• Teak wood is sourced from the tree species Tectona grandis. Good-quality teak can be obtained from trees which have an approximate height of 30 metres and are at least 50 years old.
• Teak wood is yellowish-brown, with a fine grain and a smooth texture, as you can see in the image above.
• In India, teak is available in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Orissa, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur.

• Sheesham is commonly known as Indian rosewood and is sourced from the Dalbergia sissoo species of trees. Sheesham trees attain the height of around 30 metres and they take 22 years to grow to maturity. There are two types of sheesham timber, namely sheesham heartwood and sheesham sapwood.
• Sheesham has dark veins in shades of reddish brown and a rich grain pattern which is clearly visible in the image above.
• Sheesham trees mainly grow in north Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.  

Tip: Before buying sheesham furniture directly from a furniture store or an online portal, check to make sure that the furniture is not made from sheesham sapwood. This is because sheesham sapwood is the outer, light-coloured portion of a tree trunk which is not durable and is prone to damage caused by wood-boring insects.

Only sheesham heartwood should be used for making wooden furniture because it forms the central core of the tree trunk; it is strong, durable and resistant to termites.

The following parameters can be used to compare teak and sheesham:

Strength and durability

• Teak wood has a dense texture, closely spaced grains and a very high tensile strength, which makes it suitable for making heavy wooden furniture like king-size beds, wardrobes, cabinets and so on.
• Sheesham wood is lighter in weight than teak wood and is preferred for making smaller pieces of furniture such as coffee tables, chairs, dining tables and other handicrafts.

Termite and moisture resistance

• Teak wood has a high oil content which makes it naturally resistant to moisture and fungi, termites, and it is durable even if it is not treated with oil or varnish. Therefore, teak is also suitable for making wooden furniture for the outdoors and coastal areas. Additionally, teak does not swell in the presence of moisture and it has a low shrinkage ratio.
• Sheesham has a high moisture content and is prone to damage caused by water and tends to warp in humid conditions. For protection sheesham needs to be coated with a wood finish which can create a waterproof layer. Sheesham has good termite resistance.

Wood workability
Both teak and sheesham are good for wood carving but sheesham wood is comparatively more flexible than teak wood so it is easier to work with. One disadvantage of working with teak is that since it is a hard material it wears out the cutting tools.

Cost
Teak wood is very expensive because of its superior qualities while sheesham is a more affordable type of wood which can be used for making wooden furniture.

To conclude, if cost is not a concern then it is highly recommended to go for teak wood.