Right time to promote tea, feels trade

COIMBATORE: With the country shrouded with pesticide-in-cola controversies, Tea Trade Association of Coimbatore (TTAC) has suggested to promote tea by highlighting its health benefits and also opening retail outlets.

Tea Board should take initiative to open the outlets, "India Tea House" on the lines of Coffee House promoted by the Coffee Board, in all major cities covering business points, educational institutions and tourist attractions, TTAC Chairman U V Saraf said.

Addressing the 24th annual general meeting of the association here last night Saraf said the need of the hour was to create awarenes about tea and health in the state level generic tea promotion campaigns.

The Board should carry out continuous and constant 'tea campaigns' through out India, which would increase the domestic consumptioin and also would bring back the lost glory of the tea industry, he said.

Appealing to the Board to involve tea trade and industry associations to propagate the benefits of tea drinking and to open outlets for sale of iced tea, flavoured teas under joint venture, Saraf said such promotional activities would create new consumers for tea.