Teak is a genus of tropical hardwoods with a scientific name of Tectona. Teak is a hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia and is typically part of a monsoon forest, growing on small hills, well away from the shore line. Teak is a deciduous tree, dropping its leaves in the dry season and is not included in a tropical rainforest. It is a huge tree, and can easily grow 30 to 40 meters tall. Teak possesses a big concentration of oils and minerals, making the wood waxy and rubbery. This creates a surface that is waterproof and bug resistant, as well as a dense, straight grain to refuse bending. Teak is often golden to dark brown, however it can have a reddish tone. If left raw and unprotected to the elements, it can dim to a silvery gray, though an annually oil application can keep the natural complexion. Teak is native to Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, The Philippines and India.



Teak has been utilized for a minimum of two thousand years and is noted in poetry from that era. Teak logs survive as the main structural component in buildings centuries old in India, and even in centuries old temples. This reflects the amazing ability of Teak to endure when stressed is placed on it. Teak was a major 18th Century export for China, where flooring, cabinets, paneling and multiple other wood elements were exported to Europe. Teak was also used for art objects, though the strong wood made this a difficult process, requiring much resharpening of tools. Later in the Victorian Era, this was hugely overcome and Teak art creations became more common.

The durability and salt water resistance made Teak especially valuable to the Royal Navy, and beyond World War I, when numerous used warships were being discarded, the crews were hit by the good condition of the Teak decking and determined to save the wood. Much of it became lawn furniture, making the tradition of teak outdoor furniture. The Royal Navy was not the only one using Teak; the unique characteristics of this wood made it sought after worldwide among ship builders in the sailing age. There is an momentous whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan, held in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut that was constructed in 1841 and had hard miles with many worldwide journeys but still looks like new.

The ever growing ease of Teak fabricating led to Teak becoming a major component of the Danish avant-garde style of furniture, very excepted in the 50s and 60s. This furniture is now undergoing a renaissance in popularity and original Teak furniture from this time is very excepted with collectors and others.

It is also heavily manufactured in Indonesia, there Dutch traders grew tree farms in 1816. Perum Perhutani, an agency of the Indonesian Government, operates the tree farms today. They strictly limit trees taken and new harvests to ensure very high quality wood. Tests have displayed that Indonesia Teak can grow twenty meters in fifteen years. Today Indonesia and Burma, indubitably known as Myanmar, have become the world's biggest exporters of Teak.