Teak hardwood patio furniture has increased in popularity over the last several years and there has been an increased government regulation of the exports of it from Indonesia, the leading country that exports it. The wood has faced a simple supply/demand issue from basic economics. When there is a decrease in supply, the price rises. This decreased supply has begun the import of teak wood from other sources which is often a synthetic or substituted teak wood. Synthetic or substituted teak wood is usually grown in Africa or South America.

Genuine teak wood is a dense hard wood which does not splinter. The sawdust of teak wood is soft and has a pleasant aroma. The smell of teak wood is reminiscent of a sweet oil, somewhat like a vegetable oil. It is an oil-rich wood and which is the source of the wood's scent. Teak that has been painted or stained will not have the rich scent that the natural version will. Painting or staining it can cause a change in the wood, so it's best to try and keep it all natural. Throughout the life of the wood, the teak oil moves from the center of the wood (called the heartwood) and after harvest and as the wood ages, the oils migrate from the heartwood to the outer layers of the wood. This process allows teak to weather well, resist rot, insects and fungus.

Real teak wood is water resistant, which is one of the main reasons that it is widely used in ships, yachts, and boat construction. When water comes in contact with the wood, it beads. This beading is a sure way to test suspicious teak. Water on genuine teak beads and remains in a tight droplet shape, while water on synthetic woods will have loose edges.

Synthetic teak is commonly used to make teak patio furniture and is much cheaper than real teak. This furniture can be attractive, but is usually not genuine. Lately, the price for the synthetic teak is nearing the levels of teak due to the intensive manufacturing process required to attempt to come near the quality of natural teak.

Real teak grows in the tropical rain forests of Southeast Asia and requires from forty to sixty years to yield good quality wood. Over the last several decades, growers in the rain forests of South America and Africa have attempted to plant teak plantations in similar climates. The genetic make-up of these trees is not quite the same as the natural teak wood. The wood harvested in Africa or South America may be attractive and durable, but is not the same as the high-quality grown in Southeast Asia, so be sure to inquire about the origin of the wood before buying.

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