Shota Kopaliani, a mechanical engineer from the village of Chalistavi, still recalls a childhood memory of his grandmother threading and storing quince for the winter. This inspired him to modernize the process and produce quince leaves using advanced technology. By 2015, he achieved this goal. Drawing from the knowledge of fellow tea growers, Kopaliani experimented, learned, and eventually launched his unique brand of phyto tea.
Over the past 6 years, Kopaliani has been harvesting wild blackberry, blueberry, quince, azalea, and lime flowers from his region, an alpine zone known for its pristine, pollution-free environment devoid of pesticides. Using these ecologically pure sources, he crafts aromatic herbal teas that offer both unique flavors and health benefits.
However, the journey was not without hurdles. Kopaliani grappled with logistical challenges, particularly transporting the harvested leaves to his processing facility. Moreover, his existing equipment couldn't handle the large volumes he aimed to produce. Fortunately, with support, he managed to equip his production facility to meet these demands.
Now, Kopaliani's enterprise produces between 800-1000 kg of organically certified herbal tea every month during harvest season. Though currently supplying other businesses, his herbal tea is seeing a surge in demand, a testament to its premium quality and pure origins.