Teak has been highly valued worldwide throughout history. Native to Southeast Asia, it dates back as early as 7th Century Siam (now 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.

The dark wooden plank in this picture is teak wood from the 17th century. This is a good example of how long teak wood can last.