Many thanks for the mention Michael, and no, I have not been on
vacation SN, I have been in Rwanda with a client on a quest to acquire
a stunning tea factory there. More details later if we are
successful.
I too have been concerned about the Georgian teas and the tea makers
there during the Russian incursion. My information so far is that
they are all safe. However, all my hand made tea makers are in the
hills around Ozurgeti in Guria District well away from the recent
conflict. Scott is correct that a lot of tea was grown in Abkhazia,
much less so now - the total of tea from Georgia is currently around
3,500 tonnes, down from 180,000 tonnes in 1990. A catastrophic drop.
When I visited factories in Abkhazia in 2003 there was much bomb
damage still evident from the 1992 civil war, and lack of power,
spares, and capital, let alone a market, was deterring even doughty
Georgian entrepreneurs.
Incidentally I gave a well attended talk about hand making of tea in
Georgia last evening at the Georgian Embassy in London to launch a new
brand of Georgian tea - Caucasus Arts' "Natela Gold" and "Nagobilevi
Village". See www.caucasusarts.org.uk The Ambassador was still
recalled in Tblisi but his number 2 was quite upbeat about the
Georgian position and the PR damage that the Russians have heaped on
themselves.

Nigel at Teacraft


On Aug 31, 12:21*am, Michael Plant > wrote:
> On 08/30/2008 15:28:15 (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>
> > Which brings to mind a big question... *aren't a lot of the big tea
> > growing regions in Georgia actually in the Abkhazian region? *With the
> > current political crisis there, how is tea production being affected?
> > I have had a couple very nice teas from the area, and I think they deserve
> > more attention. *They don't seem to have much of an export market.
> > --scott
>
> Scott, I think Nigel of Nothing But Tea had a major part in Georgian tea development and production. He also sells some excellent examples through his site, nice full leaf red teas, for example. I drank one this morning, and will drink another later today. I hope Nigel is at hand to answer your excellent question.
> Michael