What to bring from Abkhazia as a gift or as a keepsake | Guide Club

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The pleasure of a vacation can be extended if you think about it more often at home. Souvenirs will help to awaken memories of a trip to the sea, but you need to choose them wisely. They should keep a piece of the country where they were bought, revive its beauty and traditions. We will tell you what to bring from Abkhazia as a souvenir. These can be sweet treats, fragrant tea, mountain herbs or products of local artisans. Edible gifts are so delicious that they will end quickly, but they will bring a lot of joy. And ceramics, carved wood or woolen items will serve for many years.

What is delicious to bring from Abkhazia?

Holidays in Abkhazia involve gastronomic pleasures. In addition to traditional kebabs and khachapuri, you can try many more dishes here. Some products can be brought with you, your friends and family will definitely appreciate such gifts. We tell you that tourists bring the most delicious food from Abkhazia.

Fresh fruits

Fruits are available in Abkhazia in any season. Even in February and March, you can enjoy not so long ago ripe citrus fruits. By the beginning of summer, the stalls are bursting with strawberries, cherries, medlars. A little later, fresh apples, plums, and figs appear. In autumn, the season of pomegranates, grapes and feijoa begins. Some fruits are sold after ripening for a short time, others are stored for months. Apples, tangerines, pomegranates are not as beautiful as in our supermarket. But they are much tastier and grown without chemicals. Let’s list what is being brought from Abkhazia as a gift of fruits:

• Medlar. This exotic fruit for Russia ripens in May-June and is sold fresh only during these months. If you find yourself in Abkhazia at the beginning of summer, try medlar and bring it to your family.
• Mulberry. The blackberry-like berry ripens at the same time as the medlar. It is juicy and sweet, but very tender. It is better to carry it in small quantities in a package with dense walls, and you need to buy it before leaving.
• Prunes. This is a dark variety of ordinary plums, smaller and with a small stone. Prunes taste good, sweet with sourness. At the height of the season, which falls at the end of July, it is sold everywhere.
• Fig. At the end of August and in September, several varieties of figs appear in the bazaars — white, lilac, black. Try them all on the spot, and bring home the most delicious.
• Pomegranate. In Abkhazia, this fruit looks unusually small, and sometimes wrinkled. But do not neglect it. Abkhazian pomegranates are sweet, juicy and very healthy. They ripen in October-November and are sold for a long time.
• Persimmon. At the same time, different varieties of persimmons ripen with pomegranates. You can choose a small, but sweet and not at all astringent variety of kings. You can also buy a classic persimmon — a large, bright orange color.
• Feijoa. In November, another rare fruit for Russia ripens — very tasty, with a strawberry flavor. It is also appreciated for its high content of nutrients: it is enough to eat 2-3 pieces of feijoa to get a daily dose of iodine.
• Mandarins. The harvest of Abkhazian mandarins is harvested in December. They are often found on Russian shelves. Fruits may look uneven and greenish. But these tangerines are always juicy, they have few seeds and the peel is easily separated.

Nuts and dried fruits

Delicious hazelnuts grow in Abkhazia: sweet, crunchy, but not too hard. You can buy it in a shell or peeled, the prices in both cases are several times lower than in Moscow. Hazelnuts ripen in early autumn and are the freshest at this time of the year, but then they are sold all year round. There are also walnuts and pecans of good quality in Abkhazia. Unpeeled almonds are often found, and chestnuts appear in the second half of autumn.

In addition to nuts, dried fruits will be a good gift from Abkhazia. They are smaller in volume than fresh fruits and do not crumple on the road. When dried in the sun, all vitamins and trace elements are preserved. The variety of dried fruits makes your eyes run away. Everyone knows prunes, dried apricots, raisins, but besides them you can also buy dried figs, cherries, blackberries, currants. Dried persimmons deserve special mention. It tastes like marmalade or jelly candies, only without sugar. Dried fruits can be eaten separately or added to yogurt, porridge, muesli and pastries.

Honey and jam

Abkhazia loves honey and produces it in large quantities, which is why it is sold at every step. Due to the mild climate, bees work almost all year round. It is best to go to the apiary for honey: there you will definitely be offered a fresh and natural product. Since there are many apiaries, they are easy to find on the way to the sights.

Honey from Alpine herbs differs from the usual Russian taste and aroma. He is very useful. Eucalyptus honey also has valuable properties. This is a proven remedy for colds, and it is better to eat it for prevention, without waiting for the disease. Heather, chestnut, blackberry and other types of honey are sold in Abkhazia. You can try them and choose the most delicious. You can buy a honey dessert with nuts, dried fruits and spices.

Jam in Abkhazia is no less tasty and varied. Fruits that ripen from spring to December are processed into all kinds of jams, jams, syrups and juices. If you choose which sweets to bring from Abkhazia, try jam made from feijoa, figs, persimmons or rose petals. Jam made from walnuts and dogwood is extremely useful. Glass jars are not very convenient, so it is unlikely that you will be able to bring a lot. But even a small jar of Abkhazian jam will bring great pleasure.

Healthy sweets

Abkhazia sells a lot of traditional Caucasian sweets made on the basis of fruits and nuts. Churchkhela is especially famous, which consists of nuts strung on a string, covered with fruit syrup boiled to a thickness. Grape juice is most often used, but it can be pomegranate, plum, apricot or some other. Nuts are also different: walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, apricot kernels. Churchkhela is stored for a long time, but it is better to use paper rather than polyethylene for packaging. What else can I bring as a gift from Abkhazia?

• Marshmallows. The Abkhazian pastille is usually sold in the same place as the churchkhela. It looks like colored pita bread and is a dried fruit puree. There are many varieties of pastille: it is made from almost any berries, fruits, vegetables and mixtures.
• Baklava. Everyone knows this mouth-melting dessert made of the thinnest layers of dough with honey syrup and nuts. Baklava brought from Abkhazia will be more juicy and crumbly than bought in Moscow.
• Kozinaki. Abkhazia has a lot of honey and nuts, and they make delicious and healthy kozinaks. Instead of roasted nuts, seeds can be used, sometimes dried fruits and spices are added.

Tea

Local tea, which is grown on mountain plantations, is perfectly combined with Abkhazian honey, jam and sweets. It’s delicious, easy and affordable, so it’s a great souvenir from Abkhazia. You can go to any market or to one of the private plantations to buy. You can buy classic black or green large-leaf tea, or you can prefer unusual varieties. For example, with barberry, thyme, mint, bergamot, rosehip or rose petals. Jasmine, cornflower, pomegranate and lime tea are popular. A mix by weight is suitable for yourself, and there are beautifully packaged sets for gifts.

Sauces and spices

The most famous Abkhazian seasoning is the burning adjika, which is sold everywhere and is made in each family in its own way. They add it anywhere here, even in salads, or just spread it on bread. If you like spicy food, be sure to bring a jar with you. It is worth trying other sauces. For example, red or yellow tkemali, which is made from plums or cherry plums with the addition of garlic, herbs and spices. Pomegranate narsharab or walnut satsivi is no less good. Not all sauces are suitable for long-term storage, many need to be eaten quickly.

What other spices and seasonings should I bring from Abkhazia? Anything is for sale here. Different types of pepper, turmeric, cloves, cardamom, hops-suneli. There are also rarer goods — Abkhazian salt, dried cherry or pomegranate. For sure, you will need a bay leaf, which grows everywhere here and is sold for a nominal price. You can buy ready-made mixes for meat, fish, soup and other dishes. They will cost much cheaper than store-bought ones.

Smoked meat

In Abkhazia, meat is cooked as in the old days. It is salted, pickled, rubbed with herbs and spices, and then hung in special smokehouses or just over the hearth. The preparation takes several days. During this time, the meat is soaked in smoke and the aromas of herbs, but remains tender and juicy. Chicken, pork, lamb, veal and even horse meat are used for smoking. Since all animals are kept free-range, meat is initially much tastier than store-bought. After smoking, it turns golden and tolerates the road well. It can be sliced and made into sandwiches, or it can be fried and served with any side dish and vegetables.

Homemade cheese

Cheeses are what Abkhazia is famous for, they are definitely worth paying attention to. The most famous Abkhazian cheese is suluguni with a salty spicy taste. It is made from different types of milk, the aging time may also vary. Therefore, the taste of cheese with the same name can be different. Before buying, it is better to try the selected piece.

Suluguni is often sold smoked and in this form easily tolerates even long transportation. Only it needs to be properly packed, otherwise the fragrance will permeate other things. Non-smoked cheese can also withstand the road for 12 hours. In addition to suluguni, other types of cheeses are also sold. Mostly soft pickled, but there are also hard aged ones. You can buy cheese, especially suluguni, anywhere: in a supermarket, at a market or in one of the private cheese factories located on the way to the sights.

Mountain herbs and medicinal tinctures

Residents of Abkhazia prefer traditional medicine, so shops with medicinal herbs are found here almost as often as pharmacies. You can find compositions for any occasion in them. Herbs are effective because they are harvested in ecologically clean mountainous areas. It is not necessary to understand plants yourself. The seller will recommend a ready-made collection for a particular ailment. For example, with frequent colds, the immune system will raise a mixture of dandelion, echinacea, leucea, elecampane and currant. A mixture of lavender, mint, valerian and eucalyptus is useful for stress relief and sound sleep. Women’s health will be supported by a serpentine, a badan and the roots of a lapchatka.

In addition to dried herbs, medicinal balms and tinctures are sold. For example, tincture of Adam’s root or Adam’s apple is highly appreciated. This is how different parts of the local plant are called maclure orange. Its fruits resemble mandarin, only they are inedible and even poisonous. But maclure has long been used in medicine. The milky juice, which impregnates all its parts, helps with diseases of the heart, skin and joints. If one of your loved ones suffers from arthritis or rheumatism, you know what gift to bring him from Abkhazia.

Natural cosmetics

What should I bring from my trip to Abkhazia as a gift for a woman? A good choice is cosmetics based on therapeutic mud, sea salt, essential oils and herbal extracts. There are natural soaps on sale, including baby ones, face tonic, creams and masks for different skin types, shampoos and hair balms. The most famous cosmetics manufacturer is “Gold of Abkhazia”, but there are other brands. There are handmade cosmetics in bazaars and shops. Decorative cosmetics are also worthy of attention.

Eucalyptus broom

What souvenirs are brought from Abkhazia by those who like to take a steam bath? These are the famous eucalyptus brooms — one of the symbols of the country. The use of such a broom is no less useful than medicinal decoctions and infusions of eucalyptus. Essential oils with powerful antiseptic properties cope with colds, make breathing easier for asthma and cough, help relieve stress and relax.

Eucalyptus groves appeared in Abkhazia during the Soviet period and took root perfectly. There are especially many of them in the vicinity of Gagra, but brooms can be bought anywhere else. Please note that the leaves of the broom should be firmly attached to the branches. And the color should be green, brown or whitish shade — a sign that the broom is too old. Other brooms are also brought from Abkhazia, for example, oak ones. All of them are environmentally friendly and healthy.

Woolen things

Winters in Abkhazia are mild, but there is severe frost and wind in the mountains. Animals are protected from the cold by thick fur, and people cut it off and make warm clothes for themselves. If you are thinking about what useful things you can bring from Abkhazia, sheep’s wool clothes will definitely come in handy. Soft and fluffy socks, scarves and mittens will keep you warm even in the harsh Siberian frost.

You can go to the market for woolen clothes, they are also sold in stores. You can choose hand-knitted products with traditional Abkhazian patterns, or you can find a sweater or vest from Europe. A wool belt will protect your family from back pain. Blankets are also sold — they are also light, warm and breathable. It’s a great gift. Soft slippers will be a good addition to it. In souvenir shops, you can buy elements of a traditional costume, including a hat.

Wood and vine products

One of the best options for what gifts you can bring from Abkhazia is handmade items made of wood or vine. A cutting board, a menagerie, a stand for hot food — such products have been used regularly for many years, decorating the interior and reminding about the trip. The price depends on the skill of the master and the complexity of his work. There are amazingly beautiful souvenirs with carvings that are comparable to works of art, and there are simple good-quality things.

In addition to woodcarving, Abkhazian craftsmen are willing to work with vines. It is difficult to take wicker furniture with you, but more compact things will be a great gift. For example, you can buy a nice picnic basket and put some of your purchases in it. Boxes with a lid, frames, dishes, flower stands and other things are woven from the vine. Bamboo souvenirs are also found in Abkhazia: trays, frames, jars for spices.

Ceramics and souvenirs made of clay

Pottery is well developed in Abkhazia, clay and ceramic products are found in any souvenir shop. You can choose a decorative object with a painting to decorate the house. Or you can prefer practical dishes in which you will bake or store food. Everyone likes honey pots and wine jugs with an ornament in the form of a vine. Ceramics depicting the most famous sights of Abkhazia are often found. Bright bowls and dishes are sold separately or in sets, you can pick up a beautiful vase or a figurine of a highlander in national clothes.

Drip silver products and other jewelry

As in any seaside country, it is easy to find jewelry made of shells and corals in Abkhazia. These are things with a mood: it is worth putting them on, and you will remind everyone about a vacation on the coast. Such beads, pendants and bracelets are inexpensive, but they always look good due to their natural beauty.

Drip silver products are also popular. This is the name of the mineral marcasite, which is usually found in the form of droplet-like crystals. This mineral is quite rare, but there is a lot of it in Abkhazia, so jewelry made from it is often found. Fragile marcasite is most often framed with silver — they are perfectly combined due to a similar cold shine. Jewelry from the Caucasus region is usually bright and multicolored. They match the appropriate style of clothing. But in the case of marcasite, this is not the case. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings made of it are delicate and shimmering. They are combined with almost any thing. You can wear them both at work and on a special occasion. If you choose jewelry as a gift, the drip silver will definitely appeal to the hostess and will be used.

Copper jezva

Coffee is loved in Abkhazia no less than tea. It is brewed in a special copper turk with thick walls and a long handle. Such a Turk is called a dzhezva, and it is a great souvenir from Abkhazia. Even the simplest jezva will be a good gift for a lover of natural coffee. You can also choose a more refined product with traditional patterns or an image of one of the attractions. At the same time, you can bring coffee — ground or in beans.

To prepare a traditional drink, it is enough to pour finely ground coffee into the jug as for espresso and pour cold water in a ratio of 1 to 10 or to taste, and then put on fire. Copper can withstand any kind of heating. Due to the thick walls, the drink warms up evenly, which helps to reveal the taste and aroma of the grains. The wooden handle does not allow you to get burned. It is impossible to leave coffee without attention. When the foam appears, you need to set the jar aside until the foam settles. Then put it back on the fire and so on several times. The process takes a few minutes, and you can enjoy the wonderful taste of freshly brewed coffee.

What do you need to know about buying souvenirs in Abkhazia?

The best place to shop is the city markets. They usually work from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm, but in low season they can close at lunchtime. It is better to buy cheese, meat and other products as early as possible, by the middle of the day all the best is sorted. There are many souvenir shops and private shops in Abkhazia. Tours often include excursions to cheese factories, apiaries, tea plantations or to mountain villages where traditional crafts flourish. This is a convenient time to buy goodies and gifts for your family. In those places that are located closer to the sea or to famous attractions, prices are higher, but in general souvenirs are inexpensive everywhere. There is no need to change the currency: rubles are accepted everywhere. But cash is required, card payment is only possible in some stores.

Now you know what souvenirs you can bring from Abkhazia and where to look for them. But it is better if an experienced guide is nearby during your vacation and shows you the best places. To find such a person, look at the offers that match the dates on our website.  Choose the best tour in the Guide Club and book it online.

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