UDHAGAMANDALAM: Following the success of ' Amma salt ' and 'Amma water', the Tamil Nadu government has decided to introduce ' Amma tea ', a product of Tantea ( Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation ), a government enterprise, according to sources.

Presently, the market share of Tantea is about 2%. However, by adding brand value and with a reasonable MRP, the market share of Tantea could increase to 20% in another three to five years, said sources.

A senior official of Tantea said, "The government is taking some initiative to promote Tantea products to increase market share and promote the habit of tea drinking".

Tantea , a loss-making unit till a few years ago, showed a profit of around 4 crore in the last financial year. Despite being in the red this year, the corporation is likely to get ISI certification for its products, according to officials. The corporation purchased 28 new machines recently to produce different type of teas, including high quality green tea and organic tea, according to Tantea officials. "If the government promotes Tantea products with a brand, then it could override its losses, the official said.

With more than 10,000 acres of tea estates in Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts, Tantea is one of the biggest black tea producers in the country.

It is managed by more than 30 professionals aided by 435 support staff and 10,000 workers, including 4,500 temporary workers.

Eight tea factories owned by TANTEA are functioning within its plantations including two located at Valparai in Coimbatore district. The corporation produces around 60,000kg of tea, including 20,000 kg of orthodox varieties daily in its eight factories. One at 'Queen Solai' estate in the Nilgiris has started producing 2000kg of green tea daily. While 90 per cent of the tea is auctioned, the rest is sold in the retain market.

Established in 1968 to rehabilitate Sri Lankan repatriates, the corporation has grown tremendously over the years.

Ooty tea, another brand of INDCOSERVE - an apex body of industrial cooperative tea factories in the Nilgiirs, is being marketed through PDS shops across the state.

