Kolkata, West Bengal

Raw Jute (Burrabazar Jute Trade)

Raw jute fibre is the agricultural commodity most associated with the Kolkata district's market history: Burrabazar served for decades as the primary warehousing and brokerage node for Bengal's jute trade near the Hooghly River port, as Marwari financiers pushed exports from negligible volumes to over 100,000 tons annually by the 1870s. Burrabazar remains one of the largest wholesale market neighbourhoods in eastern India, and its jute trading heritage is a core part of Kolkata's mercantile identity. Buyers and traders deal in fibre, spun yarn and jute-based goods from the wholesale lanes. It is a trade product more than a tourist memento, but a genuine signature commodity of the district.

Typical price: ₹varies (wholesale)

Buying tip: Buy through the wholesale lanes in Burrabazar/Posta rather than retail shops, and buy in bulk if you want the trader's price on raw fibre.