Teak has been highly valued worldwide throughout history.
Native to Southeast Asia, its use dates back as early as the 7th
century in Siam (now Thailand), where it was used to construct
and decorate royal residences, religious buildings, and trading ships.
Other cultures began using teak wood for shipbuilding in the Middle Ages,
and its buoyancy, water resistance, durability and anti-fungal properties
make it an ideal material for marine construction to this day. You can still
see teak that was used in Thailand on buildings that date from the 17th
century, which gives you an idea of its durability.
The species of teak that we grow is Tectona Grandis, which is one of th
e tropical hardwood birches. Teak flourishes in the rainy season; then during
the dry season the trees shed their leaves and growth slows; allowing the
wood to harden.
Teak is regularly pruned so that it grows straight and tall with no other limbs
extending from the trunk area. By pruning away most of the leaves other than
the top third the highest quality of wood is produced. Regular management
ensures that the teak trees are kept in premium condition and achieve high
values when the wood is harvested.
Teak is beautiful, water resistant and durable, and is one of the few woods
that produces its own oil, which keeps it from becoming brittle. Once
established in the forest, teak is virtually indestructible and highly resistant
to pests, fire and most diseases.