One of America’s native hardwoods, hickory is beautifully grained with broad strokes of golden brown and honey shades. At the upper end of the Janka scale, it’s is extremely hard and durable. This quality makes it a favorite for surfaces that are going to be used for food prep and chopping. The warm lightish color of hickory makes it a focal point in any kitchen design from rustic to urban industrial. A workhorse among the hardwoods, hickory offers generations of use and beauty as a wood countertop.