In addition to growing in Brazil, jatoba is found throughout Central America, in southern Mexico, and the West Indies to Bolivia and Peru. The average height for jatoba is 130 feet with diameters of 3 to 5 feet. Its average weight is 56 pounds per cubic foot with a specific gravity of 0.91 (denser than teak). Jatoba has a heartwood that varies in color from a salmon red to an orange brown when it is freshly cut. The wood then darkens to a red brown color, almost burgundy, deep red, when seasoned. Jatoba frequently has dark streaks, its sapwood can be wide and is much lighter in color — either white or pink and sometimes gray. The wood has a natural luster and a “warm glow”, especially when planed.

It is ideal for demanding applications such as flooring, stair treads, athletic equipment, tool handles, railroad ties, gear cogs, looms, canoe making, carpentry, and joinery. Jatoba is not merely a durable wood to be used in workhorse capacities, like teak, it is also strikingly beautiful. Jabota has a texture similar to bloodwood and it is not as porous as mahogany, but it is harder and denser than mahogany.

Because of jatoba’s density and toughness, it is recommended to reduce the cutting angle to 20 degrees. The wood’s interlocked grain also causes some difficulty in planing and it has a moderate steam-bending rating. The wood turns well and has good gluing and finishing properties, and must be pre-bored before nailing. The screw-holding ability of jatoba is considered good. End sealer before working is a recommendation.