Goncalo Alves

Native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, Goncalo Alves grows prolifically in tropical rainforests throughout the region. A wildly-colored hardwood, it’s also known as Tigerwood because of its stunning appearance, commonly characterized by orange and black streaks.

A quintessential hardwood, Goncalo Alves is super dense – with a Janka hardness of 2,170 pounds-force – adding to its exotic list of Teak-like qualities. However, Goncalo Alves is harvested responsibly from managed forests, making it a truly renewable, protected resource that gives it a significant advantage over Teak — at a fraction of the cost. 

Typically, the heartwood of Goncalo Alves is a medium reddish brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown to black coloring. The grain is straight, but usually somewhat wavy or interlocked, like Tiger stripes. It has a fine, uniform texture with good, natural luster. 

While the name “Tigerwood” is often applied to many species from tropical hardwood forests, Goncalo Alves is a truly pristine version. Leading to its popular use in high-end furniture, cabinetry, veneer, architectural plywood, flooring, decking, boat building, carving, and decorative woodwork. It’s also a species of choice for small wooden specialty items like pool cues, archery bows, and knife handles.