Build-up granulation and compaction granulation methods are generally known for producing granules from porous inorganic material. In order to allow a cost-efficient yet also reproducible production of porous granules having a more pronounced hierarchical pore structure, the invention relates to a method comprising the following steps: (a) supplying a feedstock flow to a reaction zone in which the feedstock is converted to material particles by means of pyrolysis or hydrolysis, (b) depositing the material particles on a deposition surface (1a) forming a soot layer (5), (c) thermally hardening the soot layer (5) to form a porous soot plate (5a), and (d) comminuting the soot plate (5a) to form porous granules (13).