Local knowledge is key here. If you look up hardwood suppliers on t'interweb, all you get is flooring or logs for burning. I am lucky, in Nottingham there is a timber merchant, Brooks Bros, that has a good supply of exotic hardwoods and the man on the desk is happy to let you go and choose from the warehouse.

These people sound interesting and when this covid thing is over I would like to pay them a visit.
https://exotichardwoodsukltd.com/ they are in Staffordshire.

Hope this helps,

Rob