Smoking chips are small pieces of wood used to add flavor to food during cooking, especially when grilling or smoking. They come from various types of trees, such as hickory, mesquite, or apple, each imparting a unique taste to the food. To use smoking 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.