Green tea business in Georgia: Case of Guria region

¹ Batumi Shota of Rustaveli State University & Centre for Socio-Economic Research, 35/32 Ninoshvili/Rustaveli str., 6010 Batumi, Georgia
² Batumi Shota of Rustaveli State University, 35/32 Ninoshvili/Rustaveli str., 6010 Batumi, Georgia

^* Corresponding author: murman.tsetskhladze@bsu.edu.ge

Abstract

The paper focuses on the importance of producing tea as an environmentally friendly product. Georgian tea producers have a great opportunity facilitated by the existing natural environment, geographical location, natural characteristics of local tea, and the development of tea tourism in Georgia. Recently, tea tours have become attractive in Georgia. A tea tour is one of the world's famous tourist products, closely related to the cultivation, production and consumption of tea culture. The paper describes the problems in the tea production sector: tea production in the region is decreasing, the number of working tea plantations is decreasing, and many abandoned and neglected tea plantations. The study presents ways to solve these problems by improving existing varieties, organizing nurseries and demonstration plantations, and, at the legislative level, regulating the use of herbicides and pesticides, which will increase the nutritional value of tea and give it the appearance of an eco-product.In addition, manufacturers must possess the latest technologies to obtain quality products. The paper examines the modern trends in tea-making development in Georgia and the world, settles prospects of its development in the region of Guria, and offers the possibility of providing the tourist product “Tea Road” to customers. All this will help replace imported tea with local tea and get visitors interested in the “Tea Road” activities.