Expedition Sagar: Sourcing Fallen Teakwood in Western Ghats
Field Blog Entry #08 — Sagar Forest Range, Karnataka
The Philosophy of Salvaged Hardwood
We set out before dawn under a heavy monsoon cloud cover. Sourcing seasoned teakwood in the Western Ghats requires patience and reverence. Commercial timber harvesting often cuts down green, living timber that requires artificial kiln-drying. At Lipi, we exclusively seek salvaged, naturally fallen trunks that have seasoned across decades under the tropical sun and monsoon downpours.
By mid-afternoon, we found our prize—a fallen giant measuring over 20 feet in length and nearly 4 feet across. The outer bark was weathered grey by decades of tropical rains, but a test incision revealed a brilliant, dense golden-honey core overflowing with natural protective oils.
Microscopic Density & Cellular Grain
The moisture level of this fallen trunk measured exactly 14%. When timber dries naturally in the shade over years, the cellular structure stabilizes gradually without developing the micro-fractures common in rushed kiln-dried wood.
This natural seasoning ensures that the grain will withstand heavy daily knife work, acidic citrus juices, and repeated hand washing without warping, swelling, or cracking.
Batch Telemetry & Workshop Inscription
Every slab harvested from this expedition is tagged with its geographic coordinates and harvest date. The timber is hand-planed on our granite reference flatbeds before entering the laser engraving chamber.
This extraordinary timber forms the physical body of our signature Heritage Chopping Board series.
The Heritage Teak Chopping Board
Handcrafted in Karnataka • ₹1899