The EkSeHandcrafted Story: Origins of The Larchsmith
"Most boards are made. Ours are smithed. Introducing the Larchsmith Collection by EkSe Handcrafted—the UK’s first dedicated Canadian Tamarack workshop."
At EkSeHandcrafted, we believe a cutting board should be far more than a kitchen tool. It should be a legacy object—a precision‑crafted heirloom worthy of the chefs, creators, and culinary artisans who use it. Our story began with a simple conviction:
Extraordinary kitchens deserve extraordinary materials.
While the UK is awash with predictable hardwoods, we turned our attention to the untamed silence of the Canadian Boreal Forest. There, under sub‑zero winters and unforgiving short growing seasons, the Canadian Larch (Tamarack) is shaped by nature into something exceptional. This natural “Arctic tempering” yields a timber of remarkable density, resilience, and a grain so impossibly tight it rivals the world’s most coveted hardwoods.
Where others saw just another tree, we recognised a masterpiece in waiting.
By bringing this rare, slow‑matured material into our British workshop, we created The Larchsmith Collection—the UK’s first and only line of end‑grain boards crafted exclusively from Canadian Larch. Each board is not merely assembled; it is architected. Every grain direction is aligned with surgical precision to honour your blade. Every surface is finished by hand to reveal the wood’s natural spectrum of shimmering golds, coppered ambers, and deep, russet undertones.
We are not simply woodworkers.
We are Larchsmiths.
We transform one of the world’s toughest timbers into breathtaking culinary instruments—pieces designed to elevate a workspace, protect your finest knives, and stand proudly for a lifetime.
Hand‑selected. Arctic‑hardened. Crafted without compromise.
This is larch like Britain has never seen.
This is EkSe.
Rugged Origin. Technical precision. The Science of the Edge
The Rugged Artisan
I didn't choose Canadian Larch because it was easy to source. I chose it because it was necessary.
Most kitchen boards in the UK are built from English Oak or Walnut—beautiful woods, but fundamentally flawed for high-performance steel. They are too hard, causing micro-chips in Japanese carbon steel, or too porous, trapping moisture and bacteria.
I spent two years hunting for a material that could "self-heal" while withstanding the rigors of a professional kitchen. That journey led me to the Tamarack forests of Eastern Canada. In these sub-arctic conditions, Larch grows with a density and resin content that is impossible to replicate in European climates.
I don't just "make" boards. I import a specific northern resilience and forge it into a tool that respects your knives.
The Technical Expert
Engineering the Perfect Cut
Craftsmanship at The Larchsmith is guided by data. To bridge the gap between a raw Canadian log and a stable UK centerpiece, I adhere to a strict technical protocol:
* Hydrometric Stabilization: Every board is kiln-dried and then stabilized in my workshop to exactly 7.2% moisture content. This is the "sweet spot" for UK central heating, ensuring your board won't warp when the winter radiators turn on.
* The Janka Sweet Spot: I specifically select Larch heartwood for its Janka rating of ~830 lbf. It provides the precise amount of "give" to cushion a razor-sharp edge without sacrificing the structural integrity of the block.
* Arabinogalactan Integrity: Larch is naturally saturated with antimicrobial resins. I finish every piece with a vacuum-induced seasoning of mineral oil and organic beeswax, locking in those natural defenses before the board ever leaves my bench.
The Promise
I am currently the only maker in the UK specializing exclusively in this material. When you see the Larchsmith mark, you are seeing a commitment to the edge. Whether you are a professional chef or a home enthusiast, my goal is the same: to provide the last board you will ever need to buy.
