Spring has arrived, bringing with it the delightful smells, colours, warmth, and tastes of this beautiful season. Everyone is eager to step outside, embrace the fresh air, explore nature, and soak up every bit of sunshine while enjoying the stunning signs of spring unfolding around us.
Georgia is beautiful year-round, but spring is one of the best seasons to visit for many reasons.
Explore the spring flowers of Georgia while hiking
Whether you are an aspiring botanist or simply appreciate beautiful floral scenery, you will find Georgia absolutely captivating. Nestled in the slopes of the Great and Lesser Caucasus, the country boasts a variety of climates and landscapes, making it a dream destination for nature lovers. Georgia is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, particularly its alpine meadows filled with a diverse range of mountain flowers. The country is home to more than 5,000 types of floral plants, about 15% of which are endemic to the Caucasus. Additionally, around 300 species are unique to Georgia.
As the weather gradually warms up in April and May, various flowers begin to bloom, including poppies, chamomile, wild orchids, rhododendrons, irises, and peonies. Spring is an ideal time for hiking as the temperatures are comfortably mild. While exploring the Caucasus mountains, you will encounter the true stars of the season: Harvest bells, Campanula latifolia, Crocus caucasicus, Primula julliae, Enzian, and wild orchids. Even during a two-hour hike around the capital city of Tbilisi, you can delight in the sight of Iris caucasica, Viola arvensis, Scilla siberica, Gagea lutea, Muscari, and primroses.
For even more spring beauty, join us on a tour of the wine region, where you can enjoy the breathtaking rural scenery filled with blooming peach, almond, and nectarine trees.
Georgia is an attractive destination for birdwatching in Spring
Its scenic trails and serene landscapes make it a perfect destination for bird lovers. Georgia has rich biodiversity and is a hotspot for endemic species found in the Lesser and Greater Caucasus mountain systems.
Spring and early summer are perfect times for birdwatching here.
More than half of 355 recorded bird species are migratory birds, disappearing during the winter months. Georgia is an important stopover between Europe, Asia and Africa, making it a hotspot for seasonal birdwatching.
Georgia is brimming with colourful destinations perfect for birdwatchers, as these places are teeming with rare and beautiful species. The most promising routes are the outline of the Black Sea coastline and the valleys of major rivers, such as the Chorokhi, Rioni, and Mtkvari, along with their tributaries, mountain ranges of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Semi-Deserts of Georgia.
When you are in Stepantsminda, keep your eyes open for The Caucasian Five: The Caucasian Snowcock, The Caucasian Grouse, The Caucasian Chiffchaff, The Rose Finch, and the White Winged Redstart. Spotting The Caucasian Five is challenging. However, Chances are higher in Spring from late April to Early May.
Semi-deserts like Vashlovani Nature Reserve and David Gareji are heaven for bird lovers as the place is famous for Demoiselle Cranes, Sylvia, Falcons, Snake-Eating Eagles, and Imperial Eagles.
Spring is the ideal season to sample unique seasonal dishes from Georgia
Georgia is a paradise for food lovers. With a history dating back thousands of years, Georgian cuisine is enriched by local traditions and features interesting influences from Mediterranean, Persian, and Turkish cuisines. The variety is so extensive that it’s impossible to sample all the dishes in just one visit, which is why many people return to Georgia time and again.
If you find yourself in Georgia during spring, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy unique spring dishes made from ingredients that are only available in this season. These exclusive dishes are a must-try!
After tasting delicious dishes, you might be surprised by how simple the ingredients are. People have wisely utilized the gifts that Mother Nature provides. The natural landscapes, forests, and fields of Georgia are teeming with wild plants that locals have admired and learned to use for food over time. In early spring, these forests are filled with wild herbs rich in healthy nutrients, many of which can be eaten raw. Among the most popular are wild garlic (ღანძილი), spring nettle, and ekala (ეკალა), which is the Smilax excels plant.
Nettle Pkhali
Main ingredient: Spring nettle
Description: Pkhali is a traditional dish from Georgian cuisine that transforms nettles, walnuts, vinegar, and herbs into a paste-like salad. This cold side dish is particularly popular in spring when the nettles are young and tender. Pkhali showcases the vibrant and healthful ingredients of the season, embodying the essence of Georgian cuisine.
Ekala Pkhali
Main ingredient Smelax (Ekala)
This plant-based delicacy features freshly budded Ekala, seasoned with finely chopped coriander, green onions, spices, vinegar, and mashed walnuts. This popular vegetarian dish pairs well with (მჭადი) cornbread.
Chakapuli
(Georgian Lamb Stew)
Spring ingredients: Tarragon, Wild Garlic, Green Cherry plums
Description: Chakapuli is a classic spring stew in Georgian cuisine that highlights the vibrant flavors of fresh green herbs and sour ingredients typical of the season. Traditionally prepared during Easter and other spring festivals, this dish combines tender lamb with aromatic herbs and sour plums, embodying the essence of spring’s freshness and renewal.
For dessert, fresh strawberries, cherries, and plums are offered either raw or as a delicious fresh compote
Gandzili (Allium ursinum-Wild Garlic) (ღანძილი)
This simple yet incredibly delicious dish is made from boiled wild garlic, finely chopped coriander, and Kakheti sunflower oil. It is rich in vitamins and has several health benefits, including a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, regulation of metabolism, reduction of blood cholesterol levels, and antimicrobial properties.
Ghandzili can be used in cooking both raw and salted, marinated, or cooked.
This journey through the fresh flavors of Georgian spring will inspire you with the vibrant tastes and rich culinary traditions of this beautiful region. You will be captivated by the beauty of nature awakening in spring, delighting your eyes with stunning flowers and diverse birdlife.
