How to pick a gift from Georgia
After three years in Tbilisi and hundreds of guests walked through the souvenir rows, I noticed one thing: a good Georgian gift isn't a fridge magnet — it's something with a story of taste or craft. Every worthwhile Georgian gift falls into two groups: edible (wine, chacha, churchkhela, spices, tea) and keepsake (minankari enamel, silk, ceramics, a wine horn). Edible suits people who love to try things; keepsakes suit those who "have everything".
The difference from a plain "what to bring back" list is simple: a gift is chosen for a specific person, not just piled up for yourself. Below is a guide by recipient and by budget. If you want the full catalogue of everything worth taking out of the country, see the separate guide on what to buy in Georgia →.
Gifts for her and mum
The safe Georgian gift for a woman is minankari — cloisonné enamel jewellery. Handmade pendants, earrings and bracelets with bright enamel patterns: they look expensive, weigh almost nothing and travel easily. A close second is a silk or fine-wool scarf with a Georgian ornament. For mums, cosy-edible usually wins: rose-petal jam, mountain tea from Guria, grape-seed cosmetics.
| Gift | Price (₾) | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| Minankari jewellery | 40–150 | wife, girlfriend — striking yet simple |
| Silk scarf / felt | 30–120 | mum — warm, with an ornament |
| Grape-seed cosmetics | 15–40 | natural skincare |
| Rose jam, mountain tea | 10–30 | a cosy edible gift |
Minankari is sold both in Old Town galleries and loose near the metro — quality and price can differ twofold. The easiest way to tell handmade from stamped is beside someone who lives here: on a Tbilisi tour I point out the trusted spots.
Gifts for him and dad
A men's Georgian gift almost always revolves around the table. The obvious and reliable choice is chacha (Georgian grape spirit) in a designer bottle, or qvevri wine made from red Saperavi. For a lover of feasts — a kantsi, a real drinking horn made of horn, not a lacquered souvenir. For dads, handmade backgammon or a Georgian knife go a long way.
| Gift | Price (₾) | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| Chacha in a gift bottle | 25–80 | a strong souvenir with character |
| Qvevri Saperavi wine | 20–60 | for a red-wine lover, packs in a case |
| Kantsi drinking horn | 20–90 | for someone who loves a toast |
| Handmade backgammon | 40–150 | for dad, father-in-law — lasting |
What chacha actually is and how to avoid dyed spirit is covered here: Georgian wine and spirits guide →, where you'll also learn how qvevri wine differs from the usual bottle.
Kids, friends and colleagues
For kids, go tasty and colourful: churchkhela (nuts in thickened grape juice), tklapi fruit leather, wooden toys. For friends and colleagues, when you need a lot for a little, spice sets (Svan salt, khmeli-suneli, ajika) and mini bottles of wine or chacha are ideal — compact, edible, and different for everyone. An enamel magnet instead of Chinese plastic also reads as "they thought about it".
| For | Gift | Price (₾) |
|---|---|---|
| Kids | churchkhela, tklapi, wooden toys | 5–30 |
| Colleagues (many) | spice sets, mini wine | 5–20 each |
| Friends | mini chacha, enamel magnet, tea | 10–35 |
Churchkhela can be fresh or "rubbery" — it's easy to get a stale one at the market. How to choose it and how Georgian sweets differ is here: Georgian sweets and desserts →.
For a foodie or wine lover
If the person knows their stuff, a supermarket bottle won't impress. Give qvevri wine in a wooden box or a mini tasting set of 3–4 varieties (Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Ojaleshi). Wine pairs well with tkemali (sour plum sauce) and Georgian olive or walnut oil. For a collector — a ceramic mini-qvevri or a clay jug.
Buy this at a wine shop rather than a souvenir stall: they'll advise on region and vintage. Better still, bring back an experience — a food tour with a tasting at the winery, so the person leaves with a bottle that has a story, not just a label.
Gifts by budget: under 20, under 50, premium
A quick cheat sheet if you're working to a sum rather than a person. Prices here and in every table are a 2026 guide in Georgian lari (₾); haggling at markets knocks off 10–20%, and tourist stalls in the Old Town run higher.
| Budget | What to get | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| under 20 ₾ | spices, tea, churchkhela, enamel magnet | colleagues, friends, "for everyone" |
| 20–50 ₾ | chacha, wine, cosmetics, scarf | parents, closer friends |
| 50 ₾ and up | minankari, backgammon, horn, wine box | wife, husband, someone important |
The general rule: one meaningful gift beats five magnets. Georgian edibles are cheap, so even under 20 ₾ you can put together a nice set.
Where to buy gifts in Tbilisi
The place matters as much as the gift — price and quality for the same item can differ several times over.
| Place | What for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Bridge flea market | vintage, antiques, keepsakes | haggling expected |
| Dezerter Bazaar | spices, churchkhela, cheese, nuts | edible, fresh, cheap |
| Old Town / Shardeni galleries | minankari, ceramics, silk | higher quality, higher price |
| Wine shops (Erekle II St.) | gift wine and chacha | advice on region and vintage |
Short on time and long on gift lists? It's easier to cover everything in one pass with someone who knows the spots. Fresh food and produce are best bought last, on your way out — see the full souvenir list for what keeps and what doesn't.
How to pack and carry them home
- Wine and chacha go in checked luggage only. Liquids over 100 ml aren't allowed in carry-on. Wrap bottles in clothes or buy bubble wrap at the market.
- Churchkhela and cheese — vacuum-pack or seal them. Churchkhela doesn't melt but does stain; go for vacuum-packed sulguni cheese.
- Minankari and ceramics — in your carry-on. Keep fragile things with you; enamel weighs almost nothing.
How many bottles of wine you can take out duty-free and the customs details are covered in the what to buy in Georgia guide →.
Gifts to avoid
- Plastic "made in China" magnets. Sold at every landmark — that's not a Georgian gift. Get an enamel magnet instead.
- Supermarket wine for a connoisseur. Mass semi-sweet isn't how you want to represent Georgia. Go to a wine shop.
- Nameless "Svan salt" from a tourist stall. Often just salt with dye. Buy spices at Dezerter Bazaar.
- A lacquered "horn". A real kantsi is made of horn without glossy varnish; a plastic imitation gives itself away by weight.
One last thing: the most valuable gift from Tbilisi is an experience. Guests often take home not just a suitcase of food but a day spent in the city with a guide. Here's how to arrange it.
Want to pick your gifts in one pass and see the city?
We'll cover the trusted souvenir spots and explore Tbilisi. Groups up to 7, hotel pickup.