< 001 > oriented tetra glycine barium chloride (TGBC) crystal of diameter 40 mm and length 120 mm was grown. The growth conditions have been optimized. The conventional and SR method grown TGBC crystals were characterized using UV-Vis analysis and etching studies. The variation of dielectric constant and dielectric loss in the frequency range of 100 Hz-1 MHz is studied at different temperatures. The mechanical strength of SR grown TGBC crystal was tested by Vicker's hardness tester. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.