How to Identify Real Sagwan (Teak) Wood: 7 Simple Checks

7 checks for real Sagwan

• Colour: freshly cut teak is golden to medium brown, sometimes with darker streaks, and it darkens to a rich brown over time.
• Oily feel: teak contains natural oils, so raw wood often feels slightly oily or waxy to the touch.
• Smell: when freshly cut or sanded, teak usually has a mild, leathery smell.
• Grain: mostly straight grain with a slightly coarse, uneven texture; growth rings are often visible on the end.
• Weight: teak is fairly dense — noticeably heavier than pine for the same size.
• Water drop: on raw, unfinished teak, water tends to bead rather than soak in quickly, because of the oils.
• End grain: look at a cut end that has not been stained — stain or polish can make other woods look like teak.

Common look-alikes

Cheaper woods are sometimes stained or polished to look like teak. Finished furniture is hardest to judge, so check raw timber where you can. If in doubt, compare side by side with a piece you know is teak, and ask the seller what wood it is.

Tips before buying

• Ask to see and handle unpolished pieces.
• Check for straightness and large cracks as well as wood type.
• Ask whether the wood is properly seasoned for your use.
• Buy from a known, established seller you can go back to.