Tea Board of India has drawn up a proposal to offer subsidy to tea companies planning to set up tea cafes or boutiques.

The board has sought funds to the tune of Rs 25 crore from the Government for facilitating the setting up of such boutiques across the country.

According to M.G.V.K. Bhanu, Chairman of Tea Board, coffee consumption in the country has been growing at 6 per cent, while the consumption growth in tea industry is around 3 per cent.

“Coffee based conversation cafes have become popular and we do not want tea to lose out. So we are proposing to give some sort of subsidy on the cost incurred for setting up of such cafes,” Bhanu said here in his concluding remarks at a seminar on Tea and Health on Thursday.

shobha.roy@thehindu.co.in