Jatoba earned its nickname — “Brazilian Cherry” — from flooring manufacturers, as its natural color can often resemble the look of aged Cherry wood (medium to dark reddish-brown). Its resistance to rot and bug damage and excellent strength-to-weight ratio make it suitable for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications, although its density and typically interlocked grains can make it difficult to work and hard on blades.

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Sustainability: This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses: Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments, tool handles, shipbuilding, railroad ties, turned objects, and other small specialty items.

Comments: Jatoba is an excellent choice where strength, durability and moderate pricing is required. It is an excellent turning wood, and it stains, glues and finishes well. It continues to grow in popularity with acoustic guitar luthiers for its bright, well-rounded tonal spectrum, plus (despite its dense nature) it responds very well to steam bending.