How to Identify Jatoba Flooring

Known as Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba is a premium exotic hardwood loved for its rich reddish-brown tones, incredible hardness, and timeless appeal. Due to its popularity and high value, imitations or low-grade alternatives are sometimes marketed as Jatoba—so it’s important to know how to tell the difference.

At Flooring Point, we’re committed to providing authentic, high-quality flooring you can trust.

Key Features of Genuine Jatoba:

• Deep, Rich Colour
  True Jatoba starts with a golden to salmon-pink hue and deepens over time to a rich reddish-brown with subtle highlights. Fake versions often use stains to mimic this colour but lack the natural depth and variation.

• High Density & Durability
  Jatoba has a Janka hardness rating of over 12, making it extremely resistant to wear, dents, and scratches—perfect for busy homes or commercial settings. Lower-quality substitutes won’t hold up under similar use.

• Smooth Grain & Luxurious Finish
  Genuine Jatoba has a medium to coarse, interlocked grain that gives a smooth, polished look when finished. Imitations may look blotchy, inconsistent, or lack the same surface clarity.

• Natural Luster & Ageing
  One of Jatoba’s unique features is its natural luster and how beautifully it darkens with age. Fakes tend to fade, while real Jatoba gains richness and character over time.

• Excellent Stability
  With proper acclimatization, authentic Jatoba is highly stable and performs well in both dry and humid conditions. Cheaper alternatives often suffer from excessive movement or warping.