Local Drinks

1. ლიმონათი

   Limonati

   Limonati (sweet fizzy soft drink)

   Usage

   It is a non-alcoholic, sweet, carbonated soft drink. It is not necessarily lemon-flavoured — Georgian limonati comes in several flavours, so name the one you want

2. ტარხუნის ლიმონათი

   T'arkhunis limonati

   Tarragon limonati (the green soda)

   Usage

   Bright green, with the herbal scent of tarragon. Easy to pick out by colour in the fridge, so pointing works

   Grammar Note

   ტარხუნა takes the genitive ტარხუნის: the final -a drops and -is is added

3. ბორჯომი

   Borjomi

   Borjomi (salty sparkling mineral water)

   Usage

   It is a mineral water of volcanic origin from the town and spa resort of the same name. Distinctly salty and mineral — surprising if you expected plain water. If you want plain water, ask for წყალი rather than naming a brand

4. ნაბეღლავი

   Nabeghlavi

   Nabeghlavi (mineral water)

   Usage

   A medicinal and table mineral water, named after the village in Chokhatauri municipality where it is sourced. Milder than Borjomi

5. საირმე

   Sairme

   Sairme (mineral water)

   Usage

   Sairme is a balneological and climatic resort in Baghdati municipality, in a valley of the Meskheti range at 950 m, and the source of the mineral water of the same name

6. მაწონი

   Mats'oni

   Matsoni (sour fermented milk)

   Usage

   It is a thick, sour product made from milk by a special method. Thick enough to eat with a spoon rather than drink; usual at breakfast. The tradition of making and using it is on the national intangible heritage list. Dairy

7. ბადაგი

   Badagi

   Badagi (boiled-down grape must)

   Usage

   It is grape juice thickened by boiling or industrially. Its main use, as in საჩურჩხელე ბადაგი, is as the base for ჩურჩხელა rather than a drink on its own. Sold from barrels at autumn markets

8. ყურძნის წვენი

   Q'urdznis ts'veni

   Grape juice

   Usage

   Served freshly pressed at wineries and markets during the harvest. A good order for anyone at the table who is not drinking wine

   Grammar Note

   ყურძენი forms the genitive ყურძნის, dropping the vowel ე

9. კომპოტი

   K'omp'ot'i

   Kompoti (sweet drink of boiled fruit)

   Usage

   It is a sweetened decoction of assorted fruit, drunk as a dessert drink. Examples: ვაშლის კომპოტი (apple) and ატმის კომპოტი (peach). Home-style restaurants pour it from a jar

10. ქართული ჩაი

    Kartuli chai

    Georgian tea

    Usage

    It is a cultivar group bred in 1941 by hybridising Indian and Chinese tea. Loose leaf is sold as a souvenir

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