Making a Meal from Scratch
This exclusive experience is the very definition of farm-to-table dining, where you participate in every step of preparing the meal, from harvesting ingredients to sitting at the table to eat and chat. Learn the ins and outs of Costa Rican cuisine, connect with the culture around it, and you’ll get to take back new techniques so you can make these at home!
Picking Fresh Ingredients
The tour takes place in a property with its own gardens where food grows everywhere. The first part of the experience is to explore the area while your host explains the various plants you find and their importance in the kitchen. Here, you’ll learn how to pick the right seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables for the meal.
The Trapiche: Costa Rica’s Sugar Cane Heritage
You’ll also get to visit a traditional trapiche. The trapiche is the oldest way in the country to process sugar cane. Often powered by oxen, the machine beats the cane to a pulp to extract the juice, which is later boiled and put into molds to cool down. Once cooled, it solidifies.
Costa Ricans call this minimally-processed sugar “dulce” (literally, “sweetness”), but it’s also known in many places as “panela.” This short visit will give you an understanding of the inner workings of traditional and historical farming in the area, as well as the importance of sugar cane in traditional drinks and dishes.
Preparing Drinks and Traditional Dishes
Next is the best part! Get ready to mix a tropical cocktail using one of Costa Rica’s most famous hard liquors, “guaro Cacique.” Those who aren’t of drinking age—or who prefer to avoid alcohol—can make their own fresh fruit juice.
Squeeze into the kitchen, family-style, and follow your instructor as you learn to craft some of the country’s favorite dishes, such as handmade tortillas, refried beans, or patacones. Finally, after a good day’s work, sit to enjoy what you’ve created along the main dishes. Top it all off with a tropical dessert, and you’re set.
Throughout this cultural tour, you’ll listen to stories, learn about history, and discover the importance of certain foods in Costa Rican traditions. All this from the people who’ve lived and eaten here their whole lives. It’s a day to peek behind the curtains to see what home feels and tastes like in Costa Rica!
What to Know Before Booking
If you have special dietary needs, let your travel consultant know in advance. There are various choices of meat and plant-based main courses so everybody can relax and enjoy the process. There’ll be alcohol-free options as well, making the activity accessible to all ages and personal preferences. After all, the tour is entirely private and exclusive to our clients, so we try to tailor it to you as much as possible.
Ready to Book?
Contact us to get a vacation including this experience.
