When I first started beekeeping and asked a more experienced beekeeper what I
should use as smoker fuel, he said, "Whatever you want to smell like."  Since
you will smell like the smoke of whatever you burn, then it's nice to have
something that's the least offensive.  Pine needles fit into that category
for me, so I started with pine needles and am still using them.
 
Layne Westover
 
College Station, Texas