Hands-on tamale making workshop learning the art of masa preparation, various regional fillings (chicken mole, rajas con queso), and wrapping techniques with Mexican home cooks in a real domestic kitchen setting.
Eat Mexico's Tamale Workshop is a 2.5-hour hands-on cooking session led by experienced Mexican home cooks in a domestic kitchen setting in Mexico City, offering a focused introduction to one of Mexico's most culturally significant foods. Tamales have been prepared in Mexico for at least three thousand years, predating Spanish colonisation, and today represent a food with strong ceremonial, domestic, and street-food dimensions — made for festivals, sold from morning carts, and prepared in homes across every region of the country. The workshop covers the full tamale-making process from start to finish: soaking and preparing the dried corn husks that serve as the outer wrapping; mixing and seasoning masa — the dough made from nixtamalized corn — to the correct spreadable consistency; preparing savoury fillings including chicken in mole sauce and rajas con queso (roasted poblano chile strips with Oaxacan string cheese); and the specific folding and wrapping technique that holds the tamale together during steaming. Participants work through each stage under the guidance of experienced home cooks who teach in the domestic Mexican kitchen tradition rather than the professional culinary-school register. This setting gives the session an informal, household quality that reflects how tamales are actually made across Mexico — by hand, with adjustments by feel rather than precise measurement, often in a family or community context. Both filling varieties are typically prepared in each session, providing a comparison between a complex sauce-based tamale and a simpler cheese preparation. The USD $55 price includes all ingredients and the finished tamales, which participants eat at the conclusion of the session. The compact 2.5-hour format covers the full technique, making it one of the more time-efficient culinary workshops available in Mexico City for travellers with limited availability. The workshop is conducted in English and Spanish and suits all experience levels, including those with no prior cooking background.
Good to know
- Operator
- Eat Mexico
Highlights
- Hands-on tamale making covering masa preparation, two regional fillings, and traditional corn-husk wrapping technique
- Taught by experienced Mexican home cooks in a domestic kitchen — the setting where tamales are traditionally made
- Prepare both chicken mole and rajas con queso (roasted poblano with Oaxacan cheese) fillings in one session
- Compact 2.5-hour format includes all ingredients and a shared tasting of the finished tamales
Tips for visiting
- No cooking experience is needed — the session is designed for all skill levels from beginners upward
- Wear comfortable clothing as masa preparation can be messy; aprons are provided but may not cover all splashes
- Inform Eat Mexico of dietary restrictions at booking — vegetarian substitutions for the chicken filling can often be arranged
- Arrive on time to cover all stages within the 2.5-hour window; tamale making has multiple sequential steps
Frequently asked questions
Is the workshop conducted in English?
The workshop is conducted in both English and Spanish. Eat Mexico confirms the primary language for each session at the time of booking.
What do participants eat at the end?
All tamales prepared during the session are steamed and shared as a meal at the conclusion, covering both the chicken mole and rajas con queso varieties made during the workshop.
Can the chicken filling be substituted for vegetarians?
A vegetarian substitution is often available with advance notice. Contact Eat Mexico when booking to confirm that a meat-free alternative can be accommodated on the specific date.
Is this suitable for children?
The workshop is generally a family-friendly experience. Children who can follow basic kitchen safety instructions are typically welcome, though the minimum age and supervision requirements should be confirmed with Eat Mexico when booking.