Folks need to quit thinking stuff is better just because it’s exotic (or “exclusive,” in this article’s slightly unusual verbiage that I’m chalking up to the author being Swedish). Find the local equivalent – and there almost always is a local equivalent – and use that instead.
For example, this article suggests Hard Maple, Cherrybark Oak, Mockernut Hickory or Snakewood for North America, and Olive for Europe.