From Teotitlan del Valle: One Day with a Zapotec Family: Textile Atelier, Market Visit & Traditional Cooking Experience

• Warm greeting by the Zapotec family in their home.
• Introduction to the history of Teotitlán and the cultural legacy of this Master Artisan family.

Duration: 45 minutes – 1 hour

• Explore the vibrant village market alongside your host.
• Learn how they select fresh ingredients for mole and cacao drinks.
• Discover local products such as native corn, chiles, spices, and seasonal produce.
• Opportunity to buy artisanal ingredients to take home.

Duration: 2 hours
Cook step by step with the Master Cook of the family, using ancestral techniques passed down through generations.

You will learn to prepare:

• Traditional Mole — from toasting and grinding spices to building the complex layers of flavor.
• Cacao Preparation — understand its spiritual importance as you grind cacao on the metate to create a warm, ceremonial drink.
• Tortillas by Hand — learn to nixtamalize, grind, and shape tortillas from native corn.

Experience highlights:

• All cooking is done over a comal and traditional stove.
• You cook and share lunch with the family.
• Vegetarian options available.

• Enjoy the mole you prepared together, freshly made tortillas, seasonal sides, and agua fresca.
• Conversation about Zapotec traditions, daily life, and culinary heritage.

Duration: 1 hour

• Visit the family’s renowned weaving studio, home to a famous Zapotec Master Artisan.
• Learn about natural dyes such as cochineal, indigo, and pericón.
• Observe the entire weaving process on traditional pedal looms.
• Discover how designs are inspired by Zapotec symbolism and the philosophy of life.
• Time to browse or purchase unique textiles directly from the family.