Traditional African Cooking Classes
Carry our African recipes home
Our hosts are natural teachers of their family recipes.
After enjoying all the delicious African foods as you travel, would you be able to cook them at home? Our hosts swear that their traditional foods taste better when they use local cooking methods.
Our traditional African cooking classes make it easy and safe to learn to cook the unique dishes of the country.
How it Works
Book a cooking class online at least one day in advance.
We’ll send you directions to a host’s home or a community setting.
The host will provide a hands-on, culture-rich cooking lesson in her kitchen.
The class will end with a meal eaten together.
What to Expect
African food has millions of recipes, but we give the same feeling in every class.
Classes are equal parts culture and cuisine. You’ll learn the family recipes, cooked with traditional methods, and hear the stories and beliefs around food preparation.
You’ll work for your food. Our classes are hands on, with everyone participating.
We eat together after cooking. You won’t go home hungry!
What NOT to Expect
Indoor cooking optional. Even if our host has a gas stove inside, don’t be surprised if she lights up the charcoal stove outside.
Classes are not held in sterile “test kitchens”. Our cooking classes are held in homes or community settings and use traditional cooking utensils and methods.
FROM OUR TABLE TO YOURS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect from a cooking class?
You’ll have a hands-on lesson in cooking many traditional recipes using traditional cooking utensils and preparation methods, accompanied by local customs and warm conversation. The class takes place in a local home or community setting, and you will eat the full meal together with the host at the end.
Are the cooking classes open to children?
Not always, but it depends on the age of the child and the discretion of the parent. Our classes often require the use of sharp knives and open fires, which are not safe environments for young children. Read our health and safety page for more information on how to stay safe on our tours.
Do the cooking classes include a meal, and can you accommodate dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, gluten-free)?
All of our cooking classes include a meal. When booking, you’ll be asked to note any allergies or dietary needs. We’ll talk to the host to ensure she can adjust the class to meet your needs. Read our health and safety page for more information.
Where do you hold the cooking classes?
Cooking classes are held in local homes or in a community setting (like a school.)
How do you select your cooking class instructors?
We work on a referral basis, often working with local governments and non-profit institutions to identify women who are known in their neighborhoods for their local recipes and who exemplify cultural hospitality. We then vet each host to see her kitchen environment and teaching ability. Do you have a woman or a women’s group that might be a perfect fit for Jiranileo? Send us the referral here.
Are your cooking class instructors paid fairly?
Yes, our hosts are paid fairly for every cooking class. We benchmark rates based on local metrics for each country, such as cost of living surveys, and review pay scales frequently with hosts to ensure that they make a fair profit. Read our responsible tourism page for more information.