The tale of Georgian tea begins in 1809, when a single sapling took root in the garden of Mamia Gurieli
in Guria. From that moment, Georgian tea embarked on a turbulent yet fascinating journey. By the early
20th century, the culture of tea reached its golden age. On the sunlit, terraced slopes, every leaf was
carefully picked by the hands of Gurian women, with patience and love. Their silhouettes, crowned with
wide straw hats against a backdrop of endless green bushes, seemed like figures stepped out of a
Renaissance painting. During the Soviet era, tea factories spread across western Georgia like wildfire.
The age of mass production gradually erased the delicate tradition of hand-picking. And when the
empire collapsed, what was once a flourishing art fell into neglect and silence. Yet with the rebirth of a
new, independent Georgia, tea, too, has begun to rise again on its ancient soil. This time it grows
through small family-run plantations, blending ancient traditions with modern creativity. The best place
to witness this revival is in the tea-growing odas, where local families have taken on the mission of
restoring Georgian tea to its former glory. Here, guests can follow the full journey of tea, from the
plantation to the steaming cup. Together with experienced guides, you can try your hand at leaf-picking,
join tastings and workshops, hear the stories hidden in each harvest, and even learn about the healing
properties of the leaves. For those seeking something truly special, tea baths offer a way to immerse
yourself, quite literally, in its magic. And at the end of the path, you will hold a steaming cup of Georgian
tea in your hands, its thousand shades of flavor telling, sip by sip, the story of this land, its nature, and
its people.