The story
This year nobody wants to keep the tradition properly, and Doña Candelaria won't allow it.
The kitchen becomes an intergenerational battlefield: tradition vs. modernity, lard vs. coconut oil, eyeballing vs. digital scales. Amid scolding, laughter and the smell of warm masa, participants learn the full ritual of the tamale and why making them together matters as much as eating them.
How it works
A hands-on masterclass from start to finish: preparing the masa, whipping the lard until it passes the water test, soaking the corn husks, spreading, filling, folding and wrapping so the filling stays in.
The tamales steam in a real pot with real cooking times while grandma and her family interact, correct and share stories. At the end, everyone tastes what they made.
The characters
- Doña Candelaria: the grandmother who never forgives a badly made tamale.
What's included
- Hands-on tamale masterclass
- Constant theatrical interaction with the hosts
- All materials and ingredients
- Printed recipe book with grandma's sayings
- Traditional drink (atole or café de olla)
- Final group tasting and tamales to take home
What you take home
- Real tamales, made right and as a team
- Understanding why the masa really matters
- A tradition lived from the inside, not through nostalgia
History and culture in every scene
As in all our experiences, the hosts' dialogue and the event's activities are written with real information about Mexican history and culture. You have fun and, without even noticing, you learn. While you cook or taste, the hosts explain the origin of each ingredient and technique and its place in Mexican history.
Format and customization
“Doña Candelaria's Tamale Masterclass” is one of our Mexican cooking classes productions. We can adapt it to your venue, group size, menu and language, as a private event or on dates open to the public.
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