What to bring home from Georgia?

Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, a country where 8,000 years of winemaking history meets Soviet-era relics and ancient craft traditions that have survived empires. When you're wandering through Tbilisi's cobblestone streets or exploring the mountain villages of Svaneti, the question of what to bring home from Georgia becomes genuinely difficult: not because options are scarce, but because everything feels worth packing.

The country welcomed visitors who contributed to tourism revenues of $4.4 billion in 2024, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. Those travelers didn't just come for the stunning Caucasus landscapes and legendary hospitality. Many came specifically to hunt for unique souvenirs that simply don't exist anywhere else on earth.

I've spent considerable time exploring Georgia's markets, vineyards, and artisan workshops. What strikes me most is how much of what you'll find isn't mass-produced tourist kitsch. These are living traditions: foods your hosts actually eat, wines they actually drink, crafts their grandmothers actually made. That authenticity is what makes Georgian souvenirs special, and why deciding what to bring back requires some genuine thought.

Here's what actually deserves space in your suitcase.

Authentic Georgian Flavors and Edible Souvenirs

Georgian cuisine ranks among the world's most underrated food traditions, and the good news is that many of its signature flavors travel well. Skip the generic airport chocolates and bring back something your friends have genuinely never tasted.

Churchkhela: The Traditional Candle-Shaped Candy

These colorful, candle-shaped treats hanging in market stalls look like something from a fantasy novel. Churchkhela consists of walnuts or hazelnuts threaded on a string, then repeatedly dipped in thickened grape juice until a chewy, naturally sweet coating forms around them. The result tastes like concentrated autumn: grape, nut, and a subtle earthiness that's completely addictive.

Each region makes churchkhela slightly differently. Kakhetian versions tend to be sweeter and softer, while those from Imereti often have a firmer texture. The best ones use badagi, the first pressing of grape juice, and contain no added sugar whatsoever. Look for churchkhela at Tbilisi's Dezerter Bazaar or directly from roadside vendors in wine country. Properly made churchkhela keeps for months and survives travel remarkably well. Just wrap them in paper to prevent sticking.

Georgian Spices and Svaneti Salt

Svaneti salt deserves its own paragraph because nothing else tastes quite like it. This aromatic blend combines rock salt with dried garlic, blue fenugreek, coriander, hot pepper, caraway, and marigold petals. The result transforms any dish it touches: sprinkle it on grilled meat, mix it into bread dough, or use it to season vegetables. One small bag will change how you cook for months.

Beyond Svaneti salt, Georgia offers khmeli suneli, a complex spice blend that forms the backbone of many traditional dishes. Dried marigold petals, locally called imeruli shaphrani, add color and subtle flavor to Georgian cooking. Adjika, a fiery paste of hot peppers, garlic, and herbs, packs serious heat and keeps well refrigerated. These spices cost almost nothing at local markets but would be nearly impossible to replicate at home.

Local Cheeses and Tklapi Fruit Leather

Georgian cheese presents a transportation challenge, but some varieties travel better than others. Sulguni, the stretchy, brined cheese essential for khachapuri, can survive a few days unrefrigerated if you buy it fresh and pack it carefully. Smoked sulguni lasts longer and develops an incredible depth of flavor. Guda cheese, aged in sheepskin bags, has a distinctive sharp taste that cheese lovers find irresistible.

Tklapi, traditional fruit leather made from pureed plums, apricots, or grapes, solves the perishability problem entirely. These thin, dried sheets of fruit roll up easily and last indefinitely. Georgians use tklapi in cooking, dissolving it into stews for a tangy-sweet depth, but it also makes an excellent snack. Look for homemade versions at markets rather than packaged commercial products.

The Cradle of Wine: Bottles and Spirits

Georgia claims to be the birthplace of wine, and archaeological evidence supports this: clay vessels containing grape residue date back 8,000 years. Georgian wine exports reached $276 million in 2024, making it the 14th largest wine exporter globally. The wines you'll find here differ fundamentally from anything produced elsewhere.

Qvevri Wines and Rare Grape Varieties

Qvevri winemaking involves fermenting and aging wine in large clay vessels buried underground. This ancient method produces wines with characteristics impossible to achieve through modern techniques: amber wines from white grapes that spent months on their skins, developing tannins and complexity usually associated with reds.

Georgia cultivates over 500 indigenous grape varieties, most of which you've never heard of. Saperavi, the country's flagship red, produces deeply colored wines with notes of dark fruit and spice. Rkatsiteli makes both conventional white wines and the famous amber qvevri wines. Kisi, Mtsvane, and Khikhvi offer unique flavor profiles found nowhere else on earth.

Buy directly from small family wineries when possible. Prices at the source run 30-50% lower than Tbilisi shops, and you'll often get to taste extensively before purchasing. Pheasant's Tears, Iago's Wine, and Lapati Wines produce excellent qvevri wines worth seeking out.

Chacha: The Potent Georgian Brandy

Chacha is Georgia's answer to Italian grappa: a grape pomace brandy that ranges from rough homemade firewater to refined, aged spirits. The best versions drink smoothly despite their 50-60% alcohol content, with flavors of grape, herbs, and subtle oak if barrel-aged.

Homemade chacha from village producers offers the most authentic experience, though quality varies wildly. For consistent quality, look for brands like Askaneli or Sarajishvili, which produce chacha aged in oak barrels. Some distillers infuse chacha with tarragon, honey, or mulberry, creating interesting variations worth trying. Pack bottles carefully: chacha's high alcohol content makes it flammable, so check airline regulations before flying.

Traditional Craftsmanship and Handmade Goods

Georgia's craft traditions survived Soviet industrialization largely because artisans continued working in small villages where central planning never fully reached. Today, these skills are experiencing a revival as younger Georgians rediscover their heritage.

Minankari: Exquisite Cloisonné Enamel Jewelry

Georgian cloisonné enamel, called minankari, represents one of the world's oldest and most refined jewelry traditions. Artisans create intricate designs by soldering thin gold or silver wires onto metal bases, then filling the resulting cells with colored enamel and firing the piece multiple times. The technique dates back over a thousand years and was traditionally used for religious objects and royal jewelry.

Modern minankari pieces range from small earrings to elaborate necklaces, with prices varying based on the metal used and the complexity of the design. Genuine minankari requires significant skill and time, so be wary of suspiciously cheap pieces. The best workshops operate in Tbilisi's old town, where you can sometimes watch artisans at work. A quality minankari piece makes a meaningful gift that connects the recipient to centuries of Georgian artistry.

Blue Tablecloths and Hand-Woven Textiles

Georgian blue tablecloths, featuring distinctive white or cream embroidery on deep indigo fabric, have become iconic souvenirs. Traditional patterns incorporate geometric designs and stylized natural motifs passed down through generations. The best examples come from specific regions, particularly Guria and Imereti, where women still weave and embroider by hand.

Beyond tablecloths, Georgia produces remarkable wool textiles. Tush and Khevsur mountain communities create felt rugs and woven fabrics with striking geometric patterns. Svaneti produces distinctive knotted wool hats that locals actually wear. These textiles take up minimal luggage space but make dramatic decorative statements at home.

Ceramic Kantsi and Wine Vessels

The kantsi, a traditional drinking horn, appears at every Georgian feast. While tourist shops sell cheap plastic versions, authentic kantsi carved from actual horn and mounted on silver or brass stands make impressive display pieces. Traditional etiquette requires draining the horn completely before setting it down: they don't stand upright on their own.

Georgian potters also produce beautiful clay vessels inspired by ancient qvevri. Miniature decorative qvevri, wine pitchers, and traditional cooking pots called ketsi make practical souvenirs. The village of Shrosha in Imereti has produced pottery for centuries, and workshops there welcome visitors interested in purchasing directly from artisans.

Artistic and Historical Treasures

Georgia's complex history: Greek colonies, Persian rule, Russian Empire, Soviet occupation, and independence: has left behind layers of material culture that surface in unexpected places.

Soviet Memorabilia and Antiques from Dry Bridge Market

Tbilisi's Dry Bridge Market sprawls along a stretch of riverbank where vendors spread blankets covered with an astonishing variety of objects. Soviet propaganda posters, military medals, vintage cameras, antique silver, old coins, traditional jewelry, and items that defy categorization compete for attention. The market operates daily but peaks on weekends.

Bargaining is expected and part of the experience. Prices for Soviet-era items have increased as these objects become genuine antiques, but patient searching still yields interesting finds at reasonable prices. Stalin memorabilia, somewhat controversial given Georgia's complicated relationship with its most famous son, remains popular among certain collectors. Vintage Georgian film posters, old maps, and Soviet-era household items offer less politically charged options.

Contemporary Georgian Fashion and Accessories

Georgian designers have gained international recognition in recent years, particularly for their bold, unconventional approaches. Demna Gvasalia of Balenciaga fame represents the most prominent example, but Tbilisi supports a thriving independent fashion scene.

Local designers produce clothing, bags, and accessories that blend traditional Georgian elements with contemporary aesthetics. Brands like Matériel, Situationist, and George Keburia maintain flagship stores in Tbilisi where prices run significantly lower than international retail. Even if high fashion isn't your interest, Georgian leather goods and silver jewelry offer excellent value. The Fabrika complex in Tbilisi's Marjanishvili district houses numerous designer boutiques worth exploring.

Practical Tips for Exporting Goods from Georgia

Getting your treasures home requires some advance planning. Georgian customs regulations generally favor tourists, but certain items require attention.

Wine presents the most common concern. Most countries allow travelers to bring a reasonable quantity of alcohol for personal use, typically one to three liters duty-free. Beyond that limit, you'll pay import duties. Pack bottles in checked luggage wrapped in clothing, or use specialized wine shipping services available in Tbilisi. Some wineries offer international shipping directly.

Antiques over 100 years old technically require export permits from Georgia's Ministry of Culture. In practice, enforcement focuses on clearly significant cultural artifacts rather than Soviet-era trinkets. If you're purchasing something genuinely old and valuable, ask the seller about documentation. Reputable antique dealers can provide certificates confirming items are legal to export.

Food items face restrictions in many countries. The European Union and United States prohibit most meat and dairy products, which affects cheese and certain prepared foods. Dried goods like spices, churchkhela, and tklapi typically pass customs without issues. When in doubt, declare food items honestly: customs officers usually appreciate transparency and often allow clearly personal quantities through.

According to recent data, 174.2 million domestic and international visitors spent $45.2 billion in Georgia during 2024, suggesting that millions of travelers successfully navigate these logistics every year.

The best Georgian souvenirs aren't just objects: they're connections to a culture that has maintained its distinctiveness against remarkable odds. A bottle of amber wine made in clay vessels using methods unchanged for millennia. Spices that transform your home cooking. Jewelry crafted with techniques passed through generations. These items carry stories, and sharing those stories when you give them as gifts multiplies their value immeasurably.

Pack carefully, declare honestly, and bring home something that matters. Georgia's treasures deserve better than sitting forgotten in a drawer.