Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making

Authentic Flavors and Fun: Cooking Street Food & Mojitos in Medellín

If you’re craving an immersive taste of Medellín that goes beyond just eating at restaurants, this Street Food & Mojito Making class is a perfect fit. For $60 per person, you’ll spend about two and a half hours in a lively home environment, learning how to prepare three traditional Colombian dishes—including patacones (fried plantains) and empanadas—while also mastering the art of crafting a “Mojito de Lulo”, a local twist on the classic cocktail. The experience is designed for small groups, ensuring plenty of personal attention from your host, making it both intimate and informative.

What we love most about this class is how you get to see and taste ingredients that are often unfamiliar to travelers, and then learn techniques that will help you recreate these flavors at home—no more guessing in the grocery store. Plus, the opportunity to share your self-made meal with a cold beer and stories with locals makes this a genuinely authentic experience.

On the flip side, it’s worth noting that cancellation is non-refundable, so if your plans change unexpectedly, you won’t be able to get a refund. Also, since the tour begins at 6:00 pm, it’s best suited for those comfortable with evening activities.

This experience would especially suit food lovers eager to understand Medellín’s street fare, adventurous travelers wanting to get their hands dirty in the kitchen, or anyone interested in a lively, local evening activity. If you’re looking for a fun, practical way to connect with Medellín’s culinary heart, this class fits the bill.

Key Points

• Authentic learning: Cook and taste real Medellín street foods with a local host.
• Hands-on experience: Make three dishes, including empanadas and patacones.
• Local drinks: Master the artisanal “Mojito de Lulo” and enjoy native fruits.
• Small-group intimacy: Enjoy personalized attention and a relaxed atmosphere.
• Cultural insight: Discover techniques and ingredients rarely seen by travelers.
• Value: For $60, you receive a memorable, practical culinary experience.

Exploring the Details: What to Expect from Your Medellín Food Class

Starting Point and Location

Your evening begins at a cozy house in the Laureles neighborhood, a lively and accessible part of Medellín. The meeting point, Cra. 65 #34-77, is near public transportation, making it easy to reach from most accommodations. The host warmly welcomes your group, ensuring a personalized experience from the start.

The Itinerary

The class kicks off at 6:00 pm, a perfect time for a relaxed evening activity. You’ll first visit a local food market, where your guide (likely a passionate local guide, based on reviews) will introduce you to an array of exotic fruits and fresh herbs. This visit is often highlighted as a favorite part—seeing and tasting ingredients that are unfamiliar to many travelers, such as unique tropical fruits and local vegetables. One review mentions how the market visit “was great for discovering fruits, veg, and herbs we’d never come across before,” which adds an educational twist to the experience.

Back at the home kitchen, the real fun begins. You’ll learn step-by-step techniques to make empanadas with various fillings—both sweet and savory—and patacones, which involve flattening and frying plantains. These are staple street foods in Medellín, and the fact that you’ll learn to prepare them from scratch adds a genuine touch of local flavor.

The Culinary Experience

The host emphasizes techniques rather than just recipes, giving you insights into how these dishes are traditionally made. This focus on local methods rather than generic recipes helps you appreciate the authenticity behind each bite. As one reviewer put it, “we saw so many fruits, vegetables, and herbs we had never come across before—and the stallholders were really friendly,” which speaks to the richness of the experience beyond just the cooking.

Making the Mojito de Lulo

No Colombian evening is complete without a refreshing cocktail. You’ll learn how to prepare the Mojito de Lulo, a local variation using native fruit, which adds a sweet and tangy dimension to the classic cocktail. This is not just a demonstration but a hands-on activity, so you’ll leave with the confidence to make it at home.

Tasting and Sharing

Once your dishes are ready, it’s time to sit down and enjoy your culinary creations. The host encourages a relaxed atmosphere with ice-cold beer and the opportunity to share travel stories—a highlight according to guests who describe it as a “fun, friendly, and delicious” experience. Many mention that the convivial setting makes learning about Medellín’s street food feel like visiting friends rather than a formal class.

Duration and Group Size

While most activities last around 2.5 hours, the small-group setting ensures you get personal attention, making the experience both intimate and relaxed. Since it is a private tour, only your group participates, which means you can ask plenty of questions and customize your experience to some extent.

Why This Cooking Class Offers Great Value

At $60, this experience offers more than just a cooking lesson; it’s an insider’s introduction to Medellín’s street food scene, rich with stories, ingredients, and techniques. Compared to a typical restaurant meal, you get hands-on involvement and the skills to recreate these dishes at home, which is a rare opportunity. Plus, the inclusion of native fruits and a local cocktail elevates this beyond standard cooking classes.

Authenticity and Local Insight

The fact that you are cooking with a local host who knows the ins and outs of Medellín’s street food culture guarantees an authentic experience. You’re not just following a recipe but learning the secrets and techniques that make these dishes unique.

Cultural Connection

The combination of visiting a local market and then cooking in a home setting provides a multi-layered connection to Medellín’s everyday life. It’s a fantastic way to understand the city’s culinary traditions and social fabric.

A Memorable Evening

Guests often leave with not only new recipes but also fond memories of shared laughter, learning, and tasting. For those who love food experiences that are practical and fun, this class hits the sweet spot.

Who Will Love This Experience?

This class is ideal for adventurous eaters, curious about Colombia’s street food culture, and anyone who enjoys hands-on activities. If you’re traveling as a couple or small group, the private setting ensures you won’t feel lost in a crowd. It’s especially suitable for those who want to bring a piece of Medellín home—whether in the form of new recipes or stories to share.

It’s also perfect for travelers who appreciate local markets and want to see how ingredients are sourced before cooking. If you’re a culinary traveler looking for a meaningful, authentic experience rather than a touristy demonstration, this class offers genuine value.

FAQs

How long is the tour?
The experience lasts approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, giving enough time for shopping, cooking, and tasting without feeling rushed.

Is transportation provided?
While the tour begins at a designated meeting point in Laureles, it’s near public transit, making it easy to arrive on your own.

Is this a private or group activity?
It’s a private tour, meaning only your group will participate, allowing for personalized attention and questions.

What dishes will I learn to make?
You’ll make empanadas with various fillings, patacones (fried plantains), and a Mojito de Lulo cocktail.

Can I expect to taste native fruits?
Yes, part of the experience includes tasting native fruits and learning about regional ingredients.

What is the price?
The experience costs $60 per person, which includes all ingredients, instruction, and tastings.

Are there any cancellation policies?
Yes, this experience is non-refundable once booked, so be sure of your plans before confirming.

Final Thoughts

If you’re after a fun, authentic, and practical way to learn about Medellín’s street food scene, this Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making delivers on all fronts. It combines market visits, hands-on cooking, and cultural insight into a relaxed setting, perfect for curious food lovers and those wanting a memorable evening experience.

While it’s a bit of a time commitment in the evening, the personalized attention and authentic recipes make it well worth it—especially if you’re eager to bring a taste of Medellín into your own kitchen. Plus, the convivial atmosphere and sharing of food and stories guarantee you’ll leave with more than just a full stomach.

This is a great choice if you want to connect with local flavors in a meaningful way, learn useful cooking skills, and enjoy an evening that feels more like visiting friends than taking a class. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with friends, this experience offers value, authenticity, and a lot of fun for your Medellín adventure.