Different types of wood create different flavors when smoking meat. Heavier meats, like beef or pork, tend to do better with hardwoods while more delicate meats, like chicken and fish, tend to do best with lighter hardwoods. It’s best to stay away from resinous woods like pine and cedar to avoid negatively affecting your meat or your smoker. Some people prefer combining wood with charcoal, using the charcoal as the heating element and wood for flavor.