PÀO PÀO: A Fermentation Make & Taste Workshop

This workshop includes a tasting of preserved vegetables from Chinatown and hands-on instruction on how to make paocai. You will go home with your own paocai guan (traditional Chinese pickling jar) filled with veggies & spices.

There are two time slots for this workshop: Session 1 is from 11:00AM - 12:30PM | Session 2 is from 2:30-4PM

Join us at Think!Chinatown for a hands-on paocai 泡菜 workshop. We’re excited to welcome food writer and fermentation instructor Jess Eng (@goudatalks) to guide us through paocai, a centuries-old style of lacto-fermenting pickling that remains a cornerstone of many kitchens across the Chinese diaspora today.

Together, we’ll sample a selection of pickles and preserved vegetables sourced from neighborhood small businesses here in Chinatown. Along the way, you’ll learn how these savory, tangy creations are used in everyday cooking, and discover brands and ingredients you can bring into your own kitchen directly from local shops.

Each participant will assemble their own jar of lacto-fermented vegetables in a traditional paocai jar to take home, and will leave with the knowledge to continue fermenting beyond the workshop.

Please note:

• This workshop is designed for adults, but children over the age of 10 are welcome if they are able to participate in a “grown-up” setting and if they are accompanied by an adult. Every person will require a ticket.
• It is also intended for our community and folks curious to learn more about paocai. Our workshop is not designed as a corporate team-building activity. For large groups of more than four people, please email us in advance to inquire about availability. We’d love to connect!

Early Bird Sliding Scale Tickets: $45-55General Admission Tickets: $65

About the instructor: Jess Eng is a food and culture writer based in New York. Her writing appears in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Serious Eats, TASTE, Bon Appétit, and more. She primarily writes about Chinese American food and recipes, though she also enjoys penning national stories about cuisine, culture, and community.

This event is part of the Chinatown Arts Festival, a month long celebration of culture in Manhattan's Chinatown. Showcasing both traditional Chinese arts groups and emerging Asian American artists, this year’s festival is packed with exciting programs for all ages. Check out our long list of free and low-cost events at

Think!Chinatown is a place-based intergenerational non-profit in Manhattan’s Chinatown, working at the intersection of storytelling, arts, and neighborhood engagement. T!C is the team behind neighborhood cultural programs like Chinatown Arts Festival, Chinatown Night Market, Chinatown Block Parties, Chinatown Storytelling Festival, and more. Find more at

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