Every teak on the market is the same species, Tectona grandis, native to India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. What changes is where it grew, how fast, and for how long. Those three things decide the colour, the weight, the oil in the wood and, in the end, the price.
Burma teak
Burma (Myanmar) teak comes from old, slow-grown trees. Slow growth gives close, even grain, a high share of heartwood and plenty of natural oil, which is what makes teak resist water, rot and termites. The colour is a warm golden brown that darkens with age. It has long been treated as the benchmark for teak and is usually the most expensive.
Good for: main doors, windows and frames, heirloom furniture, anything exposed to weather.
Nilambur teak
Nilambur, in Kerala's Malappuram district, is home to some of the oldest teak plantations in the world, first planted in the 1840s. Nilambur teak is valued for its golden colour, strength and long life, and is a popular choice across South India for traditional doors, windows and furniture.
Good for: doors and frames, carved work, furniture meant to last for generations.
Bolivia and other plantation teak
Teak grown on plantations in South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Panama) and Africa (such as Ghana) is harvested younger than forest-grown teak. Faster growth generally means wider growth rings, a lighter colour, less heartwood and a little less oil. In return, it is more affordable and available in good sizes. Well-seasoned plantation teak works well indoors.
Good for: indoor furniture, cots, wardrobes, panelling and projects on a tighter budget.
At a glance
| Burma teak | Nilambur teak | Plantation teak (e.g. Bolivia) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | Slow, old trees | Long-established plantations | Faster, younger trees |
| Grain | Close and even | Fine to medium | Wider rings |
| Colour | Deep golden brown | Golden | Lighter, more sapwood |
| Natural oil | High | Good | Lower |
| Price | Highest | High | Most affordable |
General tendencies - individual logs vary. Judge the log in front of you.
How to check a teak log or plank
- Heartwood vs sapwood. The dark centre (heartwood) is the durable part. The pale outer band (sapwood) is not termite resistant.
- Oil. Good teak feels slightly oily and smells leathery when freshly cut.
- Grain. Look at the end: closer rings mean slower growth.
- Defects. Check for cracks at the ends, loose knots and hollow centres.
- Seasoning. Ask how long the wood has been dried. Green timber shrinks and can crack after it is made into furniture.
Nilambur teak vs Burma teak
The two premium names in the Indian market, and the comparison we are asked about most.
- Where from: Nilambur is Kerala; Burma teak is Myanmar.
- Grain: both fine, with old Burma logs usually the tightest.
- Colour: Nilambur is golden; Burma tends deeper and browner.
- Supply: Nilambur is easier to source in South India; genuine old Burma teak is scarce and priced accordingly.
- Choose Nilambur for doors, windows and furniture where you want proven quality at a sane price. Choose Burma when you want the top of the market and the budget allows.
Nilambur teak vs Hunsur teak
Hunsur, in Karnataka, is another long-standing teak-growing area, and its timber turns up in South Indian depots alongside Nilambur. Both are Indian plantation teak with a good reputation; differences between individual logs - girth, ring spacing, sapwood, defects - matter more than the name on the stack. Judge the log, not the label, and compare rates for the same girth class.
African teak vs Indian teak
Much “African teak” in the market is not Tectona grandis at all: the name is used for iroko and other African hardwoods. There is also genuine plantation teak grown in Ghana, Benin, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Both can be perfectly good timber, and both are usually cheaper than Indian or Burma teak - but they are not the same thing, so ask which one you are being offered before you compare a rate.
Which teak for which job
| Job | What matters | Usually the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Main door | Wide, straight, well-seasoned heartwood; weather exposure | Burma or Nilambur teak |
| Door and window frames | Straightness and stability | Nilambur teak; good plantation teak for interior frames |
| Cot / bed | Strength in the rails, clean faces | Nilambur or well-seasoned plantation teak |
| Wardrobe, dressing table | Stable panels, appearance | Plantation teak, heartwood only |
| Outdoors | Natural oils, heartwood, no sapwood | Burma or Nilambur teak |
| Budget interior work | Price per CFT | Plantation teak (Bolivia, Panama, African) |
Which should you choose?
- Main door or anything outdoors: Burma or Nilambur teak.
- Furniture you want to hand down: Burma or Nilambur teak.
- Indoor furniture on a budget: well-seasoned plantation teak such as Bolivia teak.
Once you know the type and sizes, use our CFT calculator to work out the volume, read what decides the price per CFT, and see how to tell if wood is really teak before you buy. Then ask us for a rate.