Going to this hospitable country, tourists rarely return empty-handed. They bring everything as a keepsake, from magnets to collectible weapons. And yet, what are these lands most famous for? What to bring from Abkhazia – for your family and as gifts to relatives and friends? A lot depends on your preferences here.
Honey
If you buy honey for the winter (families often make such a supply in the amount of 1-2 cans), then you can combine business with pleasure: bring this product from Abkhazia. Just keep in mind that honey is a rather heavy load. A 3-liter jar with it will carry about 4.7 kg. Rare varieties are sold for Russians: chestnut, eucalyptus, blackberry.
Honey lovers worry every time they buy – will the product turn out to be fake? It is best to purchase honey directly from local beekeepers. They will show you the hives and tell you in detail about the varieties that they can offer. They will tell you what their healing qualities are. It is possible that the owners of your guest house breed bees, and they will be happy to sell you a jar or two of honey.
There is a slightly greater risk when buying beekeeping products in those places where you are brought during excursions, convincing that it is here: “The best honey in the world, I swear by my mother!” The purchase may or may not be successful. Among the advantages of such places is a wide selection of goods and attractive packaging. Therefore, it is here that beekeeping products are usually purchased as a gift. Of the minuses – high prices and lack of quality assurance.
Jam
You can buy jam everywhere. In specialized stores, in the market, directly from residents. It is not only delicious, but also very beautiful. And, for sure, you have never tried many varieties. Kiwi, fig, feijoa, persimmon jam in winter will remind you of this sunny country. Residents also grow oranges and tangerines, peaches and pomegranates, lemons, dogwood, cherries, feijoa and many other fruits. And, of course, already familiar strawberries, raspberries, currants, plums and so on.
Local residents very rarely use chemical fertilizers in their gardens, and we can assume that all their products are environmentally friendly, tasty and healthy. The warm climate allows fruit growing throughout the year. So you can come here for real natural vitamins in spring and summer, autumn and winter.
And, perhaps, local housewives will share their amazing recipes with you. There is a lot of iodine in feijoa, and iron in figs, so these sweets also have a healing effect. Jam will be a great gift for friends. And if you still didn't have time to buy it, you can order a sweet treat through the online store.
Tea
Here, too, you need to be careful not to buy a fake, and later drinking tea brought you only pleasure. Outwardly, the whole tea looks very attractive. It can be sold in tin boxes, which depict picturesque views of Abkhazia, or in “handicraft” fabric bags, in beautiful birch bark tueskas. But packaging does not always guarantee quality. Therefore, if you like tea, take a little first, for a sample. If you like it, you will get as much as you need from the same seller.
You can buy hand-made tea – in the villages, many do this. Tea leaves are picked early in the morning, then dried on wooden racks, twisted, dried again, sometimes roasted in a rustic oven. Good teas are produced at the Nadin factory, as well as at the factory located in Kutoly. We can recommend buying green and black tea with feijoa, mandarin, kiwi.
Medical fees
A very popular item. Many tourists buy it with a margin, so that they have enough for themselves for a course of treatment, and they can please their friends. Herbs for such collections are collected in mountain meadows, in river valleys, in ecologically clean places. The choice is very large. You will be offered herbs for the treatment of the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, joints, soothing, tonic and other fees.
They are sold in different ways: by weight, as well as packed in plastic bags, woven bags. Most often, instructions for its use are attached to each collection. If there is none, you can ask the seller: how to brew herbs, how many times a day to drink. In addition, you will be offered tinctures and oils that can be rubbed, pads and rollers, inside of which are healing herbs.
This is an aromatherapy treatment. For example, lavender, mint, valerian – will help you fall asleep, eucalyptus – will alleviate the condition of a cold. Rollers, in addition, relieve pain in the neck with osteochondrosis. A little secret – if you came to Abkhazia by bus or car – it will be convenient to put such rollers under your neck during your return trip.
nuts
Nuts are not only very healthy, but also part of a number of local dishes. If you like something from the Abkhaz cuisine and want to cook the same delicacy at home, it would be wise to purchase the right variety of nuts. Almonds contain a large amount of calcium, fiber, proteins, fatty acids, and a number of vitamins. Able to lower cholesterol, cleanse the intestines, slow down aging. Walnuts are rich in lipoic acid, which is very good for the heart. They also have antioxidants.
Nuts help fight inflammation and even mental illness. Pecans are a real storehouse of proteins, manganese and zinc, as well as a lot of fiber. This type of nuts is good to eat to strengthen the immune system. Hazelnuts are very useful for humans, as they are rich in folic acid, and a number of vitamins and minerals. Hazelnut improves eyesight, strengthens the immune system, and contributes to the normal course of pregnancy.
Pine nuts provide the body with manganese, regulate appetite. In Abkhazia, they are often used in the preparation of sauces and salads. Peanuts – so familiar to everyone, often used in cooking. Good for the heart, lowers cholesterol. Most often, nuts can be bought in the market. Try the product from different sellers. Nuts should not be bitter, have traces of spoilage, mold. The shell is whole, without chips. Peeled nuts should have crunchy kernels. Should be stored in a dry place.
Spices and seasonings
Even on the way to Abkhazia, you will hear which souvenir is the most popular. And you can take it out of the country without restrictions. This is a laurel wreath. Bay leaf, necessary in the preparation of many dishes, of course, is worth buying. The local adjika is also very good. You will see it on the table in every home. Locals often spread it on bread instead of butter.
How is it different from the one you are used to seeing on store shelves? Sharpness and unique taste. Of course, each housewife has her own recipes, but almost always the composition of adjika includes walnuts and cilantro, garlic and pepper. You can buy red adjika – with red pepper, or green – respectively, with green pepper. Local cuisine includes a large number of spices. They are sold everywhere, often in plastic containers with an already designed inscription.
For example, “In memory of Abkhazia” or “Beloved mother.” If seasonings are to your liking, you can make a large supply, which will last you until your next visit to this country. Suneli hops, Abkhazian salt, a universal seasoning that is suitable for any meat – in a word, you will see so many goods on the market that your eyes will run wide.
Sauces
I would also like to keep sauces at home for a long time, but as practice shows, this rarely happens – they are eaten instantly. For example, Asyzbal sauce is very popular. It consists of herbs, plums, cherry plum, garlic. It can become a seasoning for various dishes, for example, meat. Asyzbal can also be eaten as an independent dish. This sauce cannot be stored open for a long time – it remains fresh for no more than 2 weeks.
The red version of the sauce is prepared with plums, it is sweeter. In green, more acid is felt, since plums are taken instead of plums. You will also be offered sauces based on barberry, red tomatoes, pomegranate juice, nuts…. There are countless recipes, they are passed down from generation to generation. Taste and discover all the richness of the Abkhazian cuisine.
Pickles and marinades
They traditionally appear on the Abkhaz table at any time of the year. For the preparation of pickles and marinades, cucumbers, onions and leeks, red and green tomatoes, dill and parsley, wild garlic and kohlrabi, Jerusalem artichoke and purslane are used. Pickled cucumbers are very popular, which are cooked differently than in Russia. An earthen pot is used as a container, coriander, thyme, basil, celery are added to cucumbers.
Salted peppers are also popular – sweet Bulgarian or bitter. It is cooked in a clay pot with spices, beets and celery. Special herbs are used in the preparation of salted cabbage. But pickled kohlrabi is an unusual dish for Russians. Garlic and blue fenugreek seeds, basil and pepper are part of the recipe. And, finally, you can bring salted Jerusalem artichoke from Abkhazia – with garlic, spices and herbs. If desired, pickles can also be ordered in the online store.
Fruit
The climate is fertile, the land is fertile, so the harvests here are always generous. From here you can bring a variety of fruits. They ripen throughout the year, so a lot depends on when your trip takes place. The most important thing is that all fruits are environmentally friendly, unlike imported ones. In May and June, cherries and sweet cherries, strawberries and wild strawberries, mulberries and cherry plums ripen here. Arriving in July, you can take with you peaches and nectarines, blackberries and dogwood.
August is considered one of the most generous months. In the market – apples and pears, grapes and figs, watermelons and melons. In September, you can buy everything that in August, and even almost all varieties of grapes and grape wine. In October, persimmon begins to ripen, pomegranates and kiwi, apples and pears are sold. In November and December, they buy persimmon, feijoa, tangerines. In December and January – lemons and oranges. You can buy orange and lemon juice.
Compotes from local fruits
You can buy very tasty and unusual compotes for Russians from local fruits. They will decorate the New Year‘s table, a great gift for friends and family. A drink made from peaches and grapes is popular. Tastes can be very different, as the grapes used are of different varieties. Sometimes blackberries or raspberries are also added. Tasty compote of quince and dogwood.
For its preparation, fruits and sugar are taken in equal proportions. The locals also love the feijoa drink. The fruits are poured with hot syrup and left for a day. Then the syrup is drained, the feijoa is boiled and the syrup is added again. It is also worth trying compote from grapes, from figs, drinks from honey. If you wish, you can bring dried fruits and cook compotes from them already at home.
Churchill
Churchkhela is already being sold in the Krasnodar Territory. A real local delicacy. And yet tourists say that it is much tastier there. Churchkhela is prepared from wheat and corn flour, grape juice and nuts are also used. Strung on a twine, the churchkhela is dried in the sun until it hardens. Almost everywhere on the embankments, in shopping kiosks, you will see these multi-colored “pods”. Also, merchants offer to buy a treat on the beach.
When buying churchkhela, you can get into unscrupulous sellers who save on nuts and use Jupi powder instead of juice. Of course, in this case, it remains only to choke on the rubber mass and wonder – how does someone consider it tasty? In a real churchkhela, if you break it, you will see fruits and nuts. But in any case, first try the delicacy by purchasing 1-2 pieces (the price can vary from 30 to 100 rubles apiece), and then, if you like it, buy with a margin to bring home.
Dried fruits
Dried fruits from Abkhazia can also be bought in Russia, but, of course, the price for them will be higher. In addition, it is under the hot sun of the south that you can choose those dry fruits that you especially liked and purchase them in any quantity. Dried blackberries, cherries of various varieties, gooseberries and black currants. Compote made from such berries will immediately remind you of summer.
It is worth buying dried persimmons, figs, dried apricots, raisins – dark and light, sour and sweet dried plums. All dried fruits are very tasty on their own, various dishes are prepared with them – compotes, confectionery, sauces and much more. If dried fruits are stored properly, they do not spoil for a long time.
Sweets
Surely, you will taste crumbly baklava here. It is made from puff pastry, apples and cinnamon are added to it. A delicious delicacy is obtained, especially if you drink baklava with fragrant tea with fruits. Kozinaki are prepared according to different recipes. They may include almonds, walnuts or other nuts, poppy seeds and dry fruits, honey and lemon or orange zest. Children are ready to gnaw kozinaki from morning to evening. Both baklava and gozinaki will perfectly tolerate transportation. Also, local sweets include Abkhazian cheesecakes, jelly made from grapes with nuts, figs boiled with nuts and honey.
Cheese
In local stores, you will most likely see the same dairy products as in Russia. There are no collective farms and large combines in the country now. People keep cows and goats. Milk and sour cream, cottage cheese and cheese can be bought at the market, but you need to hurry – the goods are taken apart in the morning. Almost certainly, during the excursions you will be brought to where cheese is sold. Please note that in such places it is more expensive. It is best to buy suluguni at the local market.
There is more choice, and prices are lower, and you will not be in a hurry. In addition, almost every seller will offer you to try different types of cheese before buying. It is best to take smoked cheese with you on the road – the one that is brownish in color. Many call it the most delicious, it will not go bad on the way. And it will be an excellent appetizer for Abkhazian wine when you start talking about your journey at home.
Smoked meat
This is an everyday Abkhaz dish that is prepared in every home. Moreover, the meat can be anything – from chicken to beef. It is rubbed with spices and salt, often other ingredients are added (each hostess has her own) and smoked over the hearth. The preparation process takes up to 10 days. Before serving, the meat is usually cut and heated in a frying pan. Served in earthenware, along with vegetables and sauces. The dish turns out excellent.
Local meat will not disappoint you, as it often happens in Russia, when too fatty or sinewy pieces come across in the same barbecue. Here the meat is juicy, tasty, fragrant, cooked in the measure. And advice that has already become familiar – during your stay, try different types of meat, and buy those that you like, focusing on your taste and price of the goods.
Wine
Wine is considered the hallmark of the country. It can be bought not only in bottles, but also on tap. Just before purchasing, make sure that sanitary standards are observed at the outlet, and otherwise you can not be afraid for the quality of the product. Before buying, you can ask the seller to pour a little on the sample. Sometimes merchants are reluctant to pour wine for visitors. In this case, you can visit tasting rooms, there are quite a lot of them in Abkhazia, and the wine here is excellent. You will not only be given a taste of the local drink, but will also be told about it.
So what wine to bring? Of course, you can focus on your own preferences, but still, the most popular are – “New Athos”, “Amra”, “Bouquet of Abkhazia”, ”Chegem”, “Apsny”, “Psou”. If you are not sure about the quality of draft wine, take bottled wine. Just look at the label first, where it should indicate that the drink is made in Abkhazia.
Good local wine can be bought from about 200 rubles. In a word, try to buy a drink in specialized wine stores, because in ordinary supermarkets products may not be stored correctly, and alcohol will lose its taste. In total, you can export 3 liters of wine.
Hair
In addition to wine, chacha will be an excellent “souvenir”. However, this is a rather specific product, and not everyone will like it. Chacha is grape vodka, with a strength of 40 to 70 degrees. But it is believed that it is even useful to use it in moderate doses, it contributes to the famous “Caucasian longevity”. When choosing a drink, pay attention to its transparency, chacha should be free of unnecessary impurities, otherwise you may be slipped low-quality moonshine.
The taste of chacha is quite mild and at the same time has a warming effect without burning the larynx. If you want to buy a quality product, try to do it in specialized stores. The price category of the drink is from about 400-500 rubles per bottle. Real chacha is made only from grapes, mainly from Isabella and Akachich varieties, but sometimes it can be made from persimmons, tangerines, apples, pears, etc. When preparing the drink, no sugar or yeast is added, the fermentation process takes place thanks to natural wine yeast and fructose.
Cognac
Cognac is popular. However, it is worth remembering that there are many fakes in stores, and in order to choose tasty and high-quality alcohol, you should pay attention to the packaging and price. If the cost of cognac is below 600 rubles, then most likely it is counterfeit. Also, a low-quality product can be distinguished during its tasting. This local cognac has a mild taste and does not contain alcohol fractions. So, for example, they produce it at the Wines and Waters of Abkhazia factory.
A good drink can be bought at a price of 700-800 rubles per bottle. Sometimes almonds or dogwood are added to cognac, which make the taste unusual. Real Abkhaz cognac will be a great gift for a connoisseur of strong drinks. But when buying it, make sure that it is made in Abkhazia, this is usually indicated on the label. And, as mentioned earlier, try to buy alcohol not in the market, but in specialized stores.
Daggers
Daggers are popular among local men and are considered a real symbol of the country. You can find these knives in souvenir shops in various cities of the country. There you will find a rich selection of daggers, both large in size, and medium, reminiscent of kitchen knives, and “miniature” – the size of a finger. So, if you don’t know what to bring as a gift from Abkhazia to a man, then such a local attribute can help you out.
Of course, trouble can arise if you bought a real weapon, and not a souvenir copy – in this case, it can be confiscated from you and sent home already unarmed. In a word, if you are planning to buy a dagger as a souvenir, then it is better to pay attention to safe imitations of real models. Their price can vary from 500 to 600 rubles. Daggers represent the spirit of Abkhazia. Since ancient times, they have been used both for hunting and in the household.
Cezva
One of the favorite drinks of Abkhazians is coffee. They usually drink it in its “pure form” – black, freshly brewed, and always in small cups. So if you are a lover of real, brewed coffee, then you should definitely buy a cezve – this is a copper cezve decorated with beautiful patterns. It can be found on sale at virtually every step. Abkhazians believe that real coffee is obtained only in cezve. Visitors especially like products with images of the country's sights – for example, Lake Ritsa, the New Athos cave, and the Maiden's Tears waterfall.
In appearance, the cezve is made quite simply – it is characterized by a cone-shaped shape, thick copper walls, a long handle, but the product is masterfully made and will not leave indifferent connoisseurs of the drink. Coffee from such a Turk does not run away, of course, if you follow the brewing process. A small cezve can be purchased for only 250-300 rubles.
Drip Silver
Drip silver is not a metal at all, but only a beautiful name for a semi-precious mineral – marcasite. It is used in various women's and men's jewelry – rings, rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants. Usually this stone can be seen in silver products, because outwardly it really looks like metal, it has a “cold” sheen. In jewelry, it is most often used in the form of small droplets. Marcasite is considered a fairly rare mineral, it is mined in only a few parts of the world.
But compared to products made of gold and pure silver, marcasite jewelry is inexpensive and affordable for any tourist. Another question is if you are interested in the author's and designer's thing. In this case, the price may be slightly higher. But in general, marcasite jewelry looks very beautiful and will be a great gift for both men and women. If you see products with this amazing mineral on sale, then you should buy them.
Decorations
If a dagger is a purely masculine attribute, then jewelry as a gift is ideal for women. In most cases, you can see costume jewelry for sale, not precious metal products. So, for example, shell jewelry is popular – they are sold all over the coast. A souvenir can be purchased as a gift, or bought as a keepsake. On the shelves there are pendants, and beads, and pendants. Visitors really like various crafts with shells – for their good quality and low price.
Good products can be bought for about 150 rubles. It is easy to find jewelry with corals, and also at a reasonable price. So, if you want to bring bracelets and necklaces that would remind you of the sea, it is better not to collect stones and shells on the beach, but to purchase some kind of accessory. It will be both beautiful and functional at the same time. On sale you can also see products made of silver and copper. If you still want to buy jewelry, then pay attention to the sample.
Cosmetics
If you decide to buy cosmetics as a gift, then finding it here can be problematic. The fact is that in Abkhazia they sell only natural products. For its production, herbal preparations, sea salt, therapeutic mud and so on are used. In a word, ingredients that are ideal for creating “healthy” cosmetics.
At the same time, it is highly likely that you can be sold either home-made cosmetics, or they can give you European products under the guise of local ones. Cosmetics brand “Gold of Abkhazia” enjoys good fame, about 30 items of goods are on sale, and all products are made on the basis of high-quality vegetable raw materials.
Eucalyptus broom
Be sure to buy a eucalyptus broom. Well, where else can you get such luxury? We can talk about the beneficial properties of eucalyptus for a long time. It is used for colds, decoctions and inhalations are made. Such a healing broom can be presented to lovers of the bath. After all, eucalyptus vapors not only smell pleasant, but also have a good effect on the respiratory system.
Eucalyptus brooms are sold in every market. Tourists come to cure bronchitis and asthma, and the eucalyptus trees growing here play a significant role in improving health. There are many of them in Gagra. So the eucalyptus broom will be a wonderful gift. You can buy it for yourself, and remember the trip to the “country of the soul.”
Clay and ceramics
Pottery is still popular today. Masters here still work according to the technology of their ancestors. They use local Sukhumi clay for their products. You can buy one very unusual souvenir from the masters – the “jug of desires”. Traditionally, you need to make three wishes and throw rice into the vessel. A handmade jug will be a great gift for a loved one. In addition, you can immediately make a double present – bring a beautiful clay vessel with honey or jam, which will also preserve the healing properties of the product.
You can buy wine jugs, elegant bowls and dishes. Their prices are quite reasonable. Also on sale you can find painted products, however, their cost is slightly higher, but they look more beautiful. Clay souvenirs are sold in tourist shops, but they can be bought at a better price far from the coast.
Happy shopping!