Kora grass, palm leaf or cane: choosing a basket

We sell baskets in three fibres, and customers often ask which to choose. They look similar on a shelf, but they behave quite differently in daily use.

Kora grass grows in the wetlands of Tamil Nadu, and the mats of Pattamadai are woven from it. Our kora baskets are made by coiling the grass around itself and stitching it with dyed thread, often with a blue or red motif. Kora is firm, holds its shape well and is smooth to the touch. It suits bread, fruit, toys and anything you lift in and out daily. It can sag if it stays damp, so it is not for wet laundry. Our kora grass basket is ₹1,240.

Palm leaf, from the palmyra palm, is woven flat in strips and is lighter and more flexible. It breathes well, which makes it good for onions, potatoes and dry goods, and for lidded storage of papers and clothes. It is the least water-resistant of the three, so keep it away from the kitchen sink.

Cane, or rattan, is the strongest. It is split and woven around a cane frame, and it tolerates heavier loads and a little moisture, so it suits laundry, firewood and large plants in pots with a saucer underneath. It is also the heaviest and usually the most expensive. For all three, keep them out of direct sun, which dries and fades the fibre, and dust them weekly with a dry brush.