Teak wood is the name under which most people know the tropical hardwood species of trees called Tectona Grandis, as well as its by-products. It originated in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and other South and Southeast Asian countries, although it is also cultivated in other regions, such as Africa and the Caribbean. The first formal description of this tree came from 1782's Supplementum Plantarum by Carl Linnaeus the Younger. Harold Norman Moldenke published new descriptions of four forms of tectona grandis in the journal Phytologia, in 1975. Each form is described as differing slightly from the type specimen. One of the main uses of teak wood is furniture manufacturing.

Teak furniture is used for different purposes, mostly aesthetic and/or utilitarian. Its natural resistance to extreme weather makes this tree the ideal material for manufacturing outdoor mobiliary, while its cost makes it a sign of high social and monetary status. These two aspects are combined when teak furniture is passed on from generation to generation in almost perfect condition. The most frequently built teak furniture includes tables and dining sets, benches, sun loungers, Adirondack chairs, and deep seating patio cushions. Teak furniture can be left outside all year long, virtually unprotected, without it being worse for wear. Other uses for teak wood are making boat decks, cutting boards, countertops, indoor flooring and veneers.

Even though teak is easy to work with, it can provoke serious blunting on sharp tools due to the presence of silica in the teak wood. Among teak uses, excellent results have been acquired in exposed locations thanks to its natural oils, and which make the timber resistant to termites and pests. This material's durability need not be enhanced with oil or varnish. In fact, the use of these materials may be counterproductive and damage the final product. Sun exposure will turn the wood's natural color into a silvery grey, which has no effect on the its properties like strength or quality. However, if the natural color is to be preserved, then the use of sealer and preservatives is recommended.

So as to not underestimate the value of teak wood, it is worth noting that there actually exists a Museum dedicated to it, near Nilambur, a town in South India's Malappuram district of Kerala. The museum is managed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute and contains encompassing information on aspects of its uses as well as articles on the topic. The museum offers extensive information of historical, artistic and scientific value. The world's first Teak Museum. The museum was founded in 1995 on the campus of the center of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, because of the significant history of the tree in the area. This tree's first plantation in the world was located in Nilambur in the 1840s.

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