. Initially it appears black, but it has a slight warm tone to it that gives it a little bit of interest, but otherwise it's very dark and only very slightly tonal. The darker the peat, the better it should burn, so it's very sought after.
Many Scots will head out and spend several days cutting pieces of peat that will be dried and burned in their fireplaces. It's essentially layers of roots and plant matter that have accumulated over thousands of years. In many places, harvesting peat is banned because of the environmental risks, but in Harris the practice is well managed and goes back to a rich tradition.
