Traveling 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 regions most famous for? What to bring from Abkhazia - for your family and as gifts to relatives and friends? Much depends on your preferences.
For some, the best souvenirs will be spices, honey, cheese, someone will give preference to things. There is no need to argue about only one thing. In this country, everyone will find what they like. You can buy honey of different varieties, beautiful and tasty jams, organic fruits, wine and chacha, jewelry, clay products and much more. Think in advance - what you need, compare products in different markets, bargain - and let the purchases bring you and your friends only joy.
Honey
If you buy honey for the winter (families often make such a stock 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 weigh about 4.7 kg. The varieties are sold rare for Russians: chestnut, eucalyptus, blackberry.
Honey lovers are worried every time they purchase - 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 tell what their healing qualities are. It is possible that the bees are bred by the owners of your guest house, and they will gladly 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 can be either good or bad. The advantages of such places are a wide selection of goods and attractive packaging. Therefore, it is here that beekeeping products are usually purchased as a gift. The disadvantages are high prices and lack of quality guarantees.
Jam
Jam can be bought everywhere. In specialized stores, in the market, directly with residents. It is not only tasty, but also very beautiful. And, for sure, you have never tried many varieties. Jam from kiwi, figs, feijoa, persimmon in winter will remind you of this sunny country. The residents also grow oranges and tangerines, peaches and pomegranates, lemons, dogwoods, cherries, feijoa and many other fruits. And, of course, the 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 to be grown throughout the year. So you can come here for real natural vitamins in spring and summer, autumn and winter.
And, perhaps, local hostesses will share their amazing recipes with you. Feijoa contains a lot of iodine, and figs contain iron, so these sweets also have a healing effect. Jam will be a great gift for friends. And if you still did not 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 the tea party brought you only pleasure later. Outwardly, all tea looks very attractive. It can be sold in tin boxes, which depict picturesque views of Abkhazia, or in "handicraft" bags made of fabric, in beautiful birch bark tuesques. But packaging does not always guarantee quality. Therefore, if you liked tea, take a little at first, to sample. If you like it, you will buy from the same seller as much as you need.
You can buy hand-made tea - in the villages, many people do this. They collect tea leaves in the early morning, then dry them on wooden shelves, twist them, dry them again, sometimes fry them in the village oven. Good teas are produced at the Nadine factory, as well as at the factory located in Kutoly. You can recommend buying green and black tea with feijoa, tangerine, kiwi.
Treatment fees
A very popular product. Many tourists buy it with a margin, so that they have enough for themselves for a course of treatment, and friends can be pleased. 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 sell 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 them - medicinal herbs.
This is already an aromatherapy treatment. For example, lavender, mint, valerian - will help you fall asleep, eucalyptus - will ease the condition with a cold. Rollers, in addition, will relieve neck pain with osteochondrosis. A little secret - if you come to Abkhazia by bus or car - such rollers will be conveniently placed under your neck during your return trip.
Nuts
Nuts are not only very healthy, but they are 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 are high in calcium, fiber, proteins, fatty acids, and a number of vitamins. It is able to lower cholesterol, cleanse the intestines, slow down aging. Walnuts are rich in lipoic acid, which is very beneficial for the heart. They also contain antioxidants.
Nuts help fight inflammation and even mental illness. Pecan is a real storehouse of proteins, manganese and zinc, and it is also high in fiber. This type of nut is good to eat to strengthen the immune system. Hazelnuts are very beneficial 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 and regulate appetite. In Abkhazia, they are often used in the preparation of sauces and salads. Peanuts are so familiar to everyone, they are often used in cooking. Good for the heart, lowers cholesterol levels. Most often, nuts can be bought in the market. Try the product with different sellers. Nuts should not be bitter, have traces of deterioration, mold. The shell is whole, without chips. Peeled nuts should have a crunchy kernel. Store in a dry place.
Spices and condiments
Even on the way to Abkhazia, you will hear which souvenir is the most popular. Moreover, you can take it out of the country without restrictions. This is a "laurel wreath". Essential for many dishes, bay leaves are of course worth purchasing. Local adjika is also very good. You will see her on the table in every home. Locals often smear it on bread instead of butter.
How does it differ from the one you are used to seeing on store shelves? Sharpness and peculiar taste. Of course, each housewife has her own recipes, but almost always adzhika contains walnuts and cilantro, garlic and pepper. You can buy red adjika - with red pepper, or green - respectively, with green pepper. Local cuisine includes a wide variety of spices. They are sold everywhere, often in plastic containers with an already issued inscription.
For example, "In memory of Abkhazia" or "Beloved mother".If the seasoning is to your liking, you can make a large supply, which will be enough for you until your next visit to this country. Hmeli-suneli, 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 run wild.
Sauces
I would like to keep the 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 contains herbs, plums, cherry plums, garlic. It can be a seasoning for various dishes, for example, meat. Also, Asyzbal can be eaten as an independent dish. This sauce cannot be stored open for a long time - it stays fresh for no more than 2 weeks.
The red version of the sauce is made with plums and is sweeter. In green, more acid is felt, since cherry plum is taken instead of plums. Also, you will be offered sauces based on barberry, red tomatoes, pomegranate juice, nuts…. There are countless recipes, they are passed down from generation to generation. Try and discover all the richness of the Abkhaz cuisine.
Pickles and marinades
They traditionally appear on the Abkhazian table at any time of the year. For the preparation of pickles and marinades, cucumbers, onions and leeks, tomatoes - red and green, dill and parsley, wild garlic and kohlrabi, Jerusalem artichoke and purslane are used. Pickled cucumbers are very popular, which are prepared differently than in Russia. A clay 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 prepared in an earthen 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 included in the recipe. And, finally, you can bring salted Jerusalem artichoke from Abkhazia - with garlic, spices and herbs. Pickles can also be ordered from the online store if desired.
Fruits
The climate is fertile, the land is fertile, so the harvests here are always generous. A wide variety of fruits can be brought from here. They ripen throughout the year, so a lot depends on when your trip will take place. The most important thing is that all fruits are environmentally friendly, not like imported ones. In May and June, cherries and cherries, strawberries and strawberries, mulberries and cherry plums ripen here. Arriving in July, you can take with you peaches and nectarines, blackberries and dogwood.
August is considered to be one of the most generous months. On the market - apples and pears, grapes and figs, watermelons and melons. In September, you can buy everything that is in August, and even almost all grape varieties and grape wine. In October, persimmons begin to ripen, pomegranates and kiwi, apples and pears are sold. In November and December, people buy persimmons, feijoa, tangerines. In December and January - lemons and oranges. You can buy orange and lemon juices.
Local fruit compotes
You can buy compotes from local fruits, very tasty and unusual for Russians. They will become a decoration of the New Year's table, an excellent gift for friends and family. A drink made from peaches and grapes is popular. The shades of taste can be very different, as the grapes are used in different varieties. Sometimes they also add blackberries or raspberries. Quince and dogwood compote is delicious.
For its preparation, fruits and sugar are taken in equal proportions. The locals also love the drink from feijoa. 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 grape compote, figs, honey drinks. If you wish, you can bring dried fruits and cook compotes from them at home.
Churchkhela
Churchkhela is already being sold in the Krasnodar Territory. A real local treat. Still, tourists say that it tastes much better there. Churchkhela is prepared from wheat and corn flour, grape juice and nuts are also used. Strung on a string, churchkhela is dried in the sun until it hardens. Almost everywhere on the embankments, in shopping kiosks, you will see these multi-colored "pods". Vendors also offer to buy a treat on the beach.
Buying churchkhela, you can get into unscrupulous sellers who save on nuts, and use Yupi powder instead of juice. Of course, in this case, all that remains is to choke on the rubber mass and wonder - how someone considers it tasty? In a real churchkhela, if you break it, you will see fruits and nuts. But in any case, first try the delicacy, purchasing 1-2 pieces (the price can vary from 30 to 100 rubles per piece), 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 like and purchase them in any quantity. Dried blackberries, different varieties of cherries, 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, different dishes are prepared with them - compotes, pastries, sauces and much more. If dried fruits are stored correctly, they do not deteriorate 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 can include almonds, walnuts or other nuts, poppy seeds and dry fruits, honey and lemon or orange peel. Children are ready to gnaw kozinaki from morning to evening. Both baklava and kozinaki will perfectly tolerate transportation. Also local sweets include Abkhaz cheesecakes, grape jelly 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 industrial complexes in the country now. People keep cows and goats. Milk and sour cream, cottage cheese and cheese can be bought on the market, but you need to hurry - the goods are sorted out in the morning. Almost certainly, during the excursions, you will be brought to the place where the cheese is sold. Please note that in such places it is more expensive. It is best to purchase suluguni from the local market.
There is more choice, and prices are lower, and you will not be in a hurry. Plus, almost every vendor will suggest you try different types of cheese before buying. It is best to take smoked cheese with you on the road - the one that is brownish. Many people call it the most delicious, it will not spoil on the way. And it will become an excellent snack with Abkhaz wine when you start talking about your trip at home.
Smoked meat
This is an everyday Abkhaz food that is prepared in every home. Moreover, the meat can be anything - from chicken to beef. It is rubbed with spices and salt, other ingredients are often added (each housewife has their 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 skillet. Served in earthenware - along with vegetables and sauces. The dish is excellent.
Local meat will not disappoint you, as often happens in Russia, when too fatty or sinewy pieces come across in the same kebab. Here, the meat is juicy, tasty, aromatic, cooked in moderation. And the 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 the price of the product.
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 for a sample. Sometimes merchants are reluctant to pour wine for visitors. In this case, you can visit the tasting rooms, there are quite a few of them in Abkhazia, and the wine here is excellent. You will not only be given a taste of a local drink, but will also be told about it.
So what kind of wine should you bring? Of course, you can focus on your own preferences, but nevertheless, 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 a bottled one. Just look at the label first, where it should be indicated that the drink is made in Abkhazia.
You can buy good local wine from about 200 rubles. In a word, try to buy a drink in specialized wine stores, since in ordinary supermarkets, products can be stored incorrectly, and alcohol will lose its taste. In total, you can take out 3 liters of wine.
Chacha
Besides wine, chacha will be an excellent "souvenir". However, this is a rather specific product, and not everyone will like it. Chacha is a grape vodka with a strength of 40 to 70 degrees. But it is believed that it is even beneficial to use it in moderate doses, it contributes to the famous "Caucasian longevity". When choosing a drink, pay attention to its transparency, the chacha should be free of unnecessary impurities, otherwise you may be slipped into low-quality moonshine.
Chacha has a rather mild taste and, at the same time, has a warming effect, while not burning the larynx. If you want to buy a quality product, try to do so 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 by tasting it. Real local cognac has a mild taste and does not contain alcohol fractions. So, for example, it is produced at the "Wine and Waters of Abkhazia" plant.
A good drink can be bought for 700-800 rubles per bottle. Sometimes almonds or dogwood are added to cognac, which make the taste unusual. Real Abkhaz cognac will be an excellent gift for a connoisseur of spirits. But when buying it, make sure that it is produced 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 with 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 wide selection of daggers, both large and medium, resembling kitchen knives, and "miniature" - the size of a finger. So, if you do not know what to bring a man as a gift from Abkhazia, then such a local attribute can help you out.
Of course, troubles 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 unarmed. In short, if you plan to purchase a dagger as a souvenir, it is better to pay attention to safe imitations of real models. Their price can vary from 500 to 600 rubles. Daggers personify the spirit of Abkhazia. Since ancient times, they have been used both for hunting and in the household.
Cezva
Coffee is considered one of the favorite drinks of Abkhazians. They usually drink it "pure" - black, just brewed, and always in small cups. So if you are a lover of real, brewed coffee, then you should definitely buy a cezva - this is a copper turk 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 landmarks - for example, Lake Ritsa, New Athos Cave, and the Maiden's Tears waterfall.
In appearance, the cezve is made quite simply - it is characterized by a conical shape, thick copper walls, a long handle, but the product is skillfully made and will not leave indifferent the connoisseur of the drink. Coffee does not escape from such a Turk, 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, signet rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants. Usually this stone can be seen in silver products, because outwardly it really looks like metal, has a "cold" luster. 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 corners of the world.
But compared to items made of gold and pure silver, marcasite jewelry is inexpensive and affordable for any tourist. Another question if you are interested in an author's and design thing. In this case, the price may be slightly higher. In general, marcasite jewelry looks very beautiful and will be an excellent gift for both men and women. If you see products with this amazing mineral on sale, then it is worth buying 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 jewelry on sale, not precious metal products. For example, shell jewelry is popular - they are sold all over the coast. A souvenir can be purchased as a gift, or you can buy it as a souvenir. There are pendants, beads, and pendants on the shelves. Visitors really like various crafts with shells - for their good quality and low price.
Quite 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 items made of silver and copper. If you still want to buy jewelry, then pay attention to the trial.
Cosmetics
If you decide to purchase cosmetics as a gift, then finding it here can be problematic. The fact is that only natural products are sold in Abkhazia. For its production, herbal preparations, sea salt, medicinal mud and so on are used. In short, ingredients that are ideal for creating "healthy" cosmetics.
At the same time, it is highly likely that they can sell you either homemade cosmetics, or give out European products under the guise of local ones. The cosmetics brand "Gold of Abkhazia" enjoys a good reputation, about 30 items of goods are on sale, and all products are made on the basis of high-quality plant materials.
Eucalyptus broom
Be sure to buy a eucalyptus broom. Well, where else can you get this luxury? We can talk about the beneficial properties of eucalyptus for a long time. It is used for colds, decoctions and inhalations. Such a healing broom can be presented to lovers of the bath.After all, eucalyptus vapors not only smell good, 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 that grow 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 "land of the soul."
Clay and ceramics
Pottery is still popular today. The craftsmen here are still working on the technology of their ancestors. They use local Sukhumi clay for their products. You can buy one very unusual souvenir from the craftsmen - a "jug of desires". Traditionally, you need to make three wishes and throw rice into the vessel. This handmade jug will be a great gift for a loved one. In addition, you can make a double present at once - bring a beautiful earthen vessel with honey or jam, which will also preserve the medicinal properties of the product.
Wine jugs, fancy bowls and dishes are available. 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 at a better price they can be bought far from the coast.
Happy shopping!
