Curious Matter, by French manufacturer Arjowiggins, uses microscopic spheres of raw starch, a by-product of food manufacturing, to coat ordinary paper.

The result is a textured product which is a curious cross between sand and silk.

Antalis marketing manager Natalie Thomas said: "It looks really rough but when you touch it, it is both smooth and grainy. It’s different, it’s always great when you get a new product that’s got a story about it. There’s nothing quite like it in the market."

The paper comes in seven colours, all named after potatoes, such as Desiree Red and Purple Majesty and four weights – 125, 135, 270 and 380gsm.

It is suitable for most printing techniques and according to Antalis it is particularly impressive used in four-colour and spot varnish offset printing, digital dry toner printing and lithography and letterpress. The company suggests the paper will work well with folding, scoring, laser-cutting and lamination.

Curious Matter is part of Arjowiggins Curious Collection which includes translucent and metallic papers and has been eight years in development. It went on sale last week.

Thomas said: "It has intrigued people a lot, especially the designers, they are really interested to try it."

While it is too early to say who will use the new paper, Thomas thinks it will go down well with clients who want to make a statement with lifestyle brands.

Antalis is a European distributor of paper and packaging materials with sales of more than €2.8bn in 2011, 6,700 staff and more than 230,000 print and business customers worldwide. It has 16 sites in the UK and Ireland.