What are common mistakes when making Gai Yang (Grilled Marinated Chicken)?

Question

Accepted Answer

— **Burnt exterior, raw interior:** Charcoal too hot or insufficient turning. The charcoal must be at medium, not high heat.
— **Bland, pale result despite correct marinade:** The marination time was insufficient — the marinade did not penetrate the chicken flesh. Overnight minimum for legs and thighs.
— **Crust that falls off during grilling:** The marinade was too liquid (insufficient coriander-garlic paste to body). The paste binds the liquid components to the chicken surface.