The Teakster Blog

3 Reasons Why Teak Culture Will Not Sell Diatomaceous Earth Bath Mats
3 Reasons Why Teak Culture Will Not Sell Diatomaceous Earth Bath Mats
Ok, diatomaceous bath mats are very trendy, eco-friendly, and anti-bacterial–just like our teak shower/bath mat. They go by many names—and all are made of the same material: diatomaceous earth. Sometimes they’re called:... Read more...
How to Buy Quality Teak Furniture Online and Not Get Scammed—13 Tips
How to Buy Quality Teak Furniture Online and Not Get Scammed—13 Tips
Buying teak products—or any product—online is simple, easy and a great way to get scammed by unscrupulous sellers and con artists. As a manufacturer and seller of teak furniture, furnishings... Read more...
Why and How to Paint Teak Furniture
Why and How to Paint Teak Furniture
Is it really sinful to paint teak?   Purists will say you’re crazy to paint teak. Why ruin an expensive and beautiful piece of wood that possesses warm golden colors and delightful... Read more...
teak cleaning supplies
Why is Mold and Mildew Growing on My Expensive Teak ____ (fill in the blank)?
Without a doubt, I receive more emails and messages about mold and mildew than any other topic. When someone notices mold or mildew (yes, it can be difficult to tell... Read more...
How You Can Tell Real Teak From Fake Teak
How You Can Tell Real Teak From Fake Teak
For hundreds, maybe close to a thousand years, teak was prized and sought after around the world for two notable reasons. Reason #1: Teak is a hard, dense wood, which... Read more...
10 Best Oils for Wood Cutting Boards and Butcher Blocks
10 Best Oils for Wood Cutting Boards and Butcher Blocks
Why Oil Your Cutting Boards & Chopping Blocks? 3 quick answers: To prevent the wood from drying out, cracking, splintering and warping To prevent water and elements that attract bacteria from entering... Read more...
Are You Sprinkling Plastic Slices on Your Dinner Salad Tonight? Yum
Are You Sprinkling Plastic Slices on Your Dinner Salad Tonight? Yum
No, this is not a new Gen Z viral craze streaming on TikTok. Everyone—including you—is eating plastic bits with their veggies. And you’ve been doing it for years, albeit, unwittingly. Plastics,... Read more...
The Best Hard and Soft Woods for Your All-Seasons Outdoor & Patio Furniture
The Best Hard and Soft Woods for Your All-Seasons Outdoor & Patio Furniture
Outdoor or patio furniture is expensive, often extremely expensive, depending on the type and quality of materials used. The most affordable outdoor furniture is typically made of plastics or metals.... Read more...
Top 6 Dangerously Dumb Mistakes People Make with Cutting Boards
Top 6 Dangerously Dumb Mistakes People Make with Cutting Boards
  I bet you own a cutting board (afterall, who doesn’t?) Purists own wood cutting boards. Less particular people own plastic cutting boards. Sorry, your granite, quartz or marble countertop... Read more...
How Not to Kill Your Outdoor Teak in the Summer Sun
How Not to Kill Your Outdoor Teak in the Summer Sun
Summer is almost here. Ok, in some areas it feels like it already is. Either way, your pool, the breezy air in your backyard or on your patio, is inviting... Read more...
The Grammys | The Truth, Episode #11
The Grammys | The Truth, Episode #11
At This Year’s Grammys Charcuterie Conspiracy Theories Took The Prize Welcome to this month’s The Teakster Read to discover... Why no one ate from the charcuterie boards at this year’s Grammys How I... Read more...
Finger-lick'n Charcuterie | The Truth, Episode #10
Finger-lick'n Charcuterie | The Truth, Episode #10
What the heck is a Charcuterie Board—I mean really? In simple terms, it’s a piece of wood with food on it! But you know the French, they have to get... Read more...
There’s Still Time: win our Teak Culture teak charcuterie & cutting board
There’s Still Time: win our Teak Culture teak charcuterie & cutting board
I’ll even make it easier for you to win. I’ll give you a big hint. Ready? Tiger Woods (no, it’s not his home). Remember, the winners will be announced in... Read more...
"Hot" Teak Cleaning Tip | The Truth: Episode 9 - Hard Boiled Eggs
"Hot" Teak Cleaning Tip | The Truth: Episode 9 - Hard Boiled Eggs
Quick Teak Cleaning Tip As mentioned in our Teak Care Guide, even though teak is mold and mildew resistant…  You’ll eventually see those tell-tale black stains in the nooks and... Read more...
Why You Should Not Buy Teak Products From China | The Truth part 8: Walking the Streets of the Bible
Why You Should Not Buy Teak Products From China | The Truth part 8: Walking the Streets of the Bible
Before I return to The Truth—(The embarrassing at times true story of how Teak Culture and I became what we are today)—I want to issue a warning… Do Not Buy Teak Products... Read more...
Why War is Like Rain
Why War is Like Rain
How the Russian-Ukraine War Will End The way all wars end. War is like rain. Because it always rains. Somewhere. You just never know when it will start, and when... Read more...
I can’t keep my vow and be silent any longer
I can’t keep my vow and be silent any longer
Despite my silent vow to avoid politics and anything that could be seen as divisive in the Teakster, I nevertheless offer you this time-honored wisdom… Those who will not learn... Read more...
How to Know if Your Teak is Real | The Truth part 7 - The Old City
How to Know if Your Teak is Real | The Truth part 7 - The Old City
Why’s Teak So Darned Cheap? Before we get to The Truth part 7 - The Old City of Jerusalem, I'll tell you a little story... Not too long ago a... Read more...
Let's celebrate going out of stock | The Truth, part 6
Let's celebrate going out of stock | The Truth, part 6
  Let’s have a Flash Sale! To celebrate going out of stock. Say what...? As I predicted in my last post, our supply of teak shower mats would not last till the... Read more...
Déjà vu all over again | It was all a BIG LIE!
Déjà vu all over again | It was all a BIG LIE!
Apart from the Grinch (Covid and its variants) that tried to steal Christmas again, I truly hope you had a very happy and safe Christmas weekend. Now, before we get... Read more...
For Your Thanksgiving, a surprise | The Truth, part 4: The Great Betrayal
For Your Thanksgiving, a surprise | The Truth, part 4: The Great Betrayal
  And a Thanksgiving Gift! I want you to do something for yourself, and then I’ll do something for you. I want you to take a moment and think of... Read more...
The Truth, Part 3: Culture Wars
The Truth, Part 3: Culture Wars
Shot Down Flying to Kenya The Stoic philosopher Seneca reportedly said: “I pity you who have never experienced misfortune. For you have passed through life without an opponent, and no... Read more...
Freedom! Or why Star Trek beamed me to Kenya
Freedom! Or why Star Trek beamed me to Kenya
The Truth, Part 2 "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" (From "Me & Bobby McGee" sung by Janis Joplin, written by Kris Kristofferson)   Before I take... Read more...
Barry Densa
It's time to tell you who I really am
I owe you the truth - the whole truth - the real truth. About me, and Teak Culture. It's not an easy story to tell. So, where to begin? You... Read more...
Best Outdoor Chaise Lounges and Designer Beach Chairs
Best Outdoor Chaise Lounges and Designer Beach Chairs
In last month’s Teakster, I showed you some of the most popular patio umbrellas on the market this year. From giant ones with LED lights on the underside so you... Read more...
The Patio Umbrella Buying Guide
The Patio Umbrella Buying Guide
Yes, Annie! The sun’ll come out tomorrow! Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya’ tomorrow!   After all we’ve been through over the last 12+ months… Wondering or doubting if the sun... Read more...
We’re not selling these…but you may want to buy one!
We’re not selling these…but you may want to buy one!
As if I haven’t said it enough: teak is waterproof. That’s why ancient ship builders built their boats from teak—not oak, not acacia, not bamboo, etc., etc. Even today, ask... Read more...
Two mega-mansions, one in New York, one in Florida—which would you choose—if you had at least $30 million to burn?
Two mega-mansions, one in New York, one in Florida—which would you choose—if you had at least $30 million to burn?
Before we get to this month's goodies... Let me share with you a "can't fail" teak cleaning secret: Yacht owners know this secret, most homeowners do not, unless they also own a boat... Read more...
rattan chair
Wicker? Rattan? Which type of furniture should you buy?
Wicker furniture is hot this year. So is rattan furniture. If you’re in the market for a tropically-inspired, light and airy, chair or sofa for you patio, sunroom or living... Read more...
The New James Bond | Stain Wood In 4 Easy Steps | Mid-century Historic Teak Landmark | Wild Old Newspaper Ad
The New James Bond | Stain Wood In 4 Easy Steps | Mid-century Historic Teak Landmark | Wild Old Newspaper Ad
Sean Connery was my favorite James Bond followed by Daniel Craig However, Daniel Craig’s time as 007 is up. As you’ll discover in the next James Bond film, No Time... Read more...
Robert De Niro's love affair | Teak vs Acacia | 170-years-old and still standing
Robert De Niro's love affair | Teak vs Acacia | 170-years-old and still standing
  Yo Teaksters! Ok, after last month’s sobering post about the future of the world's teak forests - if certain countries don’t get a handle on teak theft (read the... Read more...
Teak Thieves Are Out There! | Wanna Buy This Yacht $$$ | Our Family Is Growing!
Teak Thieves Are Out There! | Wanna Buy This Yacht $$$ | Our Family Is Growing!
I’m not trying to continually beat you over the head about how valuable teak is—but it is! And this proves it…  Stolen teak is a thriving business. Fortunately, teak thieves are not... Read more...
2 mid-century teak & leather chairs | Give your teak shower mat a sun bath | Old & gray is the new new
2 mid-century teak & leather chairs | Give your teak shower mat a sun bath | Old & gray is the new new
Read more...