5-Hour Traditional Class

Overview

The class begins at the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán on Andador Macedonio Alcalá, where an air-conditioned van collects the group and drives out to the family home where the cooking happens. Per the listing, the setting is a village outside the city surrounded by mountains, and the cooking itself happens in a smoke kitchen using comals, metates and molcajetes over firewood and charcoal. Transportation to the site from the Santo Domingo meeting point is provided, though the product is sold as a class without citywide hotel pickup.

The format is hands-on from start to finish. Guests see the household ingredients first, including organic herbs and chiles from the garden and fresh quesillo made on site daily. Then comes the mezcal tasting, hosted by a member of the family, alongside fresh waters, soft drinks and juices, and Oaxacan snacks such as chapulines, gusanos and chicatanas. After that, everyone grinds, shapes and cooks: hand-pressed tortillas, tetelas, memelas and tlayudas, seasonal sauces, and one of the seven moles prepared on the metate. Black mole, chocolate de agua, pot coffee, ice cream and cake close out the meal.

It suits travellers who want a long, immersive food day rather than a quick demonstration. Classes run in English and Spanish, vegan and vegetarian options exist if requested in advance, and reviewers repeatedly warn that you should arrive hungry, because the food and drink are effectively unlimited.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Santo DomingoThe meeting point is the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán on Andador Macedonio Alcalá in the Centro. From here the group travels together in an air-conditioned van.
2. Drive to the family homeThe van heads out of the city to a village home surrounded by mountains, where the class and meal take place.
3. Ingredients and gardenThe host walks the group through ingredients found in Oaxacan homes, including organic herbs and chiles from the garden and fresh quesillo made daily.
4. Mezcal tasting and snacksA family member leads a mezcal tasting with as many samples as you like, plus fresh waters, soft drinks, juices and Oaxacan snacks such as chapulines.
5. Hands-on cookingEveryone participates in making tortillas, tetelas, memelas and tlayudas by hand, plus seasonal sauces and one of the seven moles, all cooked on comals, firewood and charcoal embers.
6. Full meal and dessertThe group eats everything it has prepared, and the listing promises black mole, water chocolate, pot coffee, ice cream and cake as part of the day.
7. Return to Santo DomingoThe van drops the group back at the Santo Domingo Temple at the end of the class.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape the day, from the amount of food to the drive out of the city.

• Come hungry. The listing and many reviewers say the same thing: do not eat beforehand. Food and drinks are unlimited, and several travellers described the quantity as far beyond what they expected.
• Comfortable shoes. The listing asks for comfortable shoes. You will be standing, cooking and moving around a home kitchen for several hours.
• Full participation. This is not a demonstration. Reviewers who describe themselves as non-cooks still enjoyed cutting, grinding sauces and shaping tortillas, and the listing says everyone participates in the process.
• Dietary needs in advance. Vegan and vegetarian versions of the class exist, but the listing asks that you say so ahead of time. Do not assume it can be arranged on the day.
• Group setting. One reviewer who travelled alone said the excursion made it easy to meet other people on it. Instruction is given in both English and Spanish.
• Mezcal is included. The tasting is part of the experience and, per the listing, you can sample as much as you like. Non-alcoholic drinks such as fresh waters, soft drinks and juices are also provided.

Common issues. A few travellers have noted that the promised digital recipe book did not always arrive promptly afterwards, so follow up if you want it. Alcohol is generous and freely poured, which may not suit everyone. The class takes place in a village home reached by van, so anyone with limited mobility should check the setting with the operator before booking, as the listing does not address accessibility.

Common Questions