The Oldest Georgian bread by the French Philosopher

Jean-Jacques Jacob is a 49-year-old man from Bretagne, West France. He has his own wheat fields in the Georgian village of Arghokhi and bakes the oldest traditional Georgian bread. He has been living in Georgia since 2006.

"Sowing seeds is the greatest ritual, thats his slogan for life.

Every Saturday, Jean-Jacques arrives in Tbilisi to make his small bazaar in the downtown. It is called "Momavlis mitsa, in French Terre davenire (Future of Earth). This is where he presents the dignity of his village, as he explains. This wooden store is full of wheat breads, nuts, and beans in the wattle baskets, honey, oil, Georgian spices and big yellow cheese with amazing flavor. He never claims that this cheese is French, he calls it European.

Jean-Jacques Jacob may be "the last of the Mohicans, who bakes the wheat bread, called "Dolis Puri. He never uses yeast, only flour and water. If someone asks him, if is it Georgian or French tradition of baking, he answers, that it has been the oldest tradition of the world, "the oldest secret of the wheat.

"If you havent bread, you have no life. Thats one of his favorite phrases. In Argokhi, he owns 15 acres of land and always proudly talks about this village and villagers.

Mr. Jean-Jacques was born in Bretagne, West France. He studied in Stuttgart and was later lecturing philosophy. His thoughts about wheat and land seem to be also philosophic. He doesnt approve of the megalopolises lifestyle, because in his mind, man may lose his dignity and connection with sky and earth.

"Dignity is a power of life. I felt it when Ive seen Georgian Dances and listened to Georgian folk music (for the) first time. said Jean-Jacques.

After his first visit in 2005, Jean-Jacques decided to return to Georgia for having his small business. He was fascinated with the climate and fertile soil. Jean-Jacques discovered that this climate is perfect for his health, unlike before when he was suffering from allergies. Later he found a link with the earth which gives him bread as power of life.

Photos by Nino Alavidze