CP Teak vs Burma Teak vs Ghana Teak vs Plantation Teak: Which Teak Is Which (2026)
The teak sold in Indian timber markets is not one wood: CP/MP teak, Burma teak, Ghana and other African teak, and plantation teak differ in oil content, grain, density and price. How to tell them apart, indicative price bands, and the checks that catch mislabelled 'teak'.
- Arpit Sahni
- 8 min read
CP Teak vs Burma Teak vs Ghana Teak vs Plantation Teak: A Buyer’s Identification Guide (2026)
“Teak” in an Indian timber market is a label that needs a variety, origin and seasoning check. Burma teak (Myanmar), Indian CP/MP teak (Central Provinces), African teak sold under names such as Ghana, and plantation teak can differ in grain, colour, oil content, stock condition and price. A quote that just says “teak” is underspecified; ask for the variety and supporting documents.
WoodAge (woodage.in) is a factory-direct modular kitchen and custom furniture manufacturer in Gurugram (Gurgaon), serving Delhi NCR since 2003. When solid teak appears on a WoodAge BOQ — door frames, table legs, carved elements — the line names the teak type. This guide explains the differences so any vendor’s teak line can be questioned intelligently.
What This Guide Answers
Is Ghana teak real teak?
Ghana-, Sudan- or Ivory-Coast-labelled timber can be genuine Tectona grandis, but the label alone does not establish species or origin. Ask the seller to state species, source, seasoning and grade on the bill; physical appearance is only a screening clue.
Why is Burma teak so expensive?
Burma (Myanmar) teak is often marketed around origin, age, grain and oil content. Those attributes should be treated as claims to verify, not as proof supplied by the label; ask how age, origin and seasoning are documented before paying a premium.
What does CP teak mean?
CP is commonly expanded as Central Provinces and is often used in Indian timber trade for a domestic teak category. Ask the seller to specify the actual source and grade rather than treating “CP” or “MP” as a complete proof of origin or quality.
The Teak Family: Side by Side
| Variety | Origin label to verify | Grain and colour to inspect | Oil/seasoning claim to verify | Illustrative comparison band (₹/cu ft)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burma teak (old-growth) | Myanmar | Tight, straight grain; golden brown, darkens richly | Highest — feels waxy to touch | 4,500 to 8,000+ |
| CP / MP teak | Central India | Close grain, golden to darker brown | High | 3,000 to 5,500 |
| Ghana / African teak | West African plantations | Wider rings, more colour variation, lighter | Moderate | 1,800 to 3,200 |
| Other plantation teak (young Indian, South American) | Mixed plantations | Wide rings, pale, more sapwood | Lower | 1,200 to 2,500 |
Illustrative quote-comparison bands for Delhi NCR planning only — estimates, not a market survey, offer or verified rate card. Teak is priced by log quality, girth, seasoning and dealer, and rates move with supply. Always confirm the current rate, variety and moisture content in writing.
Practical comparison: for structural furniture parts and frames, a buyer may compare well-seasoned Ghana-labelled teak with other varieties only after species, seasoning and price are documented. Burma or CP-labelled teak may be selected for visible surfaces, carving or heritage pieces when the buyer values the stated grain and colour. What matters more than the label is documented seasoning and the actual BOQ.
What the Science Records About Teak (Tectona grandis)
The USDA Forest Service’s Wood Handbook, Chapter 2 (FPL-GTR-282, 2021) records that teak occurs in commercial quantities in India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the East Indies, and that plantations within its natural range and in tropical Latin America and Africa now produce teakwood. That is why a Ghana label can describe genuine Tectona grandis grown on a plantation, and why the label alone cannot tell you which.
The Handbook describes teak heartwood as yellow-brown to dark golden brown, turning rich brown with exposure, ring-porous with a coarse, uneven texture, usually straight-grained and with a distinctly oily feel. It credits the heartwood with excellent dimensional stability and a very high degree of natural durability, and notes that silica in teak often dulls tools and that finishes and glues may need surface pretreatment to bond well.
| Teak, Wood Handbook Table 5-5a: clear, straight-grained specimens, values from world literature, sample origin Asia | Value |
|---|---|
| Specific gravity (green) | 0.55 |
| Modulus of rupture at 12% moisture content | 100,700 kPa (about 101 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity at 12% moisture content | 10,700 MPa |
| Side hardness at 12% moisture content | 4,400 N |
The same chapter names woods used as teak substitutes. Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata), from West Africa, strongly resembles teak but lacks its oily nature; it is listed in CITES Appendix II. Iroko has also been suggested as a substitute because of its colour and durability. A look-alike is not a fraud in itself, but the bill should name the species actually supplied.
Seasoning can be checked, not just claimed. India’s recommendation on timber moisture, IS 287:1993, reaffirmed in 2022, sets the maximum moisture content for furniture and cabinet making by climatic zone: 12% in zone II, where Delhi appears to fall. Ask for a moisture-meter reading of the delivered teak against that limit; the solid wood vs plywood guide explains the zones.
How to Tell Them Apart at the Timber Yard
Translate the timber label into a component schedule. For a CP-, Burma- or Ghana-labelled teak quotation, identify which parts are solid timber and which are veneer-faced or engineered: legs, frame, top, back and concealed members. Ask for the stated species, origin evidence where available, supplied dimensions and seasoning evidence beside the applicable component. Do not treat a variety name on one sample as authentication of every part of a finished piece.
If timber is billed by volume, retain the measured length, width and thickness, their units, and whether the bill uses rough-stock or finished dimensions. Conversion between cubic feet and cubic metres does not settle those commercial measurement rules. WoodAge’s custom furniture brief should identify the visible and concealed construction separately before the material is ordered.
In Delhi NCR, a buyer may encounter timber dealers in Kirti Nagar and other local markets serving Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. Sampling before a large buy can help, but field checks are not authentication. Weight and feel: density and surface feel can vary with variety and moisture. Growth rings: ring spacing is a clue, not proof of age or origin. Colour and smell: freshly planed wood may have an oil-related smell, but this cannot establish species. Water test: water behaviour varies with finish and surface condition. Cut surface: machining feel is only another screening clue.
None of these is conclusive alone — they are screening checks, not species or origin authentication. For a large purchase, ask the dealer to write the variety, species, seasoning and rate on the bill, and obtain any available origin or test documentation. A low price is a reason to verify the label, not proof of substitution.
Teak vs the Alternatives — When Not to Use Teak
Solid teak may suit door frames, exposed legs, carved work and heirloom pieces when the joinery and movement allowance are designed correctly. It may be less suitable for wide flat panels — wardrobe sides, shutter faces and larger table tops — because solid wood can move with Delhi NCR humidity swings. A stable engineered core with a natural teak veneer face may be a more practical alternative for that use; compare the species-level decision in the dedicated teak vs sheesham comparison.
See also: To see how each board and finish lasts in Delhi NCR humidity, read WoodAge’s interior material durability guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teak should I compare for main doors in India?
CP/MP- or Burma-labelled teak may be compared for the frame, with a stable engineered-core shutter as one possible specification. An all-solid teak door can be heavy and expensive; ask for documented species, seasoning, dimensions and hardware suited to the measured weight.
How do I know if my furniture is real teak?
Check weight, smell on a freshly sanded hidden spot, grain tightness and how water behaves on an unfinished area. If the piece is finished all over, a professional inspection of an unfinished underside edge is the practical route.
Is plantation teak bad?
Not necessarily. Plantation-labelled teak may be suitable for protected indoor use when species, seasoning and grade are documented. Compare the written specification and price with the actual variety; do not assume an origin label proves old-growth characteristics.
Sagwan and teak — same thing?
Yes. Sagwan (सागवान) is the Hindi name for teak. A “sagwan” quote still needs the variety named — Burma, CP, Ghana or plantation.
Does teak need polish?
A suitable interior finish may protect against stains and support cleaning, but the correct system depends on the wood, use and desired appearance. The wood finish guide compares melamine, PU and shellac on solid wood.
What is the full form of CP in CP teak wood?
CP stands for Central Provinces, an older administrative name for part of central India, which is why sellers often pair it with MP, for Madhya Pradesh. It names a trade origin, not a grade or a species test, so ask for the species (Tectona grandis), source, seasoning and grade to be written on the bill.
Related Guides From WoodAge
- Teak vs Sheesham: Which Is Better for Furniture? - the two classic Indian furniture woods head to head.
- How to Verify Plywood Grade at Delivery - the same verify-the-stamp discipline, applied to boards.
- Wall Paneling Cost Guide - teak-look panelling routes and what they cost.
- Melamine vs PU vs Duco vs Polyester - protecting the teak you paid for.
- Pooja Room and CNC Jali Design - where premium teak and carving actually get used.
- Types of Wood for Furniture in India: Sheesham, Teak, Mango, Ash, Rubberwood Compared - Compare solid-wood species, engineered cores and verification checks for Indian furniture.
Timber prices and availability change with market supply; every rate above is an indicative planning band (estimates only). Confirm variety, seasoning, moisture content and current rate in writing before purchase.