On June 7, 2023, members of the Bakhvi HPP Environmental and Social Issues Advisory Council conducted their second meeting of the year by visiting several homestays involved in the "Tea Road" program, a joint initiative by Bakhvi HPP and USAID. The tour, organized by Ia Urushadze, a member of the Advisory Council and Hospitality Coordinator of the "Tea Road" Association, included visits to three homestays in Ozurgeti and one in Chokhatauri.
The info tour began in Ozurgeti Municipality at "Samzeura" homestay in the village of Chanieti, hosted by local Marina Chikhladze. This tourist spot, which has been operating for a year, offers various services, with a focus on Gurian spices and traditional cuisine. During their visit, the council members tasted traditional Gurian dishes and toured the on-site ethnographic museum showcasing century-old household items. The "Samzeura" homestay received consultations on setting up gastronomic and tasting spaces as part of the program and also received a specially designed logo under the same initiative.
Marina Chikhladze, the founder of "Samzeura," expressed her gratitude: "The tour organized by Bakhvi HPP is a huge motivation and support for me. Being part of the 'Tea Road' project and having guests visit under this initiative makes me more confident in my business. I hope such communication with local small entrepreneurs will continue. I want to thank all the authors and implementers of this idea, especially Ia Urushadze, who is always ready to listen to our suggestions and act as an intermediary between us and the private and public sectors in supporting small businesses."
The next stop for the info tour participants was the "Anaseuli Experimental Tea Factory" in Ozurgeti, which has been operating since 1964 and produces high-quality black and green tea from local plantations. The council members learned about the factory's long history, viewed the ancient equipment on-site, and tasted various types of tea produced there. The factory holds significant importance in the successful functioning of the "Tea Road" tourist route and in maintaining a unified standard for tea in the region.
In the same event, Bakhvi HPP representatives and Advisory Council members visited female entrepreneur Mzia Sharashidze in the village of Tsikhispherdi, Ozurgeti Municipality. Known as "Mzia's Churchkhelas," she has been producing various types of churchkhelas (traditional Georgian sweets) for 13 years, including walnut, hazelnut, almond, and dried fruit varieties. Mzia's family business involves her five children.
Mzia Sharashidze shared her experience: "Collaborating with the 'Tea Road' Association was a great challenge for me. I am the only churchkhela producer represented in the association, which is a great privilege for me. With the association's help, I participated in a tour in Imereti, where many people learned about my products, which greatly helped in successfully selling them. I am glad to cooperate with Bakhvi HPP as well. It is commendable that the company always supports small businesses in the region, which is particularly important given that we often face financial access issues. I believe this will positively impact my business in the future and help develop tourism in the region."
The info tour concluded at "Sharashidze's Marani" in the village of Bukistsikhe, Chokhatauri Municipality, also known as "Chateau Bukistsikhe." This tourist spot houses 15 types of wine. During their visit, guests heard about the history of Gurian wine, learned about vine care and winemaking from host Teimuraz Sharashidze.
The program aimed at supporting small businesses and strengthening the hospitality component in Guria is implemented with the support and direct involvement of Bakhvi HPP and USAID's Economic Security Program.
