TEAK was prized by ancient civilizations in India and Malaysia, who had long known about the benefits and usefulness of this versatile wood. Because of its durability, its resistance to rot, and its flexibility (making it relatively easy to work with),TEAK has long been a popular timber tree and a valuable natural resource. The wood is golden brown in color with straight grain which darkens on exposure.

The strength of TEAK has made it a favorite of shipbuilders since the middle ages. TEAK is superior to all

other woods for shipbuilding and has been used, in some capacity, for that purpose since the advent of shipbuilding. Its ability to withstand rust, when combined with metal, as well as its resistance to rot make it ideal for nautical applications. TEAK maintains its strength and durability for so long, in fact, that the TEAK flooring from old ships was often recycled into park benches for European cities. Today, there are some TEAK benches in English towns that are over 100 years old!

TEAK forests are located in several Southeast Asian countries (see map at right).

Home Page | About | Clean | Projects | Links | Site Map | Sponsor |