Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads, often called hessian. It grows best in warm and humid climates. Almost 85% of the world's jute cultivation is concentrated in the Ganges delta. This fertile geographic region is shared by both Bangladesh and India.

Jute is a natural product requiring only the addition of oil to make it into string. In the past whale oil was commonly used, which is why Nutscene is based near the old whaling port of Dundee.