Georgia · · 2 min read
Georgia 101: a quick guide to the country behind our menu
When people hear "Georgian restaurant", many think of the US state. But our Georgia is a country — small, mountainous, ancient and famous for its mountains, its hospitality and its food. Here's a quick introduction.
Where is Georgia?
Georgia is a small country in the Caucasus, between Europe and Asia. It sits at the eastern end of the Black Sea, with Russia to the north, Turkey and Armenia to the south and Azerbaijan to the east. In one country you'll find subtropical beaches on the Black Sea and snow-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus.
Georgia in numbers
- Capital: Tbilisi
- Population: about 3.7 million
- Area: about 70,000 km² — roughly the size of the Republic of Ireland
- Language: Georgian, with its own alphabet of 33 letters
- What Georgians call their country: Sakartvelo
Mountains and sea
The north of the country is a wall of mountains — the Greater Caucasus — with peaks over 5,000 metres, including Mount Kazbek. In the west, the Black Sea coast is green and warm, with the seaside city of Batumi.
An alphabet like no other
Georgian has its own script, with curly, rounded letters that look nothing like Latin or Cyrillic. UNESCO lists the "living culture of three writing systems of the Georgian alphabet" as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. You can see it on our website: გაუმარჯოს! means "Cheers!"
Songs in many voices
Georgian polyphonic singing — several voices weaving together without instruments — is so unique that UNESCO recognised it as a masterpiece of humanity's oral heritage in 2001.
"A guest is a gift from God"
This old Georgian saying sums up the country's famous hospitality. Guests are fed generously, toasted and treated like family — and the place where it all happens is the table. The traditional Georgian feast, the supra, can go on for hours, led by a toastmaster called the tamada. Our guide to the supra
And the food
Georgian food is the reason many people fall in love with the country: cheese breads, dumplings full of broth, meat grilled over fire, walnut sauces and handfuls of fresh herbs. Georgian food for beginners
Fun facts
- According to Greek myth, Prometheus was chained to Mount Kazbek as punishment for giving fire to humans.
- Georgians call their country Sakartvelo — "Georgia" is what the rest of the world calls it.
- Tarragon, the herb our restaurant is named after, is called tarkhuna in Georgian and is loved in everything from stews to a bright green soda.
Taste Georgia in Uluwatu
You don't need a plane ticket to Tbilisi to try it. Tarragon brings Georgian cooking to Uluwatu, a minute from Padang Padang beach — shashlik from the open-fire grill, khachapuri and khinkali, made to share.
FAQ
Is Georgia in Europe or Asia?
Both — Georgia is in the Caucasus, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
What is the capital of Georgia?
Tbilisi.
What language do Georgians speak?
Georgian, written in its own unique alphabet.
What is Georgia famous for?
Its mountains, its hospitality, its polyphonic singing and its food — especially khachapuri and khinkali.
