Traditional Cooking Class With Minerva Lopez

One of the best tours I’ve ever done. Minerva was kind and knowledgeable. Her translator did an amazing job and the food was amazing. Her home was warm and inviting and I would definitely do again and recommend to everyone.

We had high expectations for this tour and they were absolutely exceeded. The market tour was very informational and we even got to see where maiz is processed. The cooking experience in Minerva Lopez’s home was absolutely incredible since she has so much knowledge to share. Overall a major highlight of our trip and we hope to return soon!

Rare and wonderful! Sandy our guide and Tonya Minerva’s daughter picked us up and took us for a market tour. It was nice to see and have experienced guides for the market. Minerva’s outdoor kitchen was amazing. We love to cook and the food, ingredients and cooking methods were a great opportunity to learn so much more. We learned to make an amazing mole and to cook tortillas on the Comal. She shared with us her 8 year journey from a suggestion that she do a cooking class for a couple interested in learning local cooking methods to now with regular groups traveling through her home. Our experience for so special with Minerva and her team. We are particular about how we spend our time on vacation and prefer this mix of smaller, personal and local experience. We highly recommend!

Everything was great from start to finish! The pick-up was on time. The market visit was informative. Minerva's teaching technique was thorough yet easy to understand. The food we made was delicious. And digital recipes were sent to me at the end. I took three different classes with Minerva. All were taught in her beautiful covered outdoor kitchen, over a wood fired stove, with her attractive and functional garden in the background. I found Minerva to be a patient and kind person. She showed how to do things first and then let the students take over. She was always willing to demonstrate a second time or offer tips on technique. For example, tips on how to make and then cook a tortilla or how to spread the dough out to the proper thickness for a tamale. Minerva definitely helped me become a better home cook and I would take classes from her again.

Such a great experience from start to finish. We picked up fresh ingredients at the market and were transported comfortably in an air-conditioned van. We made Mole Amarillo, two salsas, Memelitas, and Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza, and the whole class was very hands-on. Minerva was great, and honestly, the experience was everything you would hope for in a traditional Oaxacan cooking class. Also, a big thank you to Sandy, our translator, and Minerva’s assistant Elena, who were both so kind and generous throughout the experience.

I did a fair bit of research trying to find which would be the most authentic mole cooking experience. I'm very glad that we selected this one as right from the beginning we were picked up at the meeting location in an air conditioned bus, went to the market to select all of the ingredients that we were about to use to prepare the mole and then drove out to the countryside to a beautifully authentic home where we proceeded to get step by step instructions on how to make a beautiful mole negro. The experience was professional and authentic, end to end a great day. Would highly recommend.

This "class" was everything you'd expect a great cooking class to be. Fun, informative and hands on. Our host was a wonderful and patient guide. Just getting a feel for moving the soft, freshly pressed, masa from the press to the comal and then flipping it without burning your hand! We learned to make a variety of classics including a woderful mole and two spectacular salsas, all to be consumed later in the afternoon. The market experience (the largest in Oaxaca!) was wonderful as well. If you want to learn some of the basics of Mexican cuisine, and you want a master to teach you, this is the class for you. What a blast!

Such a cozy experience that I wouldn’t imagine not doing while visiting Oaxaca. Learning the traditions around cooking mole and being able to take this home with us is exactly what we were looking for.

We had a good time learning to make the best mole from an expert!

Talent- patient and educational. I loved my opportunity to learn from Minerva and her family/staff. The market trip was definitely a highlight, too. One of my favorite markets ever!

It was the best experience of the whole trip to Mexico, Doña Minerva is incredible. She is an amazing chef, strong woman and she uses food to employ women and help them by building an amazing community and sharing her huge knowledge with foreigners like us. It’s the best experience to both learn new dishes, learn about local culture and also support a female owned business and community. I will remember this day forever.

Minerva is an accomplished cook who is well known in the community. Our translator Amy was excellent sharing with group many cultural aspects of not only preparing mole but also life in the local area. The setting is Minerva’s lovely garden and outdoor cooking area. (outside of town about 20 min.)

we were 4 adults, all foodies and experienced cooks, who totally enjoyed this excellent hands on class to learn the techniques and components for creating a delicious molé. This is a family presentation passing along what they have learned growing up in their family. this class would appeal to a person at any level of kitchen skill. we all learned and appreciated the sharing of ideas.

This was an unforgettable and unique experience and we are very grateful for senora Lopez welcoming us in her kitchen. We opted for the corn experience and enjoyed making salsas, mole, tortillas, empanadas, and memelitas. The food was some of the best we’ve had on our whole Mexico trip! Senora Lopez is very kind, patient, and knowledgeable. We are also so grateful to Amy, the expert translator, who explained many things to us, including some of the historical context behind Oaxacan cuisine. She was very friendly and kind, as was the rest of the team. Thank you senora Lopez, Amy, and the whole team! we recommend this experience to anyone who is in Oaxaca and is curious to learn more about some of the most traditional regional dishes.

This experience was perfect- lots of hands on cooking with local foods. Very authentic cooking methods and catered to our vegetarian needs. Word to the wise - bring an appetite! You will not leave hungry! Best ever!

Minerva offers a lot of different classes. This one was specifically for mole negro. You start with going to a local market which is an experience unto itself and then get a really warm welcome to Minerva's home where you're guided through the whole process. It's a great experience and I'd definitely sign up again for one of the other classes when I'm back in Oaxaca. Amy translated everything for English speakers like me and the snacks and cocktails provided by Tanya (Minerva's daughter) are great as well! 100% would recommend.

Minerva’s cooking class was a highlight of my time in Oaxaca. The meeting point for pickup was easy to find, and the experience started with a guided visit through Oaxaca’s largest market that truly caters to locals. Having an English translator made everything easy to follow and added a lot of context while shopping for ingredients. From there, we went to a lovely home to cook. Our menu was mole negro, which is both labor and ingredient intensive. Minerva walked us through each step with care, explaining the process and the purpose behind it. The result was incredibly delicious and made the effort feel worthwhile. If possible, I recommend booking with her directly on Instagram, especially if you are interested in a specific menu. The experience felt personal, well organized, and thoughtfully executed.

Wonderful experience! Minerva does a fantastic job of catering to your dietary needs and the provides a full experience.

Book on instagram instead of TripAdvisor!!! Fantastic class - such a beautiful spot and Minerva is lovely. 100% would recommend if you book on instagram its much better for her and youll be able to make requests if needed!!

Minerva was knowledgeable and a very gracious hostess. Translator Amy made sure no detail was missed. The market and masa stop were educational and fun!

We had a wonderful day traveling with Minerva to the market and making incredible mole in Minerva’s beautiful outdoor kitchen. We were surrounded by her lovely garden as we participated in the very complicated process of making mole. Everything was very organized and the food and drinks were delicious. Amy was a great translator.

It's a wonderful cooking class! I follow Minerva on Instagram and it was great to meet her in person and learn from her. She took us to the local market where we bought a few ingredients. Once we got to Minerva's house, hot chocolate was served, and we were ready to learn! It's a unique opportunity to learn from the master how things are done traditionally. But Minerva incorporated a few modern things (blender) to ensure that we can take what we learn and use it at home. If you don't speak Spanish, no worries, there is an awesome Spanish interpreter.

Love taking this class was very helpful to know how to make tamales and how to prepare them. Instructor was very knowledgeable. Would take this class again.

The highlight of our 3 Week Mexico Trip I highly recommend participating in this traditional Oaxaca. Cooking experience. It is a small group and we went to the incredible abastos market in Oaxaca , got to see how the corn masa is made and drove to Minerva’s semi outdoor kitchen in her patio and garden. We used traditional methods such as a metate and comal. We learned how to make the perfect tortillas, we roasted peppers and tomatoes, onions, garlic, etc over a wood fire. We made mole, two different roasted salsas, stuffed peppers with quesillo and Memelas. We had a huge feast of the delicious food we had made combined with specialty mezcal cocktails, juices and hot chocolate. We met new friends and had an absolutely wonderful time. I highly recommend.

Amazing! The experience of the market was so interesting. Then we arrived at Minerva’s beautiful, comfortable garden cocina! What a treat. Minerva and her staff were so friendly and welcoming and provided detailed instruction and answered all of our questions. Fantastic.

The class starts with an informative tour of the market where Minerva purchases ingredients for the class. Our group was small enough so that everyone got to do things hands on and watch up close. Minerva is a lovely, gracious woman and the others there (Elena and Tanya) were very helpful and attentive. There was quite a lot of food! Pace yourself and save room for dessert! I bought the chili paste and already made a batch of tomatillo salsa, not as good as Minerva's but I'm off to a great start.

Wonderful to experience Minerva’s instruction and oasis of a kitchen. Highly recommend this one of a kind cooking class in Oaxaca!

I took Minerva’s class in July while traveling solo, and it was truly a highlight of my trip. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed into her home and culture. We visited the local market, which was full of fresh and authentic ingredients, and later prepared an incredible mole together over an open fire — such a memorable experience! Minerva and her family made the day feel warm, fun, and genuine. The setting was intimate and gave me a real sense of connection. She is knowledgeable, kind, and a joy to spend time with. I highly recommend this experience to anyone wanting to connect with Oaxacan culture in an authentic and delicious way

Ms. Minerva was fabulous! She has a lovely home with a walled garden typical of homes in her part of the city. Though soft spoken and reserved, she was a careful, patient teacher who answered our questions about food and customs of the area. She is originally from a higher-elevation area outside the city where her indigenous prehispanic culture is still thriving. There are photos of her in her people’s customary dress on the wall of the kitchen, as is the first place prize ribbon she earned in a national competition judging indigenous food dishes. The mole and tortillas we made were heavenly!

Minerva is the best. We made mole negro. First we obtained a walking tour of the city’s central Mercado where we picked-up ingredients. Then, we headed to Minerva’s outdoor kitchen to toast/grill those ingredients on a comal heated by an open fire.

An incredible way to learn about traditional Oaxaca mole cooking. We were first taken to a grand market to pick up the ingredients and learn about all the different varieties of peppers, nuts, etc. then, headed back to Sra. Lopez house where she taught all our group how to prepare every ingredient for the mole. Everyone is encouraged to participate and is made very enjoyable. In the end, we all enjoy a meal prepared by everyone that tastes amazingly. Our hosts are charming and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and to answer all questions. Would definitely come again!

Minerva warmly welcomed us and guiding us through a day that felt both deeply personal and authentically Oaxaqueño. We started with a visit to a local market, where we hand-picked fresh herbs, spices, and colorful produce. Over to her outdoor kitchen (which was stunning—open air, beautiful views, and full of warmth), we learned to prepare a mole meal from scratch. Every step was lead by Minerva, but hands-on and engaging. Even if you’re not an experienced cook, you’ll feel completely at ease. We prepped the food, cooked, sipped on mezcal, and ended the experience enjoying the meal we made together. It was more than a class—it was an immersive cultural experience and a beautiful connection to Oaxacan tradition. If you’re visiting Oaxaca, we highly recommend a cooking class with Minerva Lopez!

Highly recommended! We started the day picking up fresh ingredients at a local market, very little tourists around. Minerva walked around and introduced the group to local spices, food, and drinks. On the way to her beautiful home we stopped to pick up freshly ground corn for the tamales we learned how to cook. Minerva walked us through the whole process aided by her daughter and crew. Her daughter treated us to a refreshing drink and we also tried Oaxacan chocolate milk.

Minerva is an accomplished, award-winning chef who has learned how to create a great experience for her guests. We met at the meeting place, were met by a translator who was from the US, met Minerva herself, and then jumped into a very nice van that drove us to a local market where we were the only tourists. We marveled as Minerva expertly navigated its sprawl, and were given the opportunity to see and taste our way through - buying up whatever we fancied along the way. We then got back in the van, made a pitstop to get our corn ground, and then drove to Minerva’s own home where we cooked and ate and cooked and ate. Minerva, her daughter, and her team were just excellent hosts. Highly recommend!

Our group really enjoyed Minerva's cooking class! The outdoor cooking area is very relaxing surrounded by a garden. We were cooking a complicated mole recipe, so she had the whole group divide up responsibilities and take turns prepping and cooking different items to make up the dish. We really liked this arrangement because it gave us time to watch and relax, versus cooking the entire time. The stove is also very hot, so it worked out well to take turns. Would definitely recommend!

A perfect day. Annotated visit to the huge traditional central market. Minibus transport to Minerva’s beautiful home up in the hills not far from Monte Alban. Hands-on and thorough lesson where Minerva took us through selecting ingredients for and preparing her family recipe for black mole plus making corn tortillas. A mezcal moment. And we got to eat the delicious meal that we helped to create. A most satisfying day that I highly recommend!

This was just what we hoped it would be! Minerva took us to the market to shop for the meal we were going to prepare. She is so knowledgeable and such a great teacher. Authentic cooking over an open fire and comal. It was a hands on experience and we learned so much!

Minerva is lovely! The class was very informative. The walk thru the market was fascinating. I am not a mole lover but I must say learning about it from a Master was delightful. And the mole was so delicious I am now a mole lover, at least this mole.

A very fun day of learning traditional Mexican cooking of tortillas, sopes, entomatadas, amarillo mole, two types of salsa. Beautiful setting and warm welcoming family and interpreter. Everyone participated in the cooking, and of course the plentiful eating, and we all took leftovers home. A wonderful experience, highly recommended.

This was a wonderful experience. The market was unique and going to Minerva’s house to cook was perfect. Having the translator Amy was great for my husband but he was able to pick up on everything. Well worth the day.

This cooking school is just what I was hoping to find. Friendly, informative, welcoming, relaxed, hands on, useful and really, really good food. I’ve been on many market tours with various cooking programs. This was the best. I didn’t feel like I was on a tour as much as tagging along on shopping trip with my great cook aunt. The translator provided extra detail and clarification as needed. We spent the day in a lovely home like setting with a congenial group learning how to give character and flavor to food I can prepare at home.

Minerva’s class was amazing! We learned so much and had a blast cooking. Walking through the market was also incredible.

I've been there last year in the end of October and I highly recommend this tour! First of all I met lots of wonderful, friendly and open minded people there. Secondly we went to the REAL local market and got introduced to all the traditional ingredients we've used during our class. Minerva's home was such an oasis and felt like a real mexican paradise! In my opinion you're missing out If you don't book this tour. Would come back again at any time because I'm still remembering this wonderful experience I've made there. Thanks a lot for having me, Minerva :)

This should not be missed. Do not hesitate and book this! My favorite activity while in Oaxaca. This is a well-organized and very special experience. Book! Book! Book!

Really enjoyed this cooking course. Minerva, Amy and all the other staff were lovely and welcoming. Going to the markets to pick up ingredients first was a great experience, and we also visited a mill where they turn the maize into masa. We learned to cook quite a few things and all had a turn. It was a great day and everyone on the course was friendly too. Thanks Minerva and the team!

This was a great experience from shopping for ingredients in the market in the morning, learning about the food and culture, and the actual cooking at Minerva's outdoor kitchen. The food was delicious - one of our best meals during our stay in Oaxaca. They were also easily able to accommodate a vegetarian diet.

The class met all my expectations. The market tour was wonderful, with opportunities not only to learn about different chiles, fruits and other produce, but some tastings as well. Minerva's garden kitchen was inviting, and everyone got a chance to work on each cooking technique. Minerva and her helpers gave clear instructions with good humor, and Amy was an excellent translator who was able to answer questions about Oaxacan cooking and culture. The food was so good, our group ended up with a Babettes Feast atmosphere as we ate together.

One of my all time favourite travel experiences. Everything was splendidly perfect. The food, the market, Minerva, the translator- loved everything.

From beginning to the end, this experience was enriching and memorable. The class started with an outing to an authentic local market to buy the necessary ingredients for the mole recipe. Minerva and her interpreter Amy gave us thorough explanations of each products. We were then greeted in a pleasant outdoor kitchen surrounded by a beautiful garden. After getting acquainted with the other participants around a cup of delicious hot chocolate we were taught how to make step by step the “Special occasion Mole” (there are 7 types of Moles). The experience was hands-on and memorable for our family, ending with the tasting of the delicious Mole sauce over chicken and rice. We would definitely recommend the experience.