If you have ever walked into a plywood shop in India, you already know this:
Every second sheet is marketed as “Gurjan plywood.”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth—
A lot of the “Gurjan” sold in the market is not real Gurjan. Some sheets use just a Gurjan face veneer, while the inside core is cheaper poplar or eucalyptus.
Others have mixed hardwood, with only 10–20% Gurjan inside.

So if you’re paying a premium price, you should know whether the sheet you’re buying is actually Gurjan core plywood or just Gurjan in name.

The good news?
You can identify real Gurjan visually in 30 seconds — no lab tests, no tools, no prior experience needed.

The Colour Check – Real Gurjan Is Reddish-Brown (Not Pale)

The quickest and easiest way to identify Gurjan is by color.

What real Gurjan looks like

• A warm reddish-brown tone
• Consistent colour through the top and inner layers
• Slightly darker than commercial hardwood
• No pale white or yellowish tint

What fake/mixed-core plywood looks like

• Pale cream or yellow color
• Very light tan
• Peeled veneers that look dry and whitish
• Unnaturally uniform light colour

The Grain Pattern Test – Tight, Straight, and Even

Gurjan’s grain is one of its biggest giveaways.

Real Gurjan grain features:

• Straight, tight grains
• Fine texture
• Very minimal knots
• No fuzzy or soft grain edges

If you run your finger over the face veneer, it feels hard and crisp, not soft or spongy.

Fake or low-quality cores show:

• Wide, inconsistent grains
• Soft surfaces
• Random patches
• Visible knots
• Fibrous or “hairy” texture when touched

The Weight Test (You’ll Notice It Immediately)

Okay, this one is not exactly “visual,” but you notice it the moment you lift it.

Real Gurjan = Heavy. Very heavy.

Gurjan is a dense hardwood.
A full sheet of real Gurjan plywood:

• Feels firm and weighty
• Cannot be lifted easily by one person
• Has almost no hollow sound

Fake Gurjan or mixed core:

• Feels much lighter
• Easy to lift alone
• Often sounds hollow when tapped

The Core Layer Visibility – Consistency Is the Key

Ask the shopkeeper to show you a cut piece or look closely at the side edge of the board.

Real Gurjan core looks like:

• Layers have uniform reddish-brown colour
• Veneers are evenly thick
• No “patches” of different wood types
• No sudden pale layers in between
• No gaps or holes

If the core is genuine, all the layers will match the tone of the face veneer.

Fake or mixed core identification:

• Pale yellow or white layers
• Alternating brown and light cores
• Big voids or inconsistencies
• Core layers look weak or fibrous
• You see “patches” of different wood types

The Surface Hardness Tap Test

Here’s a surprisingly accurate trick:

Knock on the plywood surface with your knuckles.

Real Gurjan:

• Sounds dense
• Feels hard
• No vibration
• Hollow sound is absent

Fake cores:

• Sounds slightly hollow
• Feels softer
• Vibrates on touch
• Has a “thud” instead of a “knock”

Gurjan veneers are hard.
Poplar/eucalyptus veneers sound much weaker.

Why Gurjan Plywood Costs More (And Why Many Shops Fake It)

Gurjan comes mostly from:

• Myanmar
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Bangladesh (limited)

It is imported and pricier.
Real Gurjan plywood is:

• Stronger
• Heavier
• More termite-resilient
• More durable
• More moisture-resistant

Because it’s in high demand, many brands and dealers mix cheaper hardwood in the core and still call it Gurjan.

That’s why you need these quick tests.

Where Genuine Gurjan Is Actually Useful

If you’re spending extra, use Gurjan plywood where it matters:

Best uses:

• Kitchens
• Wardrobes
• Tall units
• Heavy-load shelves
• Bed boxes
• Staircase storage
• Bathroom vanities (BWP grade)

Not needed for:

• Wall partitions
• Light lofts
• Decorative panels
• Temporary furniture

Real Gurjan Shows Itself — You Just Need to Know What to See

You don’t need to be a carpenter or plywood expert. Genuine Gurjan plywood reveals itself through:

✔ Its reddish-brown color
✔ Its tight, straight grains
✔ Its heavy weight
✔ Its uniform core layers
✔ Its hard, dense surface feel

If any of these are missing, the plywood is likely not pure Gurjan core.

In 30 seconds, with these five checks, you can confidently judge whether the plywood is worth the higher price or just clever marketing.