Types of Wood

 

 

Hard Maple AKA The Sugar Maple, has been used for cutting boards and butchers blocks over the centuries because of its tight wood pores, uniform grain and hardness. These qualities make for a great cutting block, naturally repelling bacteria, while remaining forgiving and cleanable. It is the best choice for a long lasting cutting board.

 

White Oak has been used in barrels and ship construction for hundreds of years because of its cellular structure, which makes it waterproof and bacterial resistant. White oak is also very dense, with a tendency to split and crack. I do not recommend it for cutting boards.

 

Blood Wood is a red hardwood from South America. It is naturally water resistant, hard and great for accents.

 

Purple Heart Wood is a very hard and fast growing tree from the South American rain forest. This exotic wood purples over time, ages well and is naturally water resistant. Purple Heart Wood is perfect for cutting board accents.

 

American Black Walnut Is a native Ontario hardwood; it is reasonably dense and hard. Black Walnut heartwood ranges from rich browns and blacks, to deep purples, with creamy white sapwood. Black Walnut makes great cooking utensils as well as accents.

 

Soft Maple covers two native Ontario maples and one non native maple. Native to Ontario is the Silver Maple and the Red Maple. Norway Maples are non native species that grows wildly and quite rapidly throughout Ontario. Soft Maple’s have a beautiful molten pink heart wood and display a range of figures from curly and tiger grain to dark spalted marbling. All of these Maple's make great culinary tools. Don't let their names fool you they are only softer than Hard Maple.

 

American Black Cherry is native to southern Ontario and has been sought after for its beautiful pink and red heartwood and white sap wood. Cherry Wood darkens over time to a deep red and brown and it is also much softer than most hardwood. For these reasons Cherry makes a great accent wood and great kitchen utensil.