Teak, or Tectona grandis, grows in most areas between the Tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
It is believed that teak was introduced to Java from India between 400 and 600 years ago, but it can be dated back to as early as 7th Century Thailand, where it was used to construct and decorate royal residences, religious buildings, and trade 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.
In the late 1800s, teak began to be used seriously for outdoor furniture. Strongly admired in its native India, teak soon travelled to Victorian England, where teak benches and chairs became the perfect compliment to an English garden. Popular in the 1950s and 1960s in a style often known as Danish modern, teak furniture had a second boom in popularity and now teak is one of the most sought-after types of vintage furniture. Today teak is used primarily for carving, residential and commercial flooring, and the construction of homes and furniture.
Contrary to popular belief, teak is a deciduous tree which grows in the dry, hilly forests of South East Asia. It grows quickly initially, but will take about 50 years to reach full maturity. This steady growth has clearly made it difficult for countries to keep up with demand.
The world's first teak plantation was raised at Nilambur during the 1840s, paving the way to ensure a steady supply of teak timber in the face of dwindling resources in the natural forests. Since then, teak plantations have spread steadily not only in its native range, but also in other tropical regions across the world. These plantations are government-regulated to ensure that the correct number and size of trees are being felled, and to ensure responsible re-planting of trees.
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