🌱 About Renegade Tea Estate - Renegade Tea Estate is an organic tea farm in the Imereti region of western Georgia, near Kutaisi. It was established by a small group of friends who revived abandoned tea plantations that had lain fallow for decades after the collapse of Georgia’s Soviet-era tea industry. Today the estate farms roughly 40 hectares of tea bushes using environmentally friendly, organic methods.
🍃 What the Tea Tour Offers / Guided Plantation Walk & Factory Visit - The tour begins with a stroll through the lush tea fields set amid rolling hills — you’ll see how tea is grown, learn about the plants and how local climate and soil shape their character, and hear stories about the history and revival of Georgian tea. Following this, you visit the estate’s small processing factory where traditional craftsmanship meets modern production.
Tea Tasting Experience - After the walk and behind-the-scenes factory visit, the tour culminates in a tea tasting session. You’ll sample several of Renegade’s organic teas — often including black, green, and oolong varieties — while enjoying scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
Education & Culture - Guides share insights about Georgian tea culture, how tea leaves are selected and processed, and what it’s like to run a real tea farm. The experience is both educational and sensory, ideal for tea lovers and curious travellers alike.
Services typically offered in a 1.5-hour Tea Cultural Tour:
o Welcome and Introduction: Warm greeting by host or guide and brief overview of tea culture and tour agenda.
o Tea Garden Walkthrough: Short guided walk through tea plants or garden area, introduction to different types of tea plants and explanation of cultivation and harvesting methods.
o Traditional Tea Ceremony Demonstration: Presentation of local or traditional tea brewing techniques, cultural significance of the ceremony and participation opportunity for guests.
o Tea Tasting Session: Sampling of various types of teas (e.g., green, black, oolong, herbal), Guidance on tasting notes and differences and discussion on health benefits and preparation tips.
o Cultural Storytelling: Narratives on the history of tea in the region, folklore, rituals, and customs related to tea
o Hands-On Activity (Optional): Guests try brewing or serving tea themselves and creating their own tea blend.
o Q&A with Tea Expert: Interactive session with a tea master or guide.
o Souvenir or Gift Option: Small pack of local tea or cultural token and photo opportunity in traditional attire.
🚗 Getting There - The estate is about a 20-minute drive from Kutaisi, and the website includes details for reaching the farm by car, taxi, or local transport.
🌿 Visitor Impressions - Reviews highlight the knowledgeable guides, organic plantation environment, and the opportunity to truly understand how high-quality tea goes from leaf to cup. Many visitors note it’s an unforgettable and educational experience, even for people who aren’t avid tea drinkers.
In summary: Renegade Tea Estate’s tour is a delightful way to dive into Georgia’s tea heritage while exploring scenic plantations, learning about sustainable organic farming, witnessing tea production, and tasting freshly made teas right where they’re grown. Whether you’re a tea connoisseur or a traveler seeking something off the beaten path, it’s a memorable cultural experience in western Georgia.
Recommendations: Very close to the tea farm, you can visit Sataplia Nature Reserve, where you’ll find a fascinating cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites as well as preserved dinosaur footprints. Another nearby cave, Prometheus Cave, is equally spectacular. It features a well-lit underground river and stunning natural formations, with a short boat ride through one of its passages.
Kutaisi itself is also worth some time. Here you will find tea houses and cafes to drink tea. Also its Bagrati Cathedral sits on a hill with great views over the city and is an impressive 11th‑century monument. Nearby, the Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains beautiful frescoes and is surrounded by green hills. Another peaceful stop is Motsameta Monastery perched on a cliff above the Tskaltsitela River.
