The Story Behind Our Burma-Quality Teak

Every piece of timber has a story. Ours began more than 80 years ago.

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In 1945, a small experimental teak plantation was established on Costa Rica's Pacific coast as part of a project supported by the United States Government. The goal was simple yet ambitious: to determine whether the legendary teak species, known for its Burma-like characteristics, could successfully grow in the tropical climate of Central America.

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Only carefully selected teak seeds were used for this experiment, and over the decades the trees matured into magnificent giants. Today, very few plantations of this age remain in Costa Rica, making this timber exceptionally rare.

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In 2019, SJ Timber Trading Company was fortunate to acquire the entire plantation. Recognizing its extraordinary quality, we carefully harvested the trees while preserving their natural beauty and character. Between 2019 and 2023, approximately 90% of the timber was exported to a select group of buyers in India who appreciated its exceptional grain, density, stability, and appearance.

A small portion of the logs remained in our inventory. During a period when I was outside Costa Rica, a decision was made to cut the remaining long logs into shorter lengths—generally between 1 and 2 meters—to make them easier to transport and store. Due to their enormous size and weight, and because we did not yet have the specialized machinery needed to handle them, this was considered the most practical solution at the time.

 

Unfortunately, it was also a mistake. When I returned to Costa Rica, I discovered that these magnificent long logs had already been cut into shorter sections. While the intention was to make storage and transportation easier, the decision permanently reduced the availability of the long continuous logs that are highly valued for large architectural, marine, and luxury woodworking projects. It was a lesson learned, and one that cannot be reversed.

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Despite being cut into shorter lengths, the quality of the timber itself was never affected. Every piece still carries the same exceptional characteristics developed over more than eight decades of growth. The rich golden-brown color, tight grain, outstanding stability, natural oils, and durability remain exactly as nature created them.

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Today, SJ Timber still holds approximately 500 cubic meters of this remarkable timber. Our remaining inventory consists primarily of Teak Clean Squares ranging from 15" × 15" to 30" × 30", with lengths between 1 and 2 meters. These dimensions make the material ideal for luxury furniture, yacht interiors, carved sculptures, architectural beams, staircases, high-end joinery, custom woodworking, musical instruments, and other projects where only the finest teak will do.

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For woodworkers, collectors, manufacturers, architects, yacht builders, and designers who value provenance as much as quality, this represents a unique opportunity to own teak from one of Costa Rica's oldest surviving plantation sources.

International sanctions have significantly reduced the availability of teak originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma), making mature timber with comparable characteristics increasingly difficult to obtain through traditional supply chains. Because of this, our remaining inventory has become increasingly unique within the international market.

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To the best of our knowledge, SJ Timber Trading Company is the only company in the world offering commercially available 80-year-old teak from this historic 1945 Costa Rican experimental plantation. Apart from the buyers in India who purchased large quantities from us between 2019 and 2023, no additional timber from this plantation will ever become available again. Once our remaining inventory is sold, this chapter of history will come to an end forever.

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This timber is not only remarkable because of its age—it also represents an important chapter in forestry history. What began as a scientific experiment more than 80 years ago has become one of the most unique collections of mature plantation teak ever harvested in Costa Rica. Every square tells the story of decades of patient growth, responsible stewardship, and the extraordinary vision of those who first believed teak could flourish in this part of the world.

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At SJ Timber, we believe every exceptional project begins with exceptional wood. This collection represents far more than timber—it is the legacy of an 80-year journey that began with a government-backed experiment in 1945 and has become one of the most remarkable collections of mature plantation teak ever offered from Costa Rica.

When you purchase from SJ Timber, you are not simply buying teak. You are acquiring a rare piece of history that has taken more than eight decades to create—a material that cannot be reproduced, replaced, or grown again within our lifetime.

We invite you to become part of that story.