Description
Join us to learn how to make elegant and delicious zero-alcohol fermented sodas.
We’ll walk you through several different recipes from start to finish, as you discover how these sodas deliver uplifting, sophisticated taste alongside vitamins and prebiotic benefits for gut health. You’ll also learn how to make a hydrosol and use this unique aromatic element to add complexity to your ferments.
At the end of our workshop you’ll have a secondary fermentation to finish at home, plus a jar of starter to keep your sodas thriving. You’ll leave with recipes, techniques, and the confidence to continue your botanical drinks journey at home.
Perfect for foodies, home fermenters, and anyone seeking a sophisticated, alcohol-free alternative. Materials and samples provided.
About our day:
- Begin with a walk through the garden to forage seasonal herbs and aromatics, identifying and selecting for flavour and aroma.
- Meet the ingredients for our ferments and set up the copper alembic still for a distillation of fragrant hydrosol for use in the sodas.
- Choose your flavour elements—combine herbs, spices, fruit, and hydrosol to design a soda recipe.
- Introduce the helpers—meet the starter culture, learn about its role and how it contributes to both flavour and fizz.
- Make a starter—how to build and feed a small batch to activate the culture, monitoring signs of healthy fermentation.
- Care for your starter—routine feeding, temperature and hygiene tips, and troubleshooting common issues.
- Assemble the first-stage ferment—how to combine all the elements, adjust sweetness and acidity, and transfer to primary fermenters.
- Strain and bottle for secondary fermentation—how to clarify, add priming if needed, and bottle safely to develop natural carbonation.
- Taste and evaluate— we sample some finished sodas, assess balance, aroma, mouthfeel, and note adjustments for future batches.
- End the day with a cocktail—mix your ferments into non‑alcoholic or low‑ABV cocktails, with garnish suggestions and serving ideas.
Getting there: |
Highwic is 40 Gillies Ave, Newmarket. Main entry on Mortimer Pass, secondary entry at 40 Gillies Ave. There is limited free visitor parking on site. If you find the carpark is full, we recommend parking next door at Westfield Newmarket.
Rail: Highwic is a five-minute walk from Newmarket Train Station.
Buses: Highwic is on main bus routes on Gillies Ave and Broadway.
Lunch:
You are welcome to bring your own lunch to this event, or there are many local cafés and restaurants nearby, including the food court in Westfield Newmarket.
Can’t make your booking? Get in touch and we can help you out. You can view our cancellation policy here.
