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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.