Georgia is famous for khinkali, khachapuri and qvevri wine. Yet the country has a new, unexpected food story taking shape in its fields and gardens: snails. An industry few people talked about not long ago is growing fast and drawing attention.
The numbers are striking. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Georgia exported 826 tonnes of snails worth $3 million in January-September 2026. Volume rose by 75% (353 tonnes) compared with the same period last year, while revenue grew by 67%, or $1.2 million.
This growth is no accident. In 2025, exports reached 571 tonnes, 2.1 times the 2024 figure. The foundation was official permission to export snails to the European Union market, granted in 2022 after extensive work to align national legislation with strict EU sanitary and veterinary standards. Today, commercial snail farming and gathering has become one of the most profitable niches in Georgian agriculture.
What does this mean for travelers? Georgia, where every region is proud of its table, is adding another flavor to its palette. The countryside has always been the heart of Georgian hospitality: a place to see where food comes from, meet the people behind it and feel tradition meet modern enterprise. The growing interest in snails is one more reason to leave the main road and explore the country's rural corners.
Getting here is easier, too. Jordan's national carrier Royal Jordanian operated its first scheduled Amman-Tbilisi flight on 22 October on an Airbus A320, and flights now run on Thursdays. Direct flights from Georgian airports serve 92 destinations in 37 countries, and Amman offers a convenient transit hub for onward journeys. Nature lovers can also head to Algeti National Park near Tbilisi, where deer born at Tbilisi Zoo are returning to a semi-wild habitat as the reintroduction effort continues.
Georgia keeps surprising even those who think they know its flavors. Sketch out your route through villages, vineyards and parks, and let the YourGeorgia.travel route planner help you build a journey with room for new culinary discoveries. Come, taste and be inspired.