Spice Lab

What do the plants look like whose scents and flavors are familiar to us from the kitchen? In the “Spice Lab” workshop at Tartu Nature House, we’ll discover the exciting world of exotic herbs, examine them under a microscope, and put our senses to the test.

In the lush tropical winter garden, plants grow whose names we often see on spice jars and food packaging. In the workshop, we’ll learn about their origins, characteristics, and uses.

As a hands-on activity, each participant will make their own herb salt, which they can later use to experiment with flavors while cooking at home.

What do we do at the Spice Lab?

The Spice Lab combines plant discovery, playful exploration, and hands-on crafting.

• We’ll explore the herbs in the winter garden. We’ll get to know exotic plants whose scents, flavors, and names are familiar to us from our daily meals.
• We’ll explore the origins of plants. We’ll learn where different spices and herbs come from and how they’re used in cooking.
• We’ll observe under a microscope. We’ll take a closer look at the smaller parts of plants and notice details that may not be visible to the naked eye.
• We’ll put our senses to the test. We’ll participate in a recognition game where we’ll identify different plants and spices based on their characteristics.
• We’ll make herb salt. We’ll mix together a blend of herbs of our choice and make herb salt that we can use later when cooking at home.

The Winter Garden as a Living Spice Lab

Tartu Nature House’s tropical winter garden offers the chance to see which plants lie behind familiar flavors and scents.

In this workshop, we’ll discover that spices aren’t created on store shelves, but come from the leaves, fruits, seeds, and other parts of a wide variety of plants.

We’ll learn to observe the characteristics of plants, recognize their scents, and connect everyday flavors to their natural origins.

We’ll make our own herb salt

In the hands-on part of the workshop, each participant will experiment with different herbs and make their own custom herbal salt blend.

The finished blend will allow you to continue exploring flavors at home—try it with different dishes and discover your favorite combinations.

Who is this workshop for?

The Spice Lab is perfect for work teams, groups of friends, and other groups looking to combine an exciting journey of discovery in the Nature House’s winter garden with hands-on activities.

The workshop also fits well into the program for a seminar, birthday party, or other group gathering.

The preferred number of participants is up to 12 people, but the workshop can also be organized for larger groups. We’ll work out the exact details based on the group’s size and preferences.

Ordering and Booking the Workshop

The workshop is held by advance reservation. We are flexible in our planning and will take participants’ interests and special requests into account whenever possible.

Please email us with 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 →