China

BAMBOO

Bamboo is not a woody plant from a botanical perspective, but is a woody grass from the Poaceae family. Nevertheless, in many regions of Asia, South America and Africa it is more important than wood as a building and material.
Some types of bamboo are characterized by exceptionally fast growth and even surpass some types of wood in their mechanical and technological properties.

Advantages: Bamboo is light, sustainable, and naturally antibacterial. It is relatively hard and resistant to cuts. Technically speaking, bamboo is not wood, but a grass, and needs to be oiled less frequently.

What to look for: Bamboo tends to dull knives more quickly, which may cause them to sharpen more often must be. Our Easy Pads can help here.

Europe

BEECH

The European beech is by far the most common type of deciduous tree in Germany and parts of Western Central Europe.
The main area of ​​use for beech wood is furniture production. It is suitable for the production of hard and durable surfaces for heavily used furniture, especially children's and teenagers' furniture, office furniture and chairs.
Beech is also often used for smoking as it gives food a better quality than other types of wood should give a spicy taste.

Advantages: Beech is hard, durable and has an even grain.

What to look out for: Beech is prone to cracking if there is too much moisture and requires regular care. It may also show discoloration if not cleaned regularly.

Europe

OAK

Oak is the second most common deciduous tree in Germany after the common beech and the most important deciduous tree genus in the northern hemisphere. Depending on the location and variety, an oak tree can reach a height of 30 to 50 meters and in some cases live over 1000 years.

Advantages: Oak is extremely hard and durable, which making them ideal for cutting boards. It has an attractive grain and is naturally resistant to moisture and has antibacterial properties.

What to look out for: If not properly cared for, oak wood can become porous and absorb moisture , which leads to deformation. Oak has a very high tannic acid content. This is a natural ingredient in almost all woods and is used to ward off predators. However, the tannic acid reacts with iron and can cause unsightly black spots on the board if a knife containing iron is left on the board. Unfortunately, these stains can no longer be removed.

Europe

ASH

The ash tree is widespread throughout almost all of Europe and is particularly common in the northern foothills of the Alps, in Poland and in the Baltics. Ash trees are among the trees with facultative color core formation, whereby the sapwood and heartwood are light to slightly grayish and, depending on the form, can have whitish, yellowish or white-reddish tones.
Ash wood is a heavy and hard wood with good strength properties. It is elastic, abrasion-resistant and tougher than most other European wood species. It was therefore of great importance in early vehicle construction - until the 1920s almost all car bodies were made of ash wood.

Advantages: Ash is hard and resilient against wear and tear, with a beautiful grain that makes each board unique. It is also elastic and resistant to cracking.

What to look out for: Ash can swell or warp when exposed to excessive moisture. Regular care is important. Metals can cause dark discoloration when combined with moisture.

North America

SATIN NUT

The satin nut, also known as red gum or sweetgum, is characterized by its cream-colored, even sapwood and its reddish to dark brown heartwood. Within a tribe, these shades can alternate, creating an impressive marble effect. The combination of sapwood and heartwood creates an extremely decorative appearance.
In addition to the use of wood, the resin, trunks, leaves and fruits of the satin nut have medicinal uses. A resin called styrax is obtained from some species, which was already used in ancient times for incense and as a medicine.

Benefits: Satin nut has a smooth texture and an elegant, dark color. It is robust and durable, but also gentle on knife blades.

What to look out for: This wood requires regular care to maintain its optical properties.

Europe & America

WALNUT

The walnut, which is a noble hardwood, provides an exceptionally beautiful wood that has been one of the preferred luxury woods for centuries and in all eras and styles. It is often even considered the most valuable of all European timbers. Originally valued in Asia for its valuable fruits, the walnut tree was brought to Europe in ancient times, where initially only its nutritious fruits were in the foreground. It was only under Charlemagne, around 800 AD, that large-scale cultivation of walnut trees began in Europe.

Advantages: Walnut has a beautiful, dark color and a lively grain. It's hard enough to withstand cuts, but not so hard that it dulls knives.

What to look for: Walnut requires regular care to maintain its color and texture. It is slightly softer than other woods and can therefore be scratched more easily.