About Food – Chicken Liver with Ajika and Summer Savory

Chicken liver with Ajika (with nuts) and Summer Savory is a delicious family meal with a piquant flavor. Ingredients: 1 kilo of chicken liver, 3 medium size onions, 2 tbs of ajika with nuts (see link at the foot of this article to see a step-by-step recipe), half a tsp of Summer Savory, 150 ml of … Continue reading

About Sights – Khikhani Fortress

Khikhani Fortress (ხიხანის ციხესიმაგრე) in Khulo district of Ajara was built in the 13th century A.D. Inaccessible from three sides, the fortress occupied a strategic position and retained its military function for 700 years. It is believed that the site was originally occupied by a church (the Church of St. George) built in 1230 A.D. … Continue reading

About Events – Wine Festival in Racha – 31 August 2013

A wine festival was held in Racha at the end of August. Organized by the regional government of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region (Georgian: რაჭა-ლეჩხუმი და ქვემო სვანეთი) it aimed to promote agricultural products and improve links between local farmers and markets. Visitors were able to taste the wines, enjoy great food, traditional folk songs, … Continue reading

About Food – Ajika with Walnuts

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 walnuts. This … Continue reading

About Food – Chakhragina Khachapuri

Khachapuri (Georgian: ხაჭაპური) is considered to be one of Georgia’s most famous national dishes and several of Georgia’s regions have their own distinctive type. In this recipe we show how to make a khachapuri filled with cheese and beetroot leaves. This type of khachapuri comes from South Ossetia, where it is called chakhragina. It is also a popular khachapuri in … Continue reading

About Sights – Nokalakevi Fortress

Nokalakevi (Georgian: ნოქალაქევი) is an archaeological site consisting of the remains of 4-6th century A.D fortress in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. Occupying some 20 ha, the site was known to early Byzantine historians as Archaeopolis, and to Georgian chroniclers as Tsikhegoji (“Fortress of Kuji”). Occupying a strategic position in a loop of the Tekhuri River, … Continue reading

About Sights – Petra Fortress

Petra Fortress (Georgian: პეტრას ციხე) is located in the village of Tsikhisdziri in the Kobuleti district of Ajara. Built during the 6th century A.D., it held an important strategic position at the crossroads of the route linking Georgia with Iran and Armenia. The fortress is one of the most significant monuments on the entire eastern coast … Continue reading

About Sights – Gonio Fortress

Gonio fortress (Georgian: გონიოს ციხე) is a well preserved Roman fortification in Ajara, on the Black sea coast. Located on the left bank of the River Chorokhi the fortress is 12 km south of Batumi and just 4 km from the border with Turkey. The site is believed to hold the tomb of the Apostle Mathew … Continue reading

About Food – Mashed Lobio with Racha Ham

Lobio (Georgian: ლობიო) is a popular Georgian dish made with kidney beans and usually eaten with Mchadi and marinated vegetables. The Georgian word ‘lobio’ means ‘beans’. There are a number of varieties of this dish and in this recipe we show how to make mashed lobio with ham. Ingredients: 400 grams of kidney beans. 100 grams of … Continue reading

About Food – Pork Chashushuli with Mushrooms and Megrelian Ajika

Pork Chashushuli with mushrooms and Megrelian ajika is a delicious family meal with a piquant flavor. Ingredients (6 servings): 400 grams of pork, 500 grams of mushrooms, 6 medium white onions, 3 large tomatoes, 2 hot red peppers, 8-9 cloves of garlic, 150 ml of white wine, 100 ml of water, 2 tbs vinegar, 7 tbs … Continue reading

About Sights – Ferris Wheel on Batumi Boulevard

The Ferris wheel on Batumi Boulevard in Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast gives passengers a fantastic panoramic view of the beaches and the city. Situated close to the Alphabet Tower at one end of Seaside Park this large Ferris wheel is definitely worth a visit. Price is 3 GEL (August 2013) for a slow … Continue reading

About Food – Tolma Cooked with Carrots and a Spicy Sour Cream and Tomato Sauce

Tolma (Georgian: ტოლმა), known as Dolma in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, is a popular meal in Georgia and many other countries and there are many variations. It usually describes a filled, hollowed-out vegetable or a filling wrapped in a leaf. Fillings can include meat and vegetables. In Georgia, fillings wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves and stuffed peppers are … Continue reading

About Sights – The Medieval Stone Bridges of Ajara

By the Middle Ages, Ajara (Georgian: აჭარა), in the south western part of Georgia, formed part of a strong feudal kingdom and many roads and stone bridges were built during this period. The beauty of Ajara’s medieval stone bridges makes them as significant as the mighty fortresses, monuments, and churches that are also spread around … Continue reading

About Food – Green Ajika

Ajika (Georgian: აჯიკა) is a hot, spicy paste used as a condiment and also to flavor meat and fish dishes. It is made with hot peppers, garlic, herbs and spices. There are several types of ajika. In this recipe we show how to make green ajika. Made with hot green peppers, this type of ajika is very spicy … Continue reading

About Sights – 19th Century Mosques in Ajara

Ajara (Georgian: აჭარა) is an autonomous republic of Georgia located in the southwestern corner of the country, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea. According to 2006 estimates by the Department of Statistics of Ajara, 30% of Ajara’s population are Muslim. Islam spread to Ajara as a consequence of the Ottoman Empire’s occupation … Continue reading

About Food – Chashushuli with Summer Savory

Chashushuli with Summer Savory is a family meal made with pork and Summer Savory herb. Ingredients (serves 5-6 people): 600 grams of pork, 3 white onions, 1 large tomato, 3 red peppers, 1 tsp of dried coriander, 1 heaped tsp of Summer Savory, salt (dependent upon personal preference), 2 tbs of white wine vinegar, 1 … Continue reading