Are you a foodie travelling to Georgia in pursuit of the finer pleasures of your life? Rejoice! You’re visiting a land that considers food and hospitality to be central to their social culture. Don’t be surprised when I say that Georgian delicacies are some of the best-kept secrets in the world. All you might get to know is that walnuts, cheese, and bread are the pillars of Georgian cuisines! There’s obviously a reason why ardent foodies and gastronomic adventurers are drawn to this beautiful country, sandwiched between Europe and Asia — you get to relish the cherry-picked versions of both the eastern and western cuisines while ensuring that the taste remains true to Georgia itself! Gaumarjos qvelas!

In Georgia, time seems to move slower when you’re at the dining table. And, if you’re lucky enough to get invited to a Georgian Supra — the spontaneous traditional feast that lasts for hours on end, you have enough time to try and understand the long and nostalgic welcome toasts for you, while savouring the traditional Georgian dishes and slurping the strong, homemade wine that tastes spectacular.

Even if you’re not at a Supra, Georgia offers a whole gamut of immaculate bites to feed your soul at every restaurant or food joint in the cities and villages. The following dishes and drinks are some of our Georgian favourites of all time:

Georgian Food For Gourmand Vegans

Khinkali

If there is something that you would love eating after a hiking trip to the top of the snow-capped Stepantsminda to visit the small stone-walled church of Gergeti, it would be the Khinkali. It is the Georgian version of dumplings made with twisted knobs of dough with vegetables and spices as fillings. The non-veg version of the Khinkali, which is stuffed with lamb or veal meat is also quite popular in Georgia. Take one of these fist-sized Khinkali by holding on top of the knot, dip it in a bowl of Tkemali (Georgian Plum Sauce), and feel the whole world melt on your taste buds, along with the each bite of these exquisite delicacies!

Khachapuri

Wherever you travel in Georgia, khachapuri or the Georgian cheese bread will be the most commonly available food. Lucky you, this Georgian staple food will be your favourite part of your meal! While there are different versions of khachapuri, the most common ones are Imeruli Khachapuri that is round in shape and filled with cheese, Megruli Khachapuri that has both cheese and butter, the boat-shaped Acharuli Khachapuri filled with melted cheese, a slab or two of butter, and a raw egg inside the boat. Freshly baked from the oven, the khachapuri beats the taste of the Indian Naan by a long shot!

Lobiani

Go to a Supra on the Georgian holiday of Barbaroba (St. Barbara’s day) and the most important dish you’ll find in the table is the lobiani. A typical Georgian bread filled with beans, the lobiani is usually reserved for special occasions and holidays. The word ‘lobiani’ comes from the Georgian word for ‘beans.’ So, don’t be confused when you hear a similar name, such as ‘lobio’ (the dish mentioned below).

Lobio

Made with beans, onions, and herbs, lobio is one of the most popular side dishes in Georgia. While some variants of lobio are soupy, there are other variants that are creamy and thick. So, pick your variety, and savour it with bread and cheese. If you’re lucky enough to get it served in traditional clay pots, you can get the best taste and fragrance for your lobio.

Churchkhela

Don’t be surprised if you see many roadside shops in Tbilisi with some colourful sausage-shaped things with pointed ends, hanging down from a string. Those are churchkhela — the addictive candy favourite to Georgians! These candies are actually a string of walnuts or hazelnuts, dipped multiple times in a sugary mixture of grape juice, and then dried. So, don’t forget to pack the super-nutritious churchkhela for your next heli-ski adventure to the slopes of Gudauri.

Savoury Non-Veg Options To Try

Chikhirtma

The favourite soup of Georgia, chikhirtma is a brothy chicken soup with a peculiar flavour that isn’t found elsewhere. What adds to the tangier flavour and rich texture of these amazing chicken soups is the addition of vinegar, eggs, and flour. A heartier, healthier, and tastier chicken soup for the soul!

Mtsvadi

Mtsvadi is the name for the Georgian kebabs. Unlike a normal kebab, the preparation of mtsvadi itself is a whole another ritual, and when you eat this from the base of a snow-capped mountain, the feel becomes so different altogether! Dip it in the Tkemali sauce and you could eat it day in and day out!

Chashushuli

A curry-type dish that tastes exceptionally well, the chashushuli is veal stew based on tomato, red chilli pepper, and coriander. A good loaf of Khachapuri or Nazuki straight from the over eaten with Chashushuli is a must-try meal option for non-vegetarian travellers!

Chakapuli

If you travel to Georgia somewhere around the spring season, Chakapuli is one dishes that will top the menu charts. In simple terms, Chakapuli is a lamb stew made with dry white wine, unripe plums, green onion, garlic, salt, tarragon leaves, green pepper, and green coriander. However, this seasonal food is not available around the year.   

Kharcho

Hard to deny that this mouthwatering Georgian beef/lamb soup, called ‘Kharcho’, is one of the best soups in all of Eurasia! A hearty blend of walnuts, tomato, and saffron, this soup is an intriguing mix of sour, tangy, and salty flavours.

Flavourful Georgian Drinksables & Liquid Refreshments

Borjomi

Borjomi is the national mineral water of Georgia. Visit any restaurant, and you’ll be treated with a bottle of Borjomi. Unlike any other mineral water that you see around, Borjomi has a volcanic origin from the 1500-year-old Borjomi spring — maybe that’s what adds a special taste to it!

Limonati

Limonati is Georgian lemonade and  one of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in the country. There are even traditions that consider a supra without limonati as a bad omen! Despite the name signifying lemonades in English, the Georgian limonati isn’t actually made from lemons, but a combination of sugar, natural flavour, and carbonated water.

Lagidze Water

Lagidze water is simply ‘flavoured soda’, that has become so much more than just a fresh drink in Georgia. Drinking this sweet soda, you could feel childhood memories rushing to your head. These colourful fizzy drinks come in various natural flavours, including pear, tarragon, cherry, grape, and even chocolate!

Qvevri Wine

Wine Tasters and brewmasters sing praises to the Qvevri wine not just because of the most haunting, brilliant, subtle, and ancient integrity of this rich wine, but also because of the fact that it can only be grown on in these special, tucked away corners of the planet. So much care is given to growing the grapes, which in turn adds to the complexity, texture and flavour of these homemade wines. Georgia is unimaginable without Qvevri. Similarly, a trip to Georgia isn’t complete without taking a wine-tour to one of their vineyards and tasting a sip of Qvevri!

Coffee & Tea

Coffee and tea are an integral part of the common Georgians. Rightly so, Tbilisi is one of the best places for coffee and tea lovers. If you’re not having wine, limonati, or Borjomi in the evening, you can simply sit down for the afternoon tea or coffee in a beautiful tea or coffee house in Tbilisi, while enjoying the view of the Caucasian mountains.

Depending on the region that you’ll be visiting, there are also various other delectable specialities, which are only available in those regions. For example, Nazuki (Georgian spice bread) is specific to Surami region, while Chvishtari (Georgian Cornbread) is mostly available in the province of Svaneti. So, don’t hesitate to ask the local people about the famous dishes from their specific regions — they’re so friendly, they’ll not only be happy to tell you about their special dishes but also guide you to the best restaurants and eateries where you get them!