The EkSeHandcrafted Story: Origins of The Larchsmith
The UK's only workshop handcrafting end-grain culinary boards from Canadian Larch — not imported, not mass-produced. Made here, by hand, by one maker.
My name is Eksteen Traut. EkSe Handcrafted began with a conviction I couldn't ignore: that the tools at the centre of a serious kitchen should be built to last — and built with intention.
In a world designed for replacement, wood feels different. It has history, character, and strength. In my workshop in the UK, I work slowly and deliberately. There is no production line. There is only the careful selection of each piece of timber, and the patient process of bringing something permanent to life.
While British workshops defaulted to Oak and Walnut, I looked further. Deep in the sub-arctic forests of Eastern Canada, Canadian Larch (Tamarack) grows slowly under extreme conditions — producing a timber of extraordinary density, natural antimicrobial resin, and a self-healing grain that no European species can replicate. Its end-grain closes behind the blade rather than surrendering to it, protecting the sharp edges of your finest knives. The wood's warm tones deepen with age — meaning the board doesn't just last, it evolves with you.
I am the first and only maker in the UK working exclusively with this material.
The Larchsmith Collection is the result. Each piece is hand-selected, stabilised to UK conditions, and finished entirely in my workshop, revealing the wood's natural spectrum of shimmering golds, coppered ambers, and deep russet tones. Every board is crafted one at a time, by me. It is not assembled. It is smithed.
My hope is that this isn't simply a cutting board — but a functional piece of craft that becomes the heart of your kitchen. A future heirloom, built to bear the marks of a thousand happy meals and last for generations.
No imports. No intermediaries. No compromises.
This is larch like Britain has never seen.
This is EkSe.
Crafted by Hand. Trusted by the Blade
The Material
Canadian Larch wasn't chosen for convenience. It was chosen because nothing else comes close.
English Oak and Walnut dominate the UK market — and both fall short. Oak is too dense, micro-chipping Japanese carbon steel with every stroke. Walnut is too porous, harbouring moisture and bacteria beneath the surface.
Tamarack Larch, grown in the sub-arctic forests of Eastern Canada, is different. Extreme conditions produce a timber with a density and natural resin content that simply cannot be replicated in European climates — a wood that closes behind the blade rather than surrendering to it.
The Craft
Every board leaves the workshop to a precise technical standard — not an aesthetic one.
Hydrometric Stabilisation — Kiln-dried and workshop-conditioned to 8–10% moisture content. The exact threshold that prevents warping when UK central heating kicks in.
The Janka Sweet Spot — Larch heartwood sits at ~830 lbf. Firm enough to hold its form. Forgiving enough to protect a razor edge. Neither too hard nor too soft.
Natural Antimicrobial Defence — Larch is rich in arabinogalactan, a naturally occurring resin with antimicrobial properties. Finished with mineral oil and organic beeswax to lock that protection in before the board leaves the bench.
The Standard
There is no other maker in the UK working exclusively with this material. The Larchsmith mark is a guarantee — that what you hold was built to outlast trends, outlast kitchens, and outlast the boards you've replaced before.
This is the last board you will ever need to buy.
