Corchorus olitorius, tossa jute or jute mallow, is the jute species that gives most of India’s jute fibre, and its leaves are a famous vegetable across Africa and the Middle East: mulukhiyah in Egypt, ewedu in Nigeria, saluyot in the Philippines. Cooked, the leaves turn slippery, like okra. In India the fibre matters most, though the leaves are eaten in some regions.
- Botanical name
- Corchorus olitorius L.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Tamil
- Peratti keerai
- Hindi
- Mitha pat
- Parts used
- Leaf, Bast fibre
- Habit
- Jute mallow; Tamil peratti is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-30
How to recognise Jute mallow
It is a tall annual, two to four metres when grown for fibre, with oval, finely toothed leaves.
Two thread-like tails at the base of each leaf are a mark of the jute genus.
Small yellow flowers grow singly or in pairs opposite the leaves.
The pods are long, slender and cylindrical, with ridges. White jute, Corchorus capsularis, has round capsules.
Cooked leaves release a slippery mucilage, the texture that gives mulukhiyah its character.
Traditional use of Jute mallow
Fibre
Tossa jute is retted in water to release its golden fibre, used for sacks, ropes, carpets and bags.
Bengal and Bangladesh practice
Kitchen
Leaves are cooked into slimy soups and stews in Egypt, Nigeria and the Philippines, and eaten as greens in parts of India.
African, Middle Eastern and Asian food practice
Modern notes on Jute mallow
The leaves are rich in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium.
Tossa jute yields more and finer fibre than white jute, so it now dominates Indian jute production.
Jute mallow safety
Eat the leaves cooked. Do not eat the seeds, which contain cardiac glycosides.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to Africa and Asia and grown in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Bangladesh for fibre.
It prefers well-drained land, while white jute tolerates flooding.
Bees visit its small yellow flowers.
Fallen leaves during the growing season add organic matter to the soil.
Related plants
Also in Malvaceae
Questions about Jute mallow
What is mulukhiyah?
An Egyptian soup made from its leaves.
Is Jute mallow white jute?
No. White jute is Corchorus capsularis.
Are the seeds of Jute mallow edible?
No. They are toxic.
Do Indians eat the leaves of Jute mallow?
In parts of Bengal and the north-east the young leaves are cooked as greens, though fibre is the main use.
Sources
- Corchorus olitorius L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q165343 (Corchorus olitorius)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.