The best way to learn the Georgian ethno culture is to get acquainted with the rules of the Georgian “sufra” (festive dining), cuisine and hospitality traditions.

 

When entertaining guests in different parts of Georgia, you will find dishes and wine characteristic to that part of the country. In Georgia, a guest was and is considered as a man sent by God, an angel of God. The main duty of the host was to entertain the guest. In ancient times in Georgia, entertaining a guest with dignity was considered to be the main definition of a family's quality of life. Even today, Georgians diligently protect the tradition of hospitality.

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Samegrelo is especially distinguished by its tradition of hospitality. About a century ago, the researcher and ethnographer Tedo Sakhokia wrote about the hospitality in Samegrelo:

 

“The hosts, as hospitable as Mengrelians, are happy to meet the unexpected guests, they offer compliments to them and thank the for their visit, they ask them to give him an honour and stay the night with them, and the guest will receive as much respect, care and hospitability, as a host can ever offer... Guests, of course, following the Mengrelian style of hospitality, will refuse to stay and the host family will try their best to persuade them and make them stay the night. Long and pleasant conversations will cover the harvest, the illness or the death of relatives or neighbours, global affairs or anything else….Meanwhile, preparation of a praiseworthy dinner is underway.

 

There should be enough wine on the table for everyone to drink and get drunk. The more guests leave the table drunk the more positive evaluation it receives. Any luxurious “Lkhini” (feast) in Samegrelo can be used as illustration of the historic heritage…

 

Mengrelian hospitality attracted the attention of the Italian traveller, Arcangelo Lamberti, as early as in the seventeenth century. Lamberti noted that the Mengrelians had a separate space for receiving guests, which was called “Okhoro”.

 

"When you enter the doors-gates, you will first see the large building, which is called ”okhoro” in Mengrelian, and which is designated for receiving guests. As soon as the householders notice that a stranger has entered the yard, they immediately reach out and bring him into the “okhoro”, where, if it is winter, the guest warms up a little by the fire, rests, and then is brought to the owner of the house. Horses are wintered in “okhoro” so that they are on hand in case of sudden need.

 

"In ancient times, every family had planned in advance where to receive and entertain the guest.The tradition of hospitality continues in Georgia to this day and it is an integral part of Georgian, Caucasian culture.