Georgian cuisine (Georgian: ქართული სამზარეულო, romanized:kartuli samzareulo) consists of cooking traditions, techniques, and practices of Georgia. Georgian cuisine has a distinct character, while bearing some similarities with various national cuisines of the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Every region of Georgia has its own distinct style of food preparation. Eating and drinking are important parts of Georgian culture.
Georgia was one of the countries on the Silk Road, which resulted in travelers influencing Georgian cuisine. The Georgian love of family and friends is one of the reasons why the supra (feast) is so important in Georgia. Supra is offered spontaneously to relatives, friends or guests. Every supra has its tamada (toastmaster), who gives the toast and entertains the guests.
Abkhazian cuisine uses many spices and walnuts. The most popular dishes from Abkhazia are Abysta (Абыста, porridge made of corn, similar to the Margal Ghomi), Apyrpylchapa (Апырпылчапа, pepper skin stuffed with walnut sauce), Achma (Ачма, a variation of Khachapuri), Aritsvmgeli (Арицвмгели, corn bread with walnut), Achash (Ачаш, Abkhaz chudu, with cheese), Achapa (Ачапа, kidney beans with walnut) and Akutaghchapa (Акутагьчапа, hard boiled eggs filled with walnuts, similar to deviled eggs). The most popular dessert is Akuarkuar, a cookie with honey. Ajika is a hot, spicy, but subtly flavored sauce or paste, often used to flavor food. Ajika is also sold as a dry spice blend.[1][2]Abkhazian wines include Lykhny, Apsny, and Anakopia.
Adjarian cuisine is considered a very diversified cuisine, which has been influenced by its geography (seaside, mountainous part) and by its history. In the mountainous Adjara, the main products are dairy products and the dishes are more fat and heavy and on the other side, in the seaside of the region, dishes are mostly spiced, and use many fresh herbs. The most popular dishes in Adjara are Adjaruli Khachapuri (აჭარული ხაჭაპური), Borano (ბორანო - chopped cheese fried in ghee), Chirbuli (ჩირბული - omelette with walnuts and tomato), Malakhto (მალახტო - mashed kidney beans with walnuts and crude grape juice), Iakhni (იახნი - stew similar to Kharcho, traditionally made in and around Kobuleti) Khavitsi (ხავიწი - porridge of corn with ghee), Sinori (სინორი - made of Nadughi and unleavened dough), Pakhlava (პახლავა - a version of the Turkish Baklava) and Shaqarlama (შაქარლამა - a biscuit).
The cuisine of Guria is based mostly on poultry (especially chicken meat), corn-bread (Mchadi) and on walnuts, like the cuisine of Imereti. The most popular dishes from Guria are Satsivi (საცივი - meat, mostly of chicken/turkey in walnut sauce called bazhe), Mchadi (მჭადი - Cornbread), Kupati (კუპატი - sausage made from pork meat), Badrijani Nigvzit (ბადრიჯანი ნიგვზით - fried eggplant with walnut sauce), Gurian Ghvezeli (გურული ღვეზელი - crescent shaped kind of khachapuri filled with cheese and hard boiled egg which is usually eaten on Christmas Day), Brinjula (ბრინჯულა - a sort of cheese omelette "with a dough base" similar to khachapuri) Pkhali (ფხალი) and Kuchmachi (კუჭმაჭი - Beef or poultry livers with walnut sauce and pomegranate).
The cuisine of Imereti shares many affinities with the neighbouring region of Guria and is known for its plentiful use of walnuts. The most famous Imeretian dishes include Imeruli Khachapuri (იმერული ხაჭაპური - the most common version of the Georgian cheese bread), Mchadi (მჭადი - Cornbread), Pkhali (ფხალი), Kuchmachi (კუჭმაჭი - beef or poultry livers with walnut sauce and pomegranate), Soko (სოკო - fried mushrooms), Lobio (ლობიო - mashed red beans with spices), Badrijani Nigvzit (ბადრიჯანი ნიგვზით - fried eggplant with walnut sauce), Chakhokhbili (ჩახოხბილი - tomato-based soup with poultry meat), Mtsnili (მწნილი - pickled vegetables such as cucumbers, cabbage, beets, and jonjoli), Ekala (ეკალა - pkhali made from smilax) Kupati (კუპატი - pork sausage), Satsivi (საცივი - meat, mostly of chicken/turkey in walnut sauce called bazhe), and Tsitsila Isrim-Maqvalshi (წიწილა ისრიმ-მაყვალში - roasted chick in a blackberry and grape based sauce).[citation needed]Imereti is known for its cheeses such as Chkinti (ჭყინტი - Salty cheese),[3] Imeruli Kveli (იმერული ყველი) and also Sulguni (სულგუნი).
Kakhetian cuisine is considered to be a more meat-based cuisine and the region itself is called the "Region of Wine".[by whom?] It is also known as the birth-place of one type of Georgian bread, Tonis Puri.
Notable dishes from Kakheti include Mtsvadi (მწვადი - meat cooked on fire), Chakapuli (ჩაქაფული - soup made of fresh herbs such as tarragon and meat of sheep or lamb), Khinkali (ხინკალი - dumplings filled with meat and seasoned with herbs), Khashlama (ხაშლამა - boiled meat of beef or lamb), Khashi (ხაში - boiled meat, often eaten after Supra), Chanakhi (ჩანახი - soup made of lamb and tomatoes), Chikhirtma (ჩიხირთმა - soup made of chicken meat), and Ajapsandali (აჯაფსანდალი - kind of ragout made of eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes).
In Kakheti, they make famous desserts such as Churchkhela (ჩურჩხელა - Candy made of grape juice and walnuts), and Pelamushi (ფელამუში - Dessert made of grape juice).
Kakheti is also well known for its wines, with wine growing regions such as the Alazani valley, Tsinandali and Kindzmarauli and many indigenous grape varieties including Saperavi, Kisi, Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane.
Kartli is known as a very rich region in terms of fruits (especially apples, apricots, figs, and peaches) and vegetables (especially cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions).
Kartlian dishes include Puris Kharcho (პურის ხარჩო - a kind of soup made of bread), Shechamandi (შეჭამანდი - soup made of dogwood or docks), Jonjoli (ჯონჯოლი - pickles made of Bladdernuts), Chakhrakina (ჭახრაკინა - a kind of Khachapuri filled with cheese and beetroot leaves), Khabizgina (ხაბიზგინა - OssetianKhachapuri filled with cheese and potatoes), and Chakapuli (ჩაქაფული - soup made of fresh herbs and meat of lamb or beef).
Though most of the historical part of Lazeti is located in Turkey, Lazes in Georgia, especially in Sarpi, still continue to carry their traditional dishes, some of them being :
The regional cuisine of Samegrelo can be considered the most famous in Georgia. It uses many spices and walnuts.
Famous Megrelian dishes include Ghomi (ღომი - porridge made of corn meal), Elarji (ელარჯი - ghomi with Sulguni), Gebzhalia (გებჟალია - rolls of cheese seasoned with mint), Megrelian Khachapuri (მეგრული ხაჭაპური - Khachapuri with cheese added on the top), Kupati (კუპატი - sausage made from pork organs and belly meat), Tabaka (ტაბაკა - chicken cooked with Ajika), and Kharcho (ხარჩო - soup with beef).
Sulguni (სულგუნი) is traditionally made in the region.
Ajika (აჯიკა) is a sauce made of pepper and spices. It is made traditionally in Samegrelo and in Abkhazia.
The cuisines of Racha and of Lechkhumi share most of their dishes and are often grouped into one cuisine as a consequence.
Notable dishes include Shkmeruli (შქმერული - chicken in a sauce made of cream and garlic), Lori (ლორი - pork bacon), Lobiani (ლობიანი - a kind of Khachapuri filled with kidney beans and lori), Lobio (ლობიო - mashed kidney beans with spices), Rachuli Khachapuri (რაჭული ხაჭაპური - a kind of Khachapuri made into a square form).
The Cuisine of Samtskhe-Javakheti consists of two regional cuisines: Meskhetian and Javakhetian. Due to their similarities, they are often considered one regional cuisine. This cuisine differs significantly from other regional cuisine of Georgia, partly because of its heavy use of goose meat and historical Turkish rule of the region.
Famous dishes from Samtskhe-Javakheti include Batis Shechamandi (ბატის შეჭამანდი - soup made of goose), Meskhuri Khinkali (მესხური ხინკალი - Khinkali filled with goose), Apokhti (აპოხტი - dried meat of lamb, beef, goose and duck), Tatarboragi (თათარბორაგი - boiled dough), and Rdzis Korkoti (რძის კორკოტი - wheat grains boiled in milk).
SnailsorLokokina (ლოკოკინა) are also a very common dish in the region due to the presence of French Catholics in the past.
Samtskhe-Javakheti is also famous for its Chiri (ჩირი - dried fruits), Tklapi (ტყლაპი - fruit roll-up) and Tenili (ტენილი - a preserved, hand-pulled cheese).
Main dishes from Svaneti include Kubdari (კუბდარი - also known as Svan Khachapuri, a kind of Khachapuri filled with seasoned beef or pork), P'etvraal (ფეტვრაალი - Khachapuri filled with cheese and millet), Chvishtari (ჭვიშტარი - Mchadi with Sulguni inside), Lutspeq (ლუცფექ - boiled barley grains seasoned with pepper and garlic), Kharshil (ხარშილ - soup of barley and urtica), Tashmijabi (თაშმიჯაბი - mashed potatoes with Sulguni).
Svaneti is also famous for its local alcohol made from fruits such as elderberry, and even honey.
Agasyllis (Svanetian ღეჰი Ghehi / (Georgian: დუცი Dootsi ) is a local, Angelica-like plant with medicinal properties that is also eaten raw, cooked and pickled as a delicacy considered to benefit the digestion. It is also taken to combat parasitic worms and to treat respiratory complaints.[5]
Khachapuri, also spelled as hachapuri, is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese (fresh or aged, most commonly sulguni), eggs and other ingredients.[6]
There are several distinctive types of khachapuri in Georgian food from different regions of Georgia:
Achma (აჩმა), from Abkhazia, which has multiple layers and looks more like a sauceless lasagna.
Adjarian (Adjaruli / (აჭარული) Khachapuri, in which the dough is formed into an open boat shape and the hot pie is topped with a raw egg yolk and a pat of butter before serving.
Chakhrakina (ჭახრაკინა) is a variation of Khachapuri made in Kartli and in Racha. It is filled with cheese and beets leaves.
Kotori (კოტორი) is a Khachapuri made in Tusheti. The dough should be as thin as possible; and the filling consists of Kalti (კალტი - a sort of cottage cheese made in the region) and erbo.
Gurian (Guruli / (გურული) Khachapuri has boiled eggs inside the dough and looks like a calzone. Arguably, it is not a type of khachapuri. Gurians make them for Christmas and call them simply 'Christmas pie'. In the rest of Georgia, it is called 'Gurian pie'.
Imeretian (Imeruli / (იმერული) Khachapuri, which is circular and probably the most common type.[7]
Lemzira (ლემზირა) is a Svanetian ritual cheese bread mostly made in a round or triangular shape.
Mingrelian Khachapuri also called "Megruli" (მეგრული), similar to Imeretian but with more cheese added on top.
Meskhuri Khachapuri (მესხური) is a Khachapuri made of puff pastry dough and cheese. Lard is added in the dough and filling which give it a distinct taste from the more widespread Penovani Khachapuri. it is made in Meskheti.
Ossetian Khachapuri also called "Osuri" (ოსური) or by its original name "Khabizgina" (ხაბიზგინა) is a version of Khachapuri which has potato, as well as cheese in its filling.
Petvraali (ფეტვრაალი) is a sort of Khachapuri filled with cheese and millet, made in Svaneti.
Penovani Khachapuri (ფენოვანი) is made with puff pastry dough, resulting in a flaky variety of the pie. It is often sold as street food in local bakeries.
Pkhlovana or Mkhlovana (მხლოვანა / ფხლოვანა) is a Khachapuri made in the mountainous areas of Georgia, especially Khevi. It is similar to Chakhrakina but spinach is also added in the filling.
Rachuli Khachapuri also called “Bachuli” (რაჭული / ბაჭული) is a version of Khachapuri made in Racha. It is filled with cheese and is of rectangular shape and puff pastry dough is used.
Meskhuri Chechili (მესხური ჩეჩილი): Cheese made in Meskheti and same as the Adjarian one.
Narchvi (ნარჩვი): Cheese made in Svaneti. It is shaped in curds.
Sulguni (სულგუნი): One of the most famous cheeses in Georgia, which comes from Mingrelia. It is made from cow or buffalo milk. Outside Mingrelia, it is also made in Svaneti.
Tenili (ტენილი): Cheese made in Samtskhe-Javakheti. It is shaped in curds.
Kitri Pomidvris Salata (კიტრი პომიდვრის სალათა): Cucumber and tomato salad with Georgian herbs, greens and Kakhetian oil (კახური ზეთი). It is sometimes eaten with a walnut sauce.
Sagazapkhulo Salata (საგაზაფხულო სალათა): Salad made during Spring. There is not a strict recipe but it is mostly made of fresh ingredients and boiled eggs.
Satatsuris Salata (სატაცურის სალათა): Salad made of asparagus.
Tcharkhlis Salata (ჭარხლის სალათა): Salad made of beets.
Bozbashi (ბოზბაში): Soup made of mutton and peas and chestnuts, mostly consumed in Kakheti.
Chakapuli (ჩაქაფული): Stew made of lamb or beef (or veal), tarragon and cherry plums in Eastern Georgia (Kakheti and Kartli).
Chakhokhbili (ჩახოხბილი): Soup made of tomatoes and poultry meat (mostly chicken or turkey) which originated in Western Georgia.
Chikhirtma (ჩიხირთმა): Soup made of turkey or chicken meat and eggs which is traditionally made in Kakheti.
Kharcho (ხარჩო): Soup made of beef, rice, cherry plums and walnuts from Mingrelia.
Kharshil (ხარშილ): Soup made of spinach in Svaneti.
Khashi (ხაში): Boiled cow or sheep parts in their juice. Mostly made in the Eastern regions, especially Kakheti.
Lobio (ლობიო): Stew made mostly from kidney beans. Popular in Western Georgia.
Matsvnis Supi (მაწვნის სუპი): Soup made mainly of Matsoni.
Puris Kharcho (პურის ხარჩო): Soup made of bread. It originated in Kartli.
Shechamandi (შეჭამანდი): Different sorts of soup made by a principle ingredients, mostly made in Kartli. These soups can be made of spinach, malva, garlic, dogwood, grains, sorrel, pink peavine and other ingredients.
Chiri (ჩირი): Dried fruits mostly apricots, grapes, plums and figs.
Korkota (კორკოტა) is a porridge made by mixing soaked grains, honey, sugar, raisins and sometimes also walnuts togheter. It is often served at funerals.[11]
Churchkhela (ჩურჩხელა): Candy made of grape juice mixed with flour and walnuts. It originated in Kakheti.
Janjukha (ჯანჯუხა): Same as Churchkhela but instead of walnuts, chopped hazelnuts are used. It is made in Guria.
Gozinaki (გოზინაყი): Candy made mostly for New Year. It is made from chopped walnuts and honey.
Muraba (მურაბა): Sort of jam made mostly from fruits such as walnut, watermelon, quince, fig, berries and from flowers (especially wild rose).
Pelamushi (ფელამუში): Dessert made of grape juice and flour, similar to a sweet porridge.
Tklapi (ტყლაპი): Is a type of Georgian fruit leather made with fruit purée, or excess juice of Churchkhela.
Georgia is the oldest wine-producing region in the world. The fertile valleys and protective slopes of the Transcaucasia were home to grapevine cultivation and neolithic wine production (Georgian: ღვინო, ɣvino) for at least 8000 years.[12][13][14][15] Due to the many millennia of wine in Georgian history and its prominent economic role, the traditions of wine are considered entwined with and inseparable from the national identity.[12]
Alcoholic drinks from Georgia include chacha and wine (especially Georgian wine). Some of the most well-known Georgian wines include Pirosmani, Alazani, Akhasheni, Saperavi, and Kindzmarauli. Wine culture in Georgia dates back thousands of years, and many Georgian wines are made from traditional Georgian grape varieties that are little known in the West, such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli. Georgian wine is well known throughout Eastern Europe, and is a significant national export, with exports of over 10 million bottles of wine per year. Georgia is also home to many beer brands, including Natakhtari, Kazbegi, Argo, Kasri, and Karva. There are also many craft beer brands such as Shavi Lomi, Megobrebi, NaturAle & Underground.
Georgian cuisine is primarily popular in the post-Soviet states, although it has been gaining popularity in the Western world too in recent years. As such, American magazine Thrillist placed Georgian cuisine as the 4th among the indigenous cuisines of the 48 European countries.[18]
In 2010, Georgian cuisine was described as having had an exotic appeal to Russians that The Independent compared to that of Indian cuisine to the British.[19]
^2017 Ethnobotany of the Caucasus, Rainer W. Bussmann Editor ISBN 978-3-319-49411-1 pps. 85-88.
Part of the series European Ethnobotany,
Series Editors: Andrea Pieroni, Manuel Pardo-de-Santayana and Renata Sõukand
pub. Springer Reference.
Georgia (country)
