About this Event
Alchemist Academy welcomes the harvest season through the flavors, aromas, and plant wisdom of autumn.
Join herbalist and botanical mixologist Ezza Valdez for a hands-on exploration of alcohol-free drinks made with seasonal fruits, herbs, spices, and functional mushrooms.
Through demonstrations, guided tastings, and conversation, you will learn how to prepare botanical elixirs for quiet evenings, festive gatherings, and shared meals.
This class welcomes curious beginners and experienced practitioners seeking fresh ideas for their seasonal repertoire.
Each lesson follows a clear, step-by-step process, giving you practical skills to use at home.
Your fall mise en place will include:
• Seasonal juices, including apple, pear, cranberry, and pomegranate
• Natural sweeteners, including maple, honey, and agave
• Botanical bitters and alcohol-free tinctures
• Sparkling water, tonic, tea, and other zero-proof mixers
• House-made syrups, shrubs, and herbal infusions
• Fall herbs and spices, including ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, sage, and cardamom
• Functional mushrooms and warming botanical blends
• Citrus peels, fresh fruit, and aromatic garnishes
What you’ll learn:
• Core principles of botanical drink preparation
• How to balance sweet, sour, bitter, aromatic, and warming notes
• How to prepare syrups, infusions, shrubs, and sparkling drinks
• How to evaluate ingredients and troubleshoot common mistakes
• Which tools support a well-stocked home botanical bar
• How to garnish each drink with herbs, fruit, and spices
Gather around the harvest table, raise a glass, and mark the season with drinks rooted in flavor, plants, and shared pleasure.
Bio:
Ezza Valdez is an herbalist, botanical mixologist, permaculture designer, and educator who leads content and educational programming at The Alchemist’s Kitchen.
Her teaching brings together plant knowledge, sensory experience, and practical skills.
Ezza invites students to observe closely, learn through direct experience, and build reciprocal relationships with plants, place, and community.
Her classes feel welcoming, participatory, and grounded. No previous herbalism or mixology experience is required.
Ezza’s resourceful approach began during her childhood in the Philippines, cooking over open fires with milk cans, creating paper-doll theater, and making instruments from wire and bottle caps.
Those early experiments shaped her belief in everyday alchemy: begin with what you have, listen to the materials, and make something meaningful to share.
In Botanical Mixology, Ezza combines clear instruction with curiosity and play. Students leave with tested techniques, seasonal recipes, and the confidence to prepare beautiful botanical drinks at home.
Who We Are:
The Alchemist's Kitchen flagship is a unique destination at 117 Crosby Street in Soho, New York.
We are a botanical dispensary dedicated to connecting you with the power of plants.
We offer a wide variety of events, workshops, classes, and other experiences to nourish both our minds and bodies. We believe that taking care of ourselves includes cultivating the healthiest possible relationship, not just with our bodies but also within ourselves.
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Event venue & nearby stays
117 Crosby St, 117 Crosby Street, New York, United States
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