Thekku, sagwan in Hindi, is teak, one of the world’s most valued timbers. Its golden-brown heartwood is oily, resists termites and water, and was used for ships, temple doors and railway carriages. The Nilambur plantation in Kerala, started in the 1840s, is often called the oldest teak plantation in the world. Teak is native to India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
- Botanical name
- Tectona grandis L.f.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Tamil
- Thekku
- Hindi
- Sagwan
- Sanskrit
- Śāka
- Parts used
- Heartwood, Leaves in craft
- Habit
- Large deciduous timber tree with huge, rough leaves
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Thekku
It is a tall deciduous tree, often thirty metres or more, with a straight trunk and fibrous, grey-brown bark.
The leaves are huge, thirty to sixty centimetres long, rough like sandpaper above and hairy below.
Tiny white flowers form large, branched clusters at the top of the tree in the monsoon.
The fruit is a small, hard nut wrapped in a papery, inflated, bladder-like husk.
Crushed young leaves release a red juice.
Traditional use of Thekku
Timber
Teak was used to build ships, palaces, temple doors and furniture in Kerala and Myanmar.
South and South-east Asian timber practice
Household
In Kerala and Karnataka the large leaves are used to wrap food and as plates.
South Indian household practice
Dyeing
Young leaves give a red-brown dye used for cloth and baskets.
Indian craft practice
Modern notes on Thekku
Teak wood contains tectoquinone, an oily compound that repels termites and helps resist rot.
Plantation teak is now grown across the tropics, including Africa and Central America.
Wild teak forests in Myanmar have been heavily logged, and export rules there have changed several times.
Teak dust can cause skin rashes and asthma in carpenters.
Thekku safety
Woodworkers should use masks and ventilation when sanding teak. Buy timber from legal, preferably certified sources.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in monsoon deciduous forests of India and mainland South-east Asia.
It drops its leaves in the dry season, and the dry leaves fuel ground fires.
Bees pollinate the flowers.
Related plants
Also in Lamiaceae
Questions about Thekku
Why is teak so durable?
Its oily heartwood repels termites and water.
Where is Nilambur teak?
In Malappuram district, Kerala.
Is teak native to India?
Yes, as well as Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
Why are the Thekku’s leaves rough?
They carry stiff hairs and mineral deposits.
Is all teak furniture from India?
No. Much is plantation teak from other countries.
Sources
- Tectona grandis L.f. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q156938 (Tectona grandis)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.