The farmers among us know that miraculously, probably based on accurate calculations, Tu B’Shvat is always the first day of spring (only from an agricultural point of view – officially it starts in March…)
The flowers, the trees, and also the bees know that this is the signal and on this day they start their spring activity. You are invited to join us and go out to freshen up in a Galilean spring atmosphere.
Tu B'Shvat Events
A tour to forage and cook wild herbs or a hike to see the blossoms and breathtaking Galilean landscapes. On Tu B’Shvat, we go out to celebrate nature. There is nothing like the nature of the Galilean.
Foraging Tour
There’s nothing like Tu B’Shvat to take a walk in nature, get to know and forage wild plants that are good for eating or healing, and prepare a satisfying and delicious meal from the plants we’ve foraged. And all under the guidance of our experienced tour guides.
Foraging Trips Taking Place in February:
Wild Herb Foraging & Cooking Tour – A Natural Experience with Ofek Ron Carmel
Wednesday, February 12, 9:30 am – 2 pm, HaSolelim Forest Reserve
Foraging & Cooking In Nature at the Tzipori River & Pampering Bedouin Hospitality
Friday, February 21, 9 am – 2:30 pm, Tzipori River
Foraging Trips By Advance Reservation (Depending on the Season)
Foraging Workshops & Nature Meals with Sweet Moments
The workshops occur between December and April in the Druze village of Jat, with Nohad Bisan. After the foraging, the cooking workshop, and meal can be held at Nohad’s home or in the family olive grove.
Foraging Trip with Tour Guide Ofek Ron Carmel
A nature tour at a location that varies depending on the seasons. Foraging wild plants, seeds, sprouts, stems, leaves, and fruits, and at the end of the foraging — cooking and eating together in nature.
A Foraging Tour in the Galilee with GalilEAT
Wild plant Foraging tours, guided by hosts from Galilean villages. The tours include explanations about edible and medicinal wild plants and how to identify poisonous plants. At the end of the tour, there is a cooking workshop and a shared meal.
Guided Tours & Trips at the Galilean Madafa
Foraging tours with Wefqi Salamna, owner of the Galilean Madafa, a Bedouin accommodation complex in the village of Kaabiyah. Wefqi is a certified tour guide and expert in Bedouin history, culture, and heritage.
Connecting to Nature
You know that on Tu B’Shvat it is customary to eat the fruits of the land. Meet Dor Pintel from Mitzpe Abirim, who recommends eating fruit all year round. Not just on Tu B’Shvat! Dor, a tour guide by profession and a nature lover at heart decided to change direction and founded “Laga’at Basade” (which translates to “touching the field”), a platform that markets and brings fresh Galilean produce, mostly organic, to your home, including fruits and vegetables straight from the field.
Ofir Farm — Love Between Family & Land
“Our story begins with beekeeping, continues with agricultural work in the vineyard to the fermentation of wine in our boutique winery. A farming family, 3 generations, a love story for the land and nature.” And now there is also a coffee cart on the weekends, and you are invited to sit in the grove, indulge in a cup of coffee and delicious sandwiches, taste the wine, and enjoy a few moments of peace and kindness.
Pampering Picnics in the Galilee
There’s nothing like spring to go on a picnic in nature. We’ve prepared a list of recommended places where you can stock up on quality products that will make your picnic perfect, and recommended picnic spots throughout the Western Galilee.
*The list of picnic spots is adjusted to the security situation.
Tu B'Shvat Recipes
Of course, it’s impossible without a few recipes courtesy of our Galilean professionals!
Date Filled Ma’amoul “Zard” – Noor Restaurant
Recipe courtesy of Basma from the Noor Restaurant in Julis. Ma’amoul cookies symbolize joy, unity, and simplicity. And that’s a great reason, besides the fact that they’re so delicious, to make them every day of the year!
A recipe passed down through generations in the Ofir family!
Tu B'Shvat Gifts
Want to order a delivery with products and gifts for Tu B’Shvat made in the Galilee? Click here for the Taste the Galilee store.
Trips Following Blossoms
Get 3 recommendations for blossom trips from January to March, and recommended restaurants and cafes in the area.
Poppy Anemone
There are several color shows. In the lower areas, the bloom begins in January, and in the higher areas in February.
Why poppies? Because it is as beautiful as a bride!
Flowering Places: In the village of Ma’o, you will find spectacular anemone blooms in a variety of colors.
Where to Eat: Aluma – a bistro restaurant in Tarshiha offering a selection of delicacies from the south of France and the Mediterranean basin, Tupelo – a gluten-free bakery and cafe in Tarshiha, Hadarale Restaurant – a kosher chef’s restaurant on the shores of Lake Montfort in Ma’alot.
Cyclamens
These flowers bloom for a long time.
Flowering Places: Forests, for example in the Hanita forest. Walk along a route called “En Koveshim”. You will reach a flowing spring, surrounded by lots of beautiful cyclamens.
Where to Eat: Ofir Farm, Winery & Apiary in Alon HaGalil – enjoy a glass of wine and a light meal, Yodfat Cafe in the village of Yodfat – overlooking an amazing view, and located in the Boacha Yodfat Complex. Highly recommended.
Marigold & Ricotia
They create a spectacular purple-pink carpet, especially in olive groves.
Flowering Places: At the entrance to the village of Clil, among the olive trees. In the village of Jat – it is recommended to park near the oil press and walk left for about 5-10 minutes to the olive grove area.
Tip: Marigold is also an edible plant.
Where to Eat: Noor Restaurant – Kosher Druze food in the village of Julis, Alto Dairy is a dairy, cafe and delicatessen in Kibbutz Shomrat

Photo: Ayelet Bar Meir
Trips Following Trees
There’s nothing like the Festival of Trees to go out into nature in the footsteps of older and younger trees and give them the respect they deserve. After all, it’s not for nothing that the Torah teaches us, “For man is the tree of the field.”
We will begin with a recommendation for a hike courtesy of tour guide Amnon Gofer, following the ancient carob tree in the village of Peki’in.
Planting a carob tree symbolizes kindness and faith, growing it symbolizes endurance in difficult conditions, and its fruits symbolize longevity. Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai ate the fruits of the carob tree, known for its many healing properties, for 12 years, when he lived in a cave with his son in Peki’in.
The road to the carob tree leads to the entrance to the cave where Rabbi Shimon and his son Elazar hid. Among the other medicinal properties of the carob tree, one can find the use of carob honey as a cure for mouth ulcers; in folk medicine, it is considered to relieve respiratory problems and more.
How to get there:
After reaching Peki’in, drive to its upper part on the road (towards the village of Rama). A clear sign in a small parking lot tells the story of the village of Peki’in and is located right at the beginning of the path leading to the tree. We descend the steps, flanked by oak and carob trees, and arrive at the entrance to the cave with the ancient carob tree beside it.
And a nice story:
Arab farmers usually plow the land around the olives after the harvest, to improve the soil. The cyclamen tubers found while turning the land are collected and planted next to the olives. In this case, the farmer went the extra mile and placed the tubers inside the trunk, and look what came out!