About Sights – Batumi Botanical Garden

The Batumi Botanical Garden (Georgian: ბათუმის ბოტანიკური ბაღი) overlooks the Black Sea and is one the largest and richest botanical gardens in the world. Located 9km north of Batumi at Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape) it contains thousands of beautiful species of plants. Created by the Russian botanist Andrey Nikolayevich Krasnov in the 1880s, the Garden officially opened on … Continue reading

About Food – Lobio with Fried Ham

The Georgian word ‘lobio’ (Georgian: ლობიო) means ‘beans’ and there are a number of varieties of lobio dishes. In this family recipe we show how to make lobio with fried ham. Ingredients: 300 grams of kidney beans. 100 grams of ham. A good layer of fat will give the dish a great flavor. Other ingredients: 2 large … Continue reading

About Food – Ajika with Tomatoes

Ajika (Georgian: აჯიკა) is a hot, spicy paste used to flavor meat and fish dishes mainly in Samegrelo and Abkhazia. It is made with hot red peppers, garlic, herbs and spices. In appearance and consistency ajika resembles Italian red pesto. There are several types of ajika. In this recipe we show how to make ajika with tomatoes. … Continue reading

About Sights – Tbilisi Zoo

Tbilisi Zoo (Georgian: თბილისის ზოოპარკი) was established in February 1927 and contains a collection of animals from the Caucasus Region, together with exotic species from around the world. Its mission is to protect and conserve animals and promote best practice through educational programs and research. Over 300 different types of animals live at the zoo, including … Continue reading

About Food – Khachapuri with Potato Filling

Khachapuri (Georgian: ხაჭაპური) is justifiably considered to be one of Georgia’s national dishes and is popular in restaurants and in homes. There are several different regional types and it can be made with a variety of fillings. In this recipe we show how to make a khachapuri filled with potato. This type of khachapuri is a popular meal in South … Continue reading

About Food – Fried Beetroot with Tomatoes and Spices

Served hot or cold, fried beetroot with tomatoes and spices is a popular appetizer in Georgia. Ingredients: 1 kilo of beetroot, 2 tomatoes, 2 onions, 20 grams of fresh green coriander, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of blue fenugreek, 1 tsp of dried coriander, 1 tsp of dried red pepper and salt (amount dependent … Continue reading

About Achievements – Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue in Tbilisi

Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue (Georgian: დავით აღმაშენებლის გამზირი) is named after David IV of Georgia and is located in an historic district of Tbilisi close to the left embankment of the Mtkvari River. Much of the area was built by the German contractor Friederich Vezel in the 1880s. It is one of the most popular shopping streets in … Continue reading

About Sights – The Mtkvari River

The 1,515 km (941 mi) long Mtkvari River (Georgian: მტკვარი) originates in Turkey (where it is called “Kura”) and flows through the broad valley between the Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus mountains and down into the Caspian Sea. The Georgian name “Mtkvari” means “good water”, and in Megrelian – “the river, that eats mountains”. About 174 kilometers (108 mi) … Continue reading

About Food – Eggplant with Walnuts and Herbs

In this recipe we show how to make a popular Georgian family dish made with eggplant, walnuts and herbs. This is primarily a summer dish and is served cold. Ingredients: 1 kilo of eggplant, 250 grams of walnuts, 1 sweet red pepper, 1 red onion, 15 grams of fresh parsley, 15 grams of fresh green coriander, … Continue reading

About Food – Ojakhuri with Chicken and Fried Potatoes Flavored with Marigold

Ojakhuri is a popular type of Georgian family meal made with meat and fried potatoes. In a previous recipe we made it with pork. In this recipe we show how to make ojakhuri with chicken and fried potatoes flavored with marigold. Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, 700 grams of potatoes, 1 large onion, 1 tbs of dried … Continue reading

About Tourism – Goderdzi Pass Mountain Ski Resort

Goderdzi Pass mountain ski resort in Ajara is currently being developed as a four season destination. The pristine forested mountains are snow-covered from November to April and offer superb skiing. The resort currently offers 8 km of pistes and two ski lifts. Further construction is underway, which will create a total of 35 km of … Continue reading

About Food – Oyster Mushrooms with Eggs and Sweet Red Pepper

Wild Oyster mushrooms are called ‘Kalmakha’ in Georgia and grow on the bark of trees. They look, smell and taste like oysters and are a popular appetizer in Georgia. In this family recipe we show how to prepare wild oyster mushrooms with eggs and sweet red pepper. Ingredients: 700 grams of wild oyster mushrooms, 3 white onions, … Continue reading

About Food – Eggplant with Peppers and Svanetian Salt

In this family recipe we show how to make eggplant with hot peppers, garlic and Svanetian Salt. Svanetian salt (Georgian: სვანური მარილი), from Svaneti region in the mountainous north-western part of Georgia, has a unique fragrance and taste and is traditionally used as a flavoring for a variety of meat, fish, vegetable, potato and soup dishes. Ingredients: … Continue reading

About Celebrations – The Grape Harvest

This year’s grape harvest has begun in Georgia. The process of picking grapes and making wine, together with the accompanying celebrations, is called Rtveli (Georgian: რთველი) and marks the end of the agricultural cycle for the year. Rtveli involves almost everyone in Georgia. Wine is produced by thousands of small vineyard farmers (using primarily traditional techniques of wine-making), as well … Continue reading

About Sights – Kvareli Gvirabi

Kvareli Gvirabi, near Kvareli (Georgian: ყვარელი) in Khaketi region, is Georgia’s largest wine cellar – 7.7 km of tunnels and galleries that maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees C and 70% relative humidity all year round – perfect storage conditions for wine. Originally built for military purposes during the Cold War, the tunnels (gvirabi) … Continue reading

About Food – Beetroot Fkhali with Walnuts

Fkhali (Georgian: ფხალი) is a popular dish that can be made with many different types of leaves, including spinach, nettles, cabbage and beetroot. It can also be made with vegetables and nuts. In this recipe we show how to make Fkhali with beetroot and walnuts. Ingredients: 1 kilo of red beetroot, 200 grams of walnuts, … Continue reading