Smoke chips are small pieces of wood that are used to add flavor to food during cooking, especially when grilling or smoking. They come from various types of wood, such as hickory, mesquite, or apple, each imparting a unique taste to the food. To use smoke chips, they are typically soaked in water for about 30 minutes before being placed on hot coals or in a smoker box. This soaking process helps them smolder and produce smoke rather than burn quickly, allowing for a longer infusion of flavor into meats, vegetables, and other dishes.