Tea company Golden Leaf is building a tea processing plant in Dedalauri village, Khoni Municipality, where it operates a 65-hectare tea plantation. Founder and director Irakli Tsertsvadze told BMG that the facility will be equipped with modern machinery and is expected to begin operations in spring 2027.
The company has already invested around GEL 500,000 in the plantation and plant and plans to invest up to another GEL 500,000 to fully equip the facility. Tsertsvadze said the plant will allow Golden Leaf to produce high-quality tea from its own raw materials and offer the product at competitive prices.
The company leases the 65-hectare plantation for 25 years under a state program, and the entire area has been rehabilitated. Golden Leaf harvested around 25 tons of fresh tea leaves in 2025, while about 40% of the plantation currently produces premium-grade leaves. The company ultimately aims to produce 60–65 tons of finished tea annually.
The finished product will be sold under the Okatse brand, with the company targeting both domestic and export markets, initially focusing on Central Asia before expanding toward Europe and the US. Golden Leaf currently employs 35–40 seasonal workers and expects to have 10–15 permanent employees once the plant opens. Tsertsvadze said labor shortages remain a key challenge for the sector and the company plans to introduce modern technologies to make harvesting easier.
