Join artist Jing and instructor Hong for a delightfully immersive, relaxed community afternoon celebrating the culinary and cultural traditions of summer with a hands-on Chinese Dim Sum Making.
This unique session takes place inside the gallery during Jing's solo exhibition, Echoes of the Tides, offering a vibrant, creative setting to cook and connect. For this workshop, Jing is teaming up once again with Hong, a Chinese calligraphy tutor and passionate Chinese tea and dim sum expert.
Session Details:
- Date: Saturday, 25th July
- Times: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (2 hours)
- Age Guide: Suitable for adults and children aged 12+
- Location: 19a Gallery, Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton, BN1 7HB
- Spaces: Strictly limited to 12 participants maximum
- Energy Exchange: £18 (special price strictly to cover ingredients, tea & refreshments)
The Experience:
This is a casual, accessible workshop built for the local community workshop. Our goal is to have fun, eat healthy food, connect with neighbours, and keep beautiful cultural traditions alive together.
As your main instructor for the afternoon, Hong will share her culinary knowledge and guide you step-by-step through the ancient art of making Zongzi (粽子)—traditional rice dumplings delicately wrapped in aromatic bamboo leaves. These parcels are an essential summer delicacy in China, famously enjoyed during the Duanwu (Dragon Boat) Festival.
Hong, with assistance from Jing, will guide you through the process of preparing the grains, choosing fillings, and mastering the intricate folding and tying techniques required to form the perfect pyramid shape. Explore modern, healthy twists using brown rice, black rice, and red rice alongside traditional sticky rice. Customise your dumplings with delicious choices, featuring both savoury vegan options and sweet dessert options.
Because authentic Zongzi require time to boil to perfection, we have a beautiful cultural craft planned for the intermission. While our dumplings boil in the kitchen, filling the studio with their sweet scent, you will learn traditional Chinese paper folding with Jing to craft mini Zongzi-shaped sachets known as Xiangbao (香包). These delicate paper structures are traditionally filled with fragrant, calming herbs, creating a beautiful scented keepsake.
By the end of the workshop, we will gather in the gallery to taste fresh, piping-hot Zongzi together. You will leave with your beautiful handmade herbal sachet, along with a selection of your own fully boiled, real dumplings to take home and enjoy later!
Highlights:
- ✨ Keep Traditions Alive: Learn the step-by-step authentic technique of assembling, tying, and boiling traditional summer Zongzi to preserve this ancient art form.
- ✨ Fun & Healthy Food: Explore unique textures with healthy brown, black, and red rice, plus savoury vegan and sweet dessert options.
- ✨ Community Connection: Meet fellow neighbours and culture enthusiasts in a friendly, down-to-earth, and relaxed gallery setting.
- ✨ Learn from the Main Expert: Master authentic dumpling techniques under the primary guidance of passionate dim sum instructor Hong.
- ✨ Craft a Fragrant Keepsake: Learn paper folding with Jing to create traditional Xiangbao herbal sachets filled with calming summer botanicals.
- ✨ Take Home Cooked Delicacies: Enjoy a tasting session in class and take home your own fully boiled rice dumplings to share.
- ✨ Complimentary Hospitality: Enjoy authentic Chinese tea, snacks, and refreshing drinks throughout the afternoon.
All ingredients, bamboo leaves, aromatic herbs, cooking tools, and paper are provided. No previous cooking or crafting experience is necessary—just bring your appetite and enthusiasm for community spirit.
Early booking is highly recommended as spaces are strictly capped.