Properties of Jute Fibers
White Jute (Corchorus capsularis):
Many historical documents show that poor villagers of India wore clothes made of jute. Weavers spun jute and cotton yarn using simple handlooms and hand-spinning wheels. History also shows that since ancient times, Indians, especially Bengalis, used ropes and twines made of white jute for domestic and other uses.
Properties:
- The leaves are green in color and the taste of the leaves is bitter.
- The bark of the stem is brown and the flowers are yellow.
- This type of jute plant grows from the tips and its life is annual.
- The length of this plant is 6 – 12 inches and the diameter is ½ to ¾ inches.
- Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius):
Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) is an Afro-Arabian variety of plant. It is quite popular for its leaves. Its leaves are used as an ingredient in a mucilaginous potpourri called Molokhia. It is popular in some Arab countries. Tosa jute fiber is stronger, silkier, and softer than white jute. This variety showed surprisingly good stability in the climate of the Ganga delta. Along with white jute, Tosa jute has also been cultivated in the soils of Bengal since the beginning of the 19th century. Tosa jute is known as ‘Paat’ in Bengal. Currently, the Bengal region (West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh) is the largest global producer of the Tossa jute variety.
Properties:
- The Tossa jute plant is annual and is collected from seeds.
- It is similar to the Capsularis variety and has beautiful green leaves.
- Compared to white jute leaves, the taste of Tossa jute leaves is less bitter.
- The Tossa jute plant has dark yellow colored flowers.
- The height of this plant is two to three feet and its diameter is a quarter inch.
- Speed pods are long and circular.