Dumpling Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour in CBD

Highlights

• Shop for fresh ingredients at a local wet market with your guide
• Prepare three classic Chinese dumpling fillings from scratch (6 pax minimum)
• Experience the magical journey from dough to dumplings, from start to finish.
• Enjoy a full Chinese meal with cold dishes, dumplings, and local specialties.
• Discover the traditional Chinese culture and dining etiquette behind the food

Description

Begin your culinary adventure at a local wet market in Beijing. Shop for fresh ingredients with your guide, learning the Chinese names and auspicious meanings of vegetables like chives (symbolizing longevity) and cabbage (symbolizing wealth). At the butcher and seasoning stalls, discover how Chinese families choose meat by freshness and balance flavors. Then, head to a cooking space in Beijing's CBD. Choose from three classic options: pork and scallion, beef and carrot, or chive and egg. Prepare the fillings, learning why meat goes first and vegetables go last, and why you always stir in one direction. Knead the dough until it reaches the 'three shiny' standard: smooth dough, clean bowl, clean hands. Roll the wrappers, thicker in the center and thinner at the edges. Wrap the dumplings, learning the classic crescent fold, pleat by pleat, and join a creative dumpling contest. Boil the dumplings, watching for the 'three boils, three cold water' method and the moment they float. Prepare dipping sauces with vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and chili oil. Plate the cold dishes, the ready-made cold dish, and braised food you picked up at the market. Finally, sit down at a shared table and eat like a Chinese family. Cold dishes first, then dumplings, then a bowl of dumpling soup—'原汤化原食,' the soup that helps digest the meal. Your host will teach you chopstick etiquette and the meaning of '团圆' (reunion).

Includes

English-speaking guide/instructor Wet market shopping tour with bilingual task card All ingredients for dumpling making (flour, three fillings, seasonings) One ready-made cold dish and one braised food item from the market Dipping sauce preparation (vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, chili oil) Use of apron, gloves, and all cooking tools Take-home recipe card Small prize for creative dumpling contest winner

Excludes

Hotel pickup and drop-off Personal expenses Additional drinks or food beyond the included meal Gratuities (optional)

Important Information

• Minimum group size: 2 guests. For 2 guests, you may choose 1 filling. For every additional 2 guests, you may add 1 more filling. For 8+ guests, please contact us for a custom arrangement. Dietary restrictions: Please inform us at the time of booking.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund