Tushetians

Tushetian Guda cheese (Not to be confused with European Gouda cheese, with which it shares neither the features nor the making technique) and high quality wool was famous and was exported to Europe and Russia.

Even today sheep and cattle breeding is the leading branch of the economy of highland Tusheti.

Their customs and traditions are similar to those of other eastern Georgian mountaineers, such as the Khevsurs and Pshavs.

[1] Theories regarding the origin of the Chagma-Tush all include descent from Georgian tribes (possibly pagans fleeing Christianization in the 4th century CE), but variously involve influence or admixture from South Caucasian Nakh, Dagestani peoples, or none.

[1] The lands of the Tush have variously been under the rule of Caucasian Iberia, the medieval united kingdom of Georgia, the Kingdom of Kakheti (which eventually fell under heavy influence from Persia), the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and then independent united Georgia.