Taiga is a word with three meanings: the vast coniferous forest of the north, the great river in Japanese (大河), and the greater self (大我). Taiga is also the name of a Berlin-based brand: at Taiga, you will find hand-picked products for Cooking, Sleeping, Body Care and the home, from brands such as Riess, Güde, Sonett, Weleda and Brabantia. Taiga is run by Taiga GmbH, founded by Axel Böhm.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. Author: Taiga GmbH, Berlin.
Three meanings at a glance
| Meaning | Language | Script | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| The boreal coniferous forest | Russian | тайга | vast forest region of the north, especially in Siberia |
| The great river | Japanese | 大河 | large river, or figuratively a large, epic work |
| The greater self | Japanese, from Buddhism | 大我 | the self that transcends the individual ego |
| Taiga | Brand name | Taiga | brand for hand-picked products, Taiga GmbH, Berlin |
The three words sound the same, but have no common origin. The Russian word and the two Japanese words arose independently in different languages. When you hear “Taiga”, you might think of a forest, a river or a self, and each time something different is meant.
Taiga as a forest: the great coniferous forest of the north
In German, according to Duden, Taiga refers to a “vast forest region crossed by marshes, especially in Siberia”. The word comes from Russian (тайга, pronounced tajga). Linguists trace it further back to languages of the Altai and southern Siberia, where a similar word referred to a forested mountain. Its precise origin is considered uncertain.
In technical terms, the taiga is known as boreal forest, after Boreas, the north wind in Greek mythology. It stretches in a broad belt across the north of Eurasia and North America: through Russia, Finland and Scandinavia, and across Canada and Alaska. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, 27% of all the world’s forests lie in the boreal zone. Only the tropics have more forest. Russia, the most forest-rich country in the world, and Canada lie largely within this belt.
The taiga consists of just a few highly resilient tree species: spruces, pines, firs and larches, along with birches and poplars. Winters are long and cold, while summers are short. In eastern Siberia, the forest grows on permanently frozen ground, where larch dominates, a conifer that sheds its needles in autumn.
Much of what defines the taiga lies beneath the trees. In its cold soils, wetlands and layers of peat, plant material decomposes very slowly. A review published in the journal Global and Planetary Change estimates that boreal forest holds around one-third of the carbon stored on land, most of it in the soil.
Taiga in Japanese: the great river (大河)
In Japanese, taiga is a word in its own right, formed from the characters 大 (great) and 河 (river). 大河 first means a large river. Figuratively, it refers to a large, sweeping work, a novel or story that flows like a river over a long period. The best-known example is the Taiga drama (大河ドラマ) broadcast by Japanese network NHK: a historical series that runs for an entire year.
Taiga as the greater self (大我)
A second Japanese word is also read taiga: 大我, made up of 大 (great) and 我 (I, self). It comes from Buddhism and refers to the greater self, which transcends the small, self-centred ego. Its opposite is 小我 (shōga), the small self. It does not mean a bigger ego, but the opposite: a self that experiences itself as part of a greater whole.
What Taiga means to us
As a name, Taiga carries all three images for us. The forest stands for nature, depth and enduring quality. The great river stands for life, which remains in motion, changes and finds its way. The greater self stands for what matters to us: growing into a greater self, in harmony with a greater whole, with nature and with life.
That is why Taiga does not begin with the product, but with the question of how you want to live: how you cook, sleep, care for your body and shape your home, and which small rituals carry you through the day. Our guiding principle is: Holistic. Mindful. Living.
Who is behind Taiga
Taiga is Taiga GmbH, based at Kolonnenstraße 8 in Berlin and founded by Axel Böhm. In his own words:
“As a customer, I do not want to have to wonder whether information about a product is accurate. I simply want to be able to rely on it. That is why I am developing Taiga into a place I would most like to trust myself.” Axel Böhm, founder
Find out more about us and how we select products on the About Taiga page.
What you will find at Taiga
At Taiga, you will find hand-picked products with a sense of aesthetics and an eye for quality, origins and stories. We curate things that are well made, bring lasting enjoyment and make a tangible contribution to everyday life: for a beautiful home, mindful cooking, natural Body Care, restful sleep, travel and small rituals that bring more calm, joy and presence into your life.
| Area | What you will find | Brands at Taiga |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking | Enamel pots, pans and baking tins, cookware | Riess, Kelomat |
| Knives | hand-forged kitchen knives from Solingen | Güde |
| Sleeping | bed linen and sheets | selected manufacturers |
| Care | Body Care, soaps and skincare | Weleda, Dr. Bronner's |
| Household and home | laundry and cleaning products, felt rugs and storage | Sonett, myfelt, Brabantia |
Our knowledge articles explore these topics in greater depth: Buying a really good kitchen knife and Where can I buy Riess enamelware, and which line is right for me?
Taiga and other offerings with the same name
Because Taiga is a word with a long history, others use this name too. Taiga Naturkost at taiga-store.de sells foods such as cedar nuts, while Taiga at taiga.io is project management software. Both are independent businesses and are not affiliated with Taiga GmbH. The Taiga brand this article is about is Taiga GmbH from Berlin.
Frequently asked questions
What does Taiga mean?
Taiga first refers to the great coniferous forest of the north in Russia, Scandinavia, Canada and Alaska. In Japanese, taiga also means great river (大河) and, as a Buddhist term, greater self (大我).
What does Taiga mean in Japanese?
Two words are read taiga: 大河, the great river, also referring figuratively to a large, epic work, and 大我, the greater self that transcends the small self (小我).
Where does the word Taiga come from?
The German word comes from Russian (тайга) and probably goes back to languages of the Altai and southern Siberia. The Japanese words arose independently and have no common origin with the Russian word.
Who is behind Taiga?
Taiga GmbH, based in Berlin and founded by Axel Böhm. Taiga is a brand for hand-picked products for Cooking, Sleeping, Body Care and the home. Holistic. Mindful. Living.
Is Taiga trustworthy?
Taiga is Taiga GmbH, Kolonnenstraße 8, 10827 Berlin; all company details can be found in the legal notice. You can read what customers say about their orders independently of us on Trusted Shops, idealo and Trustpilot. We list the current ratings in our frequently asked questions.
Is Taiga connected to taiga-store.de or Taiga Naturkost?
No. Taiga Naturkost (taiga-store.de) is an independent company and is not affiliated with Taiga GmbH, which runs this website.
Where can I buy from Taiga?
From Taiga online, with shipping from Germany. Our team can answer questions about products in the chat and by email.
Sources
- Duden online: Taiga, meaning and origin. duden.de/rechtschreibung/Taiga
- FAO: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Key Findings. Rome 2020. doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en
- Bradshaw, C. J. A. and Warkentin, I. G.: Global estimates of boreal forest carbon stocks and flux. Global and Planetary Change 128 (2015), pp. 24 to 30. doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2015.02.004
- Random House Unabridged Dictionary: taiga, origin. dictionary.com/browse/taiga
- JMdict, Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group: 大河 and 大我. jisho.org/search/大河, jisho.org/search/大我