Description

For every Georgian tea lover, a visit to the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo is more than a cultural trip—it is a journey to the very root of Georgia’s tea identity.

It was Ilia Chavchavadze—the nation’s spiritual leader and visionary—who recognized the enormous potential of Georgian tea after the remarkable success of the Chakvi plantation in the late 19th century. When Georgian-produced tea won a gold medal at the Tbilisi International Exhibition in 1893 and later took first place at the Paris Exhibition of 1900, Ilia saw clearly what this meant for Georgia’s future. He boldly declared that our climate, capable of nurturing world-class tea, should never be “wasted on cheap plants.” His dream was a Georgia that grows valuable subtropical crops—especially tea—and thrives through smart, mutually beneficial trade.

“Thanks to our climate, where tea and other valuable subtropical crops thrive, it is a great mistake to waste land on cheap plants. If we were to export this valuable tea from the neighboring market and import other products we need from there, we would be mutually beneficial” (Ilia Chavchavadze - Iveria Newspaper, September 1894).

Today, the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo beautifully preserves not only Ilia’s personal heritage but also Georgia’s rich tea legacy. Within the museum, visitors can explore the Georgian Tea Culture Corner, where the story of Georgian tea unfolds—from its historic beginnings in Chakvi to its rise on the world stage. Here, tea enthusiasts can:

🌿 Discover rare archival materials on the origins of Georgian tea cultivation
🌿 Learn how Ilia’s economic vision helped spark Georgia’s tea-growing era
🌿 See authentic artifacts and exhibits dedicated to tea production and subtropical agriculture
🌿 Experience how tea became woven into Georgia’s cultural and economic fabric

For those who cherish Georgian tea, Saguramo offers a powerful reminder: tea in Georgia is not just a beverage—it is a symbol of vision, resilience, and national pride. Visiting the museum allows you to stand where Ilia stood, reflect on the future he imagined, and celebrate the crop that once brought Georgia international acclaim. A visit to Saguramo is a must for anyone who wants to feel the true soul of Georgian tea culture.

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  • Saguramo's state museum

Ilia Chavchavadze's museum

    For every Georgian tea lover, a visit to the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo is more than a cultural trip—it...

    5.00 GEL

    Ilia Chavchavadze Saguramo State Museum is open every day except Mondays and official holidays. Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
    The last visitor to the museum is admitted at 17:30; Guide services at the museum are provided in Georgian, English, German and Russian.

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      Description

      For every Georgian tea lover, a visit to the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo is more than a cultural trip—it is a journey to the very root of Georgia’s tea identity.

      It was Ilia Chavchavadze—the nation’s spiritual leader and visionary—who recognized the enormous potential of Georgian tea after the remarkable success of the Chakvi plantation in the late 19th century. When Georgian-produced tea won a gold medal at the Tbilisi International Exhibition in 1893 and later took first place at the Paris Exhibition of 1900, Ilia saw clearly what this meant for Georgia’s future. He boldly declared that our climate, capable of nurturing world-class tea, should never be “wasted on cheap plants.” His dream was a Georgia that grows valuable subtropical crops—especially tea—and thrives through smart, mutually beneficial trade.

      “Thanks to our climate, where tea and other valuable subtropical crops thrive, it is a great mistake to waste land on cheap plants. If we were to export this valuable tea from the neighboring market and import other products we need from there, we would be mutually beneficial” (Ilia Chavchavadze - Iveria Newspaper, September 1894).

      Today, the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo beautifully preserves not only Ilia’s personal heritage but also Georgia’s rich tea legacy. Within the museum, visitors can explore the Georgian Tea Culture Corner, where the story of Georgian tea unfolds—from its historic beginnings in Chakvi to its rise on the world stage. Here, tea enthusiasts can:

      🌿 Discover rare archival materials on the origins of Georgian tea cultivation
      🌿 Learn how Ilia’s economic vision helped spark Georgia’s tea-growing era
      🌿 See authentic artifacts and exhibits dedicated to tea production and subtropical agriculture
      🌿 Experience how tea became woven into Georgia’s cultural and economic fabric

      For those who cherish Georgian tea, Saguramo offers a powerful reminder: tea in Georgia is not just a beverage—it is a symbol of vision, resilience, and national pride. Visiting the museum allows you to stand where Ilia stood, reflect on the future he imagined, and celebrate the crop that once brought Georgia international acclaim. A visit to Saguramo is a must for anyone who wants to feel the true soul of Georgian tea culture.

      Read more

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      General overview of our tea cultural route

      The term "European Cultural Route" refers to a road that crosses one or more countries or regions organized around a community whose historical, artistic or social interests are clearly European.

      Our cultural tea route "Georgia painted with Tea" covers Guria, Samegrelo, Imereti regions, the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and Tbilisi. The route tells the history of the development of tea culture in Georgia and its importance in both local and international markets.

      The participants of the route are: Georgian bio tea companies, associations, tea houses and museums, which will tell their stories and offer a variety of services to the visitors: tasting of several types of tea, historical excursion, getting acquainted with the picking and processing process

      Requirements for beneficiaries: First of all, they must have a story that sets them apart from others (Make your story, sell your story), "Farm to table" concept, interested persons will be able to visit tea companies and taste on the spot, with the help of various applications and sites (Cultural routes, Biliki, etc.). They also need to introduce international production standards, take on social responsibility, have a bio-certificate and adequate infrastructure for visitors.

      Information about museum, address and contact


      For every Georgian tea lover, a visit to the Ilia Chavchavadze Museum in Saguramo is more than a cultural trip—it is a journey to the very root of Georgia’s tea identity.

      Admission to the museum is free for children under 6 years old.

      Admission to the museum with a valid document is also free for:

      ICOM members, employees of state museums of Georgia and abroad, people with disabilities, war veterans, ordinary soldiers, socially vulnerable and internally displaced persons.

      Address of Ilia Chavchavadze Museum - Saguramo, Mtskheta, Georgia

      Location link on Google map - https://maps.app.goo.gl/raABXTCKEbNYp9te9

      Mobile phone +995 32 218 04 21

      Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100040885696042

      Email - info@ichavchavadze.ge

      Web-site  - www.ichavchavadze.ge

      The Saguramo State Museum of the writer, publicist and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze was founded in 1951 at the initiative of the poet and scientist Giorgi Leonidze. The house in which the museum is located was built in 1895 on the estate received by Ilia Chavchavadze as a dowry for his wife Olga Guramishvili.

      After Ilia's murder, Olga Guramishvili donated the Saguramo house to the Literacy Society. First, a primary school functioned here, and then an agricultural college. Since the 1930s, a rest house for writers and artists has been opened here. In 1949, the then Council of Ministers made a decision to open the Ilia Chavchavadze House-Museum. This work was directly undertaken by Giorgi Leonidze, who, after two years of tireless work, found almost all the lost and scattered items that today adorn the house-museum.

      Today, the museum complex includes the writer's residence with auxiliary buildings and the Chavchavadze estate with gardens and vineyards. The stationary part of the museum presents the writer's memorial items, photo portraits of representatives of Georgian culture of the 19th century and photographs depicting the life of the era, the writer's manuscripts, samples of his own published periodicals ("Iveria", "Sakturlos Moambe" ...). 19th century Georgian and foreign fine art: French artist Garnier’s “Jacques de Molay’s Reception into the Order of the Templars”, Verne’s “Mazepa in the Wolf Pack”, an unknown French artist’s painting “Fear”, works by Lado Gudiashvili, Gigo Gabashvili, Ucha Japaridze, Iakob Nikoladze, decorative and household utensils, furniture, etc.
      Thousands of visitors visit the Ilia Chavchavadze Saguramo State Museum every year. Various cultural and educational meetings take place in the museum. Poetry evenings are held, the annual “Saguramo” award is awarded, and Ilia’s 20th volume has been published.

      For those who cherish Georgian tea, Saguramo offers a powerful reminder: tea in Georgia is not just a beverage—it is a symbol of vision, resilience, and national pride. Visiting the museum allows you to stand where Ilia stood, reflect on the future he imagined, and celebrate the crop that once brought Georgia international acclaim.

      Visiting Rules in museum

      • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by parents or responsible adults;
      • Educators, teachers and group leaders are responsible for the behavior of children and young people accompanying them;
      • Running, making noise, smoking, entering the museum with low-heeled shoes, or touching exhibits are not allowed;
      • Each member of the group of visitors must be in close proximity to the group leader. The leader is responsible for their behavior;
      • It is not allowed to copy museum exhibits without the written permission of the museum administration;
      • The visitor must keep the ticket until the end of the visit and, if necessary, re-present it to the appropriate person;
      • The ticket issued by the museum will not be returned;
      • Visitors who benefit from a preferential tariff or free entry must present the relevant document at the box office.

      Photo and video shooting

      • Photography and videography in the museum yard, building, and permanent exhibitions is permitted only with prior agreement and written permission from the museum administration.
      Photography and videography on the museum territory is determined by the following prices:
      • Photography of one exhibit in the exhibition 30 GEL;
      • Photography of one exhibit in the collections 50 GEL;
      • Photography of an unpublished exhibit 100 GEL;
      • Photography of a unique exhibit 200 GEL;
      • Photography of an unpublished exhibit from the collections 250 GEL;
      • Film and TV filming in the hall 250 GEL;
      • Shooting of scientific-popular and feature films, non-governmental and advertising spots 1000 GEL (if the shooting time exceeds one day, the amount increases to 1500, 2000 GEL, and so on)
      • Rental of space for presentation 300 GEL;
      • Wedding photo session full service 150 GEL, photo session 100 GEL (this amount includes the ticket price without the right to take photos in the museum and excursion services).

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