Gingerbread Lab

Have you ever wondered what’s really inside a gingerbread cookie and where its ingredients come from? Why do gingerbread cookies smell so tempting, and which plants give them their distinctive flavor?

At the Tartu Nature House’s gingerbread lab, we’ll discover the exciting world of spices, explore the plants growing in the tropical winter garden, use a microscope, and put our sense of smell to the test.

In the second half of the workshop, we’ll bake gingerbread cookies from prepared dough and decorate them with naturally colored icing. This combines scientific discovery, sensory activities, and Christmas-themed baking.

What do we do at the Gingerbread Lab?

The workshop consists of two parts: first, we’ll explore the world of gingerbread spices, and then we’ll bake and decorate gingerbread cookies.

1. We’ll explore the exciting world of spices

In the first half of the workshop, we’ll explore the ingredients used in making gingerbread and where they come from.

• We’ll get to know tropical plants. We’ll look at pepper, vanilla, cardamom, ginger, and other exotic culinary and medicinal plants growing in the Nature House’s winter garden.
• We’ll examine spices under a microscope. We’ll observe the parts of the plants and notice details that aren’t easily visible to the naked eye.
• We’ll put our sense of smell to the test. We’ll try to identify different spices and seasonings by their scent.
• We’ll discover the origins of flavors. We’ll discuss which parts of plants are used as seasonings and how spices influence our taste experiences.

2. We’ll bake and decorate gingerbread cookies

In the second half of the workshop, we’ll move on to hands-on cooking.

• We’ll make gingerbread cookies. We’ll use pre-made dough and shape it into gingerbread cookies.
• We’ll bake the gingerbread cookies. We’ll observe how the dough changes during baking and how the characteristic gingerbread aroma develops.
• We’ll decorate them with icing. We’ll use naturally colored icing and let our creativity run wild.

By the end of the workshop, we’ll have delicious and unique gingerbread cookies.

What plants and spices will we discover?

Tartu Nature House’s tropical winter garden is an exciting place to explore plants whose flavors and aromas we recognize from our daily meals.

In this workshop, we’ll explore, for example, pepper, vanilla, cardamom, and ginger. We’ll learn where these plants come from, what they look like, and which parts of the plant are used in cooking.

Through various observation and sensory activities, we’ll discover that behind every familiar spice lies its own fascinating botanical story.

Who is this workshop for?

The Gingerbread Lab is perfect for work teams, groups of friends, and other groups who want to combine exploring nature with a fun cooking experience.

The workshop is especially well-suited for the pre-Christmas season and can be incorporated into the program of a Christmas party, team-building event, or other gathering.

The standard group size is up to 12 people, but the workshop can also be arranged for larger groups. Arrangements and pricing for larger groups are agreed upon separately.

Ordering and Booking the Workshop

The workshop is held by advance reservation. We are flexible in our planning and will accommodate your group’s wishes and needs whenever possible.

In the booking form, you can specify your desired date, the number of participants, and any special requests. Together, we’ll find a solution that works for your group.

Want to explore other options? Check out other workshops at Tartu Nature House →