Weekend Fermentation Workshops in Lisbon: What to Expect

If you're looking for something to do in Lisbon on a weekend — something hands-on, a bit unexpected, and genuinely memorable — a fermentation workshop might be exactly what you're after.

At Edible Chemistry, all our public workshops run on weekends. Here's what you can expect.

Why Weekend Workshops?

Because most people have jobs. We designed our schedule so you can learn to ferment without rearranging your week. Saturday and Sunday sessions mean you can book a workshop, explore Lisbon the rest of the day, and still leave with something alive to take home.

Sessions typically run in the mornings (10:00-12:30) or afternoons (15:00-17:30), leaving the rest of your day free.

What Workshops Are Available on Weekends?

Kimchi Workshop — Saturdays & Sundays

Our most popular weekend session. In two hours, you'll make traditional Korean kimchi from scratch — salting, seasoning, mixing, packing — and leave with your own jar ready to ferment at home.

What you'll make: kimchi (take-home jar included). Duration: ~2 hours. Group size: up to 12.

Kombucha Workshop — Saturdays & Sundays

Brew your first batch of kombucha, understand SCOBY care, and learn the first and second fermentation process. You'll leave with a starter kit and the knowledge to keep brewing indefinitely.

What you'll make: kombucha starter kit (SCOBY + starter liquid). Duration: ~2.5 hours. Group size: up to 12.

Other Weekend Sessions

We also run occasional weekend workshops on miso, hot sauces, kefir, and sauerkraut. Check the full calendar for what's coming up.

What to Expect When You Arrive

The experience is nothing like a cooking class. There's no chef demonstrating from a distance while you watch. From the first few minutes, you'll be working with the ingredients directly.

Here's the typical shape of a weekend session:

1. Welcome and introductions — we meet the group (usually 5-8 people from different backgrounds), grab a drink, and get oriented.

2. The science bit — a short, practical explanation of what fermentation is and why it works; no jargon.

3. Hands-on making — the bulk of the session; you're making your product from scratch.

4. Tasting — we taste at different stages so you understand how flavour develops over time.

5. Pack your take-home — your jar or starter kit gets sealed and labelled.

6. Questions and conversation — this is where the sessions come alive; people tend to stay and talk for a while after.

Who Comes to Our Weekend Workshops?

A typical Saturday session might include:

- A couple spending the weekend in Lisbon and looking for something different

- A local expat who's been meaning to try fermentation for months

- A group of friends celebrating a birthday

- Someone who's been buying kimchi for years and finally wants to know how it's made

- A complete beginner with no food science background whatsoever

All welcome. All starting from the same point.

What to Bring

Nothing. We provide all ingredients, equipment, and jars. Wear something you don't mind getting a little messy (gochugaru is enthusiastically orange).

How to Book

Check the calendar at ediblechemistry.club/workshops for upcoming weekend sessions. Spaces are limited — up to 12 per session — we recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks ahead, especially in spring and autumn.

Weekend sessions sell out regularly. If you see a date that works, don't wait.

Want a Private Weekend Session for Your Group?

If you're a group of 4 or more, you can book an exclusive private workshop on any weekend (or weekday). Popular for hen parties, birthdays, and groups of friends visiting Lisbon together.

Lisbon weekends don't need to mean another rooftop bar or another food tour. But if you want two hours that feel genuinely different — where you learn something real and leave with something alive — a weekend fermentation workshop in Lisbon is worth your time.

We'll see you Saturday.