Chakte Kok

Chakte kok (Sickingia salvadorensis) is an exotic hardwood popular for organic body jewelry. It is lightweight, fine grained and is reddish-orange to brown in colour. The grain is very straight and normally irregular. It tends to fade very quickly in sunlight and ages to a yellow-brown.

The species of tree is reported to be grown mainly in continental tropical America, from southern Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay. While some farming of the wood isn't sustainable, many governments are working to regulate farming and harvesting to ensure this remains a healthy renewable resource. Many species of Sickingia are called Chakte kok, and also by a variety of trade names including: "Cuban mahogany", "Dominican mahogany", "Gateado" and "Jamaica mahogany".

See Also

• Wood