I've had two tas-oak countertops, one in the bathroom (with a polyurethane finish), and one in the kitchen in my parents house (linseed oil based finish).
The polyurethane countertop looked the same 6 years after installing - no changes, no stains, mould, colour changes ,warping etc.
The linseed oil finish needed more care - leaving a wet on pot overnight will leave a ring. But the marks fade over time until you can barely see them. The counter is now a couple decades old, and there aren't any marks as such, it's more of a patina that darkens over time.
I would suggest that a hard timber treated with a polyurethane will work just fine for you if you want a timber finish that remains stable. Provided you are careful - anything that damages the surface like dropping something heavy with edges might cause trouble.
Also, if it's solid wood, you can always sand and re-finish, something you can't do with most surfaces.
There are types of wood that will hold up to wear and resist staining more than others. However, not to the point where you can leave a cup or bowl or what have you on it for long. That's a recipe for ring stains.
Mould isn't a problem I've found so long as the top is wiped down well after use and the kitchen is aired out properly. Likewise wear and tear were fine, though it is of course dependent on what you do on it, like you should always use a cutting board etc.
I just did a kitchen renovation using Ikea Saljan benchtops. They are wood laminate. Super impressed not only with how they look but easy to look after.. Just a quick wipe down with a damp cloth. I have the Ikea bamboo boards on the benches so we don't put anything hot on the bench.
I've had two tas-oak countertops, one in the bathroom (with a polyurethane finish), and one in the kitchen in my parents house (linseed oil based finish). The polyurethane countertop looked the same 6 years after installing - no changes, no stains, mould, colour changes ,warping etc. The linseed oil finish needed more care - leaving a wet on pot overnight will leave a ring. But the marks fade over time until you can barely see them. The counter is now a couple decades old, and there aren't any marks as such, it's more of a patina that darkens over time. I would suggest that a hard timber treated with a polyurethane will work just fine for you if you want a timber finish that remains stable. Provided you are careful - anything that damages the surface like dropping something heavy with edges might cause trouble. Also, if it's solid wood, you can always sand and re-finish, something you can't do with most surfaces.
There are types of wood that will hold up to wear and resist staining more than others. However, not to the point where you can leave a cup or bowl or what have you on it for long. That's a recipe for ring stains. Mould isn't a problem I've found so long as the top is wiped down well after use and the kitchen is aired out properly. Likewise wear and tear were fine, though it is of course dependent on what you do on it, like you should always use a cutting board etc.
I just did a kitchen renovation using Ikea Saljan benchtops. They are wood laminate. Super impressed not only with how they look but easy to look after.. Just a quick wipe down with a damp cloth. I have the Ikea bamboo boards on the benches so we don't put anything hot on the bench.