Teak

Myanmar has the world’s largest natural teak forests – the wood that built Mandalay’s monasteries and the famous U Bein Bridge.

Teak, the source of teak wood, is a tall tree (up to 40 m) with a straight trunk and huge, rough leaves that fall in the dry season. It grows in mixed monsoon forests on well-drained soils of hills and valleys. Thanks to its natural oils, teak wood is exceptionally durable and resistant to damp, fungi and termites, so for centuries it has been used in boatbuilding, construction and furniture-making. Producing mature timber takes several decades, and elephants are still used to haul logs in mountain forests.

Significance in the country

Burmese teak is considered the finest in the world and for more than a hundred years was the country’s main export. Teak was used to build, among others, the Shwenandaw Monastery in Mandalay and the 1.2-km U Bein Bridge in Amarapura.

Where it grows

In the mixed deciduous forests of central and northern Myanmar – the most famous stands grow in the Bago Yoma (Pegu Yoma) range, and also in the Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway regions and on the slopes of Shan, Kachin, Kayin (Karen) and Kayah states.

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