Derech Hatavlinim, Bethlehem of Galilee – Visitors Guide

Derech Hatavlinim in Bethlehem Of Galilee is not just a spices and herbs store. They also offer workshops, tours, and festivals. And today we are going to visit them.

Map

Derech Hatavlinim is located at Bethlehem Of Galilee near Ktofoti. To reach it, you turn right just before the entrance to this Moshav. And the most straightforward way not to get lost is by entering their name into Waze.

Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit

Interactive map of the area:

Opening Hours

Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00
Friday: 09:00 – 16:00

About Derech Hatavlinim

The Cytrexpiler family has been growing spice for more than 50 years. Avi Tsitershpiler, the owner of the farm, has absorbed the values ​​of agriculture, landscape, nature, and man since childhood, growing up and growing spice with his father Zvi, one of the pioneers of the spice industry in Israel. After his military service in the Faculty of Agriculture and later in Naturoptia, Avi Zitershpiler has been continuously growing, processing, producing, and marketing spices and herbs in Israel and around the world.

Note: unless stated otherwise, all quotes were taken from the official site.

The Beginning

In 2003 he decided to realize his dream and spread the vision of spice to every home in Israel. This is how the Spice Road Farm was born, a unique tourist concept of a visitor center for the world of spices and medicinal plants. The farm serves as a visitors’ center for private and group audiences and an educational center for all franchise stores and business customers. The concept invites the visitor to powerful and exciting senses, and colors experience in the form of an open market of hundreds of spices and herbs – the largest farm store in Israel for this subject.

And here is a video in Hebrew where Avi tells about the farm:

What can you find at Derech Hatavlinim?

Derech Hatavlinim expanded, and beyond the original place in Bethlehem Of Galilee, there are stores in Israel and abroad.

The spice vision has expanded to 8 spice shops that operate throughout the country and serve as a tool for spreading the fragrance and its causes … and as another way to spread the spice vision and to expose to a wide audience their qualities and their ability to create a season of seasoning for benefit and health in our lives. In 2012, the spice vision expanded beyond the borders of Israel, and there are collaborations in England, Germany, and the United States.

Besides the physical stores, they also have an online store. And their space at Bethlehem Of Galilee has grown beyond a store, and now it is a visitor center. You can visit the store, and the restaurant, join workshops, tour the nearby spices fields, and participate in festivals.

Is the place Kosher?

Spices, mixtures, and infusions are kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Zamir – Jezreel Valley Regional Council.

The Store

Over the years, we visited the store dozens of times. And whenever we are in the area, my wife drags me there. But what can I say? I love their smoked sweet paprika. It combines well with chicken.

When you enter the Derech Hatavlinim store, you take a basket, a marker, and a stack of plastic boxes. The boxes come in two sizes: the bigger ones (about 500 ml) and the smaller ones (about 250 ml). When you find the spice you like, you fill one of the plastic boxes and use the marker to write the name of the spice (and maybe the preparation instructions for yourself).

The spices are arranged in categories. For example, here is a row of different spice combinations you can add to rice.

Here is the row of various green tea:

Besides spices, you can find dried fruits, Halva, olive oil, jams, wine, and kitchen accessories.

That is quite a new machine (I have not seen it on our previous visit). It makes tahini. The image below consists of five different photos describing the process. In the beginning, they fill the upper tank with sesame seeds. Then the machine is turned on, and it starts grinding the seeds (by the rotating top wheel). The result is poured slowly into a container.

There are one-time spoons, and you can taste the result. I did, and as expected, it was sour and “heavy.” That is what Israeli call: “raw tahini.” You never eat it as is (rarely, probably besides some health fanatics), but always add something to it. When preparing Halva, for example, they add other ingredients like sugar or honey and nuts.

Until today, only the store and the restaurant were operating during most of our visits. But sometimes, on holidays, they offer additional activities (mostly tours), such as the annual paprika festival.

Food Trucks

The business is growing, and their restaurant has become a place that serves breakfasts. It offers sandwiches, pizzas, and pastries. And at noon, a food truck that sells burgers opens. And there is also a food truck that offers beers in the evenings.

We ate at both places (pizzas and burgers), and the food was tasty. But the waiting time and the lines can be long. Moreover, they are still (February 2023) not very organized.

Other Vendors

During our visits in 2021, we started seeing a new small shop near the entrance to Derech Hatavlinim.

They mainly sell olive oil, but there are other products as well.

Events and Workshops

If you are interested in tours and workshops, check out the official site. We participated several times in the Paprika Festival, and it was lovely.

Moreover, we joined short tours several times. Usually, they take you out into the nearby fields and tell you about different spices and their usage and healing capabilities. Excellent and free half-hour tours. Here is the Lavender that I shot during one of the journeys.

And this is a Mandarin orange tree in front of the store.

Abramovich Honey

If you love honey, then I can recommend a nearby place. In Alonei Aba, you can find a small store called Abramovich Honey. They sell several different types of honey, and after visiting Derech Hatavlinim, we usually stop there.

To reach Abramovich Honey, you enter Alonei Aba and drive straight to Waldheim Protestant Church. At the church, you turn left and continue with the road till you reach the store. I also marked it on the map at the beginning of this post.

Summary

If you love spices, herbs, or teas, then Derech Hatavlinim is your place. They have a wide variety of products with suggested recipes.

Moreover, check if there are workshops or festivals soon. And I would recommend combining this visit with nearby attractions in Bethlehem Of Galilee.

Note: if you love agrotourism, then check out the agrotourism category. And if you are looking for additional nearby attractions, browse the map at the top of this post or see Bethlehem Of Galilee.

Have you ever been to Derech Hatavlinim? Tell us in the comments below.

That’s all for today, and I’ll see you in future travels!

Stay Tuned!

   

Additional Resources

Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:

• Israel Trip Planner is the page that will help you to create your perfect travel route.
• National Parks And Nature Reserves page lists and put all national parks on the map. There is also a top list, information about ticket types and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, and Makhtesh Ramon.
• Wondering what events are there in Israel? Here is the Events And Festivals By Season guide.

And if you have any questions then check out Useful Information For Tourists To Israel.