🏞️ It is said that when Mamia II, the ruler of Guria, married his daughter Ana to King Teimuraz of Kakheti, he gifted her, among many riches, a remarkably beautiful estate - a lush green land overlooking the capital of the Gurian principality. This place is still known today as Anaseuli, preserving both historical depth and natural beauty. Centuries later, in 1809, by the order of Mamia V, a Scottish agronomist and gardener, Jacob Mar, began searching for a suitable location in Guria to cultivate tea for the first time. As a result, the very first tea plant was established in the gardens of Anaseuli, marking the beginning of tea cultivation in Georgia.
🍃 What was once an unfamiliar plant soon became the foundation of one of the country’s most important agricultural sectors. Tea grown in Anaseuli is especially distinguished by its unique aroma and flavor profile, shaped by the region’s soil and microclimate.
🏭 Our company was founded in 1935 on the basis of the Anaseuli Scientific-Production Association and continues to produce high-quality black and green tea to this day. It is well known in the local market, and currently employs around 40 people, combining tradition and quality into a single product.
🍃 The Anaseuli Tea Tour focuses on the Anaseuli tea plantations and the Anaseuli Experimental Tea Factory, located near Ozurgeti in Guria’s beautiful subtropical region, set among lush rolling hills. This area is one of Georgia’s traditional tea-growing centers and has played an important role in the development of Georgian tea culture since the early 20th century.
👤 Guide: The tour is led by a representative of the Anaseuli Tea Company - a historic producer that continues to create high-quality organic tea, especially strong black tea that reflects Guria’s distinctive terroir. Established during the Soviet period, the factory and experimental tea center were once the region’s main research and production hub - today, visitors can explore both its past and present.
🏡 The company owns 60 hectares of tea plantations, of which 10 hectares are organically cultivated. It produces up to 10 tons of organic tea and up to 70 tons of conventional tea annually. The products are divided by brands: 85% under the “Ana Batonishvili” brand and 15% as “Anaseuli” single-serving packages.
🍵 This is a multi-layered experience where the beauty of nature, the breath of history, and the aroma of tea come together - where each moment offers not just observation, but a genuine connection to the environment, culture, and tradition.
👣 1. Walk through the tea plantations: The tour begins in flourishing tea gardens, where you can observe how the subtropical climate and fertile soil influence the growth of tea.
🏭 2. Visit the Experimental Tea Factory: A historic factory that once served as a major tea research center across the Soviet Union. Here you will see traditional and modern tea processing methods, equipment for producing black, green, white, yellow, and red teas, as well as a testing laboratory where quality is evaluated. You will also have the opportunity to explore old buildings, parks, and Soviet-era photographs.
🧺 3. Tea picking and picnic: Some versions of the tour include a hands-on tea-picking experience and a picnic with local food and organic tea tasting.
🫖 4. Tasting and cultural insight: A tea tasting session led by a local expert, where you will sample different varieties and learn about processing techniques.
📚 Summary: The Anaseuli Tea Tour in Guria offers a rich, educational, and sensory journey into tea cultivation and production - from historic plantations and factories to hands-on activities and authentic tastings, all set against a stunning subtropical landscape.
🗺️ Recommendations: In the surrounding area, you can visit the Anaseuli Tea Institute, Komli tea plantations, Natura Tea Company, Ozurgeti, the Drama Theatre, Gomismta, the coastal towns of Ureki and Shekvetili, Tsitsinatela amusement park, and the Shekvetili Dendrological Park.