Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia.

Teak trees are native to the tropical forests of Thailand, Burma, Laos, and India. The best quality teak wood comes from this region between the latitudes 9N and 25N. Teak trees are large deciduous trees that drop their leaves during the dry season. They can live up to a hundred and twenty years, reach forty to fifty meters in height and well over a meter in diameter. They can survive extreme drought and due to their high tensile strength, can withstand severe winds. Teak wood, also referred to in Thailand as golden teak or tiger striped teak is often called the 'King of Wood. It is valued for both its striking beauty and incredible durability. For centuries it has been the choice of wood for fine furniture, to build naval vessels and to adorn the mansions of aristocrats. Teak is legendary for its strength and longevity. Teak wood is weather-resistant and requires very little maintenance. Oiled or varnished, its exotic grain will darken to a rich golden brown. Untreated, it will mature to a silver-grey finish. Its unique combination of elegance, strength and durability make it one of the most expensive and sought after woods on the market. But beyond its natural beauty, teak has innate qualities not found in any other wood. It has natural silicone and oil resins that protect the wood and prevent it from cracking and warping. Teaks high tensile strength and ability to ward off dry rot has made it the preferred wood in decking and outdoor furniture. The best wood for fine teak furniture comes from old-growth teak. It takes around eighty years for a teak tree to reach maturity, and because old teak trees are virtually extinct, most old-growth teak is reclaimed. Reclaimed teaks striking golden-brown colour is a result of ancient forest growth and years of natural drying. Its high silica content and oily resins, called tectoquinones naturally repel termites and resist rot, while a long seasoning time renders it completely resistant to weather elements and warping. Our reclaimed teak is salvaged from abandoned and neglected structures from the early twentieth century. Expert craftsmen carefully recover the rare oldgrowth teak and hand grade it to ensure the highest quality and reusability of the wood. Holes are plugged and fine cracks are filled.

We salvage and recycle all our teak. It eliminates the need to fell living trees and preserve our natural forests. We reclaim and reuse every single piece of teak. Wooden hand rails are given new life as pepper mills and salt shakers. Smaller pieces are used for edge glued block boards. Our mills are designed to enhance the innate elegance of the century old wood, and meticulously crafted to highlight the beauty of the woods fine character. Natural oils locked inside the tight grain will protect it for many years, while its high tensile strength will prevent it from warping. It is this unique combination of strength, beauty and carefree maintenance that make teak the perfect choice of wood in the gourmet kitchen. As a protected species in Thailand, it is illegal to demolish teak buildings, harvest teak trees or transport teak wood. The teak trade in Maesot, Thailand and neighboring Burma is tightly controlled by the police, the teak mafia and the Muslim teak dealers. Outsiders, Thai, Burmese or Western are not allowed in. Demand for teak wood outstrips supply, and in recent years an escalating demand has dramatically spiked the price of plantation teak. With its evergrowing popularity, rare old-growth teak is rapidly disappearing from the natural forests of Southeast Asia. Reclaimed teak and old-growth teak is simply becoming obsolete.