Georgian sauce Satsebeli Kula "Classic", 345g

Satsebeli and tkemali are two pillars of Georgian cuisine, but they are fundamentally different in their base, taste, and purpose

Difference from tkemali

Base: Tkemali is made exclusively from cherry plums (the tkemali variety). Satsebeli is a tomato sauce (in its modern form) or a base of grape and pomegranate juice (in its ancient form)

Taste: Tkemali always has a distinctly sour taste. Satsebeli is more spicy, sweet-spicy, and "thick" in its flavor

Consistency: Tkemali is usually more runny; satsebeli is dense and pasty

The word "satsebeli" (საწებელი) literally translates from Georgian as "dip" or simply "sauce" (from the root "tseb" - to smear/dip). In Georgia, this word used to refer to virtually any sauce in which bread or meat was dipped

Before tomatoes were brought to Georgia (18th-19th centuries), satsebeli was prepared using the juice of unripe grapes (isrimi), pomegranates, or blackberries, thickened with grated walnuts. Modern tomato satsebeli is a classic of recent centuries

In Georgia, preparing the sauce is a ritual. In villages, satsebeli is cooked in huge cauldrons over a fire to impart a subtle smoky flavor. It is considered the "king of the table," as no meat feast is complete without it

Satsebeli is a universal soldier, but there are certain combinations that are considered iconic:

• Chicken Tabaka (Tapaka): This is a classic pairing. The spicy sauce perfectly complements the crispy crust of the poultry
• Shashlik (mtsvadi): Unlike ketchup, satsebeli doesn't overpower the meat's flavor, but enhances it with khmeli-suneli and cilantro
• Khinkali: Although khinkali is eaten without sauce, many prefer satsebeli for dipping chicken tails
• Side Dishes: Pairs perfectly with lobio (beans), rice, and baked potatoes

The main distinguishing feature of satsebeli is the obligatory presence of utskho-suneli (blue fenugreek), Imeretian saffron, and plenty of fresh cilantro. This bouquet creates the distinctive aroma of a Georgian feast

Ingredients: 92% tomato puree, salt, sugar, garlic, spices - uskho-suneli, coriander, celery