Gonçalo Alves, more commonly known as tigerwood, is a species of hard wood found from Mexico southward to Brazil. The trees typically grow to be a little over 100 feet, with a base width around 3 to 5 feet. It’s an incredible stiff and strong wood that has great durability, all contributing to the fact that it is an extremely dense and heavy species.

Although its typical uses are flooring, veneers, and small wood specialty objects like pool cues, archery bows, and knife handles, I thought a larger cut of lumber could make for a beautiful, deep-toned charcuterie board. Its density made it slightly difficult to work with since significant heat was created in the process of cutting and shaping the wood, but all in all I’m glad I used it for this project. Only downside is it weighs about 50 pounds!