Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Spring Menu

Learn how to create traditional Japanese Wagashi sweets with a tea ceremony in Sydney



2 hours Location St Ives Class size 1 to 5 guests   $80 (Afterpay available)
Sydney Activities
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Food & Drink
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Cooking
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Baking & Desserts
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Japanese Cooking
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Japanese Culture
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Vegan Experience Gifts
Discover how to create traditional Japanese Wagashi and experience whisking powdered green tea at this fun desserts class in St Ives! These spring desserts are perfect if you're looking for vegan and gluten-free recipes.
Traditional Japanese sweets, known as Wagashi (literally Japanese confections), capture the essence of the four seasons. They are an artistic Japanese confectionery made by copying seasonal features. Wagashi is often served at tea ceremonies, but it also makes for a great sweet that can be consumed at any time of the day.
Wagashi can be categorised into three different types, such as Nama Gashi (fresh sweets), Han Nama Gashi (semi-baked sweets), and Higashi (dry sweets). In this class, your teacher will show you how to create the Nama Gashi – fresh sweets. They are the most well-known for their beautiful presentation and delicate taste. They are perfect for the gluten or vegan diet as they are made from rice flour, kuzu starch, beans, Japanese agar-agar, and sugar.
  • Learn how to make key ingredients, such as bean paste. (demonstration only)
  • Create three types of spring wagashi.
  • Learn how to prepare, make, and drink matcha green tea during a Japanese tea ceremony.
Over the course of the two-hour, hands-on class, which is perfect for beginners, your teacher Sumi will guide you on how to prepare and make individual wagashi. This class is suitable for people who are Japanese sweets lovers and for gluten/vegan diets, follow a vegan lifestyle, or just have an interest in these desserts. To finish class, you will participate in a relaxing Japanese tea ceremony.
Please note:
  • All ingredients will be gluten-free, however, the environment is not totally gluten-free.
  • Two friendly dogs are on the premises, which we keep outside during the lesson.
Cancellation policy:
Please note that if you cancel your booking less than 24 hours before, you will be subject to a 30% charge for the ingredients fee. To avoid the cancellation fee, please provide cancellation notice at least 24 hours prior to your booking.

Please note: Public dates for this class require at least 3 guests to run. In the unlikely event that we don't reach this number, we may cancel the session; if that happens, we'll inform you and let you choose between a refund or reschedule, so please watch your email/SMS one day prior to the class.

Upcoming dates for Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Spring Menu

Times are Sydney time. Dates and prices as of 18 Oct 2026, 5:00pm; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

1 upcoming date between 22 Nov 2026 and 22 Nov 2026.

  • Sun 22 Nov 2026, 2pm-4pm
What you'll get
  • Three delicious Japanese wagashi sweets, such as "Sakura - Cherry blossoms", "Temari - Traditional Japanese ball", "Hanafubuki - a shower of cherry blossom"
  • Taste matcha green tea
  • Great discussion with like-minded people
  • Insight into Japanese culture
  • Recipes for everything you make
Read more details   
Knowledge required
This class is for anybody interested in Japanese sweets. Beginners are welcome.
What to bring
Please bring your favourite apron, tea towels, mask, and pen.
Location

St Ives, NSW

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Spring Menu location
Verified reviews

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Recent reviews of Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Spring Menu

  • 5/5 from Amanda, attended Sep 2026: This was my third class with Sumi and as always I enjoyed myself and learnt so much. It was fun to learn to shape wagashi and to think of all the different versions possible for each season! I look forward to recreating this recipe at home.
  • 5/5 from Lyndsay Beasley, attended Sep 2026: Sumi's class was wonderful! Creating beautiful sweets in Sumi's lovely home overlooking the National Park. A truly serene and creative experience.
  • 5/5 from Mana Sawa, attended Oct 2024: The teacher Sumi was very nice. She has organised very well and we enjoyed very much. I think it was great value and definitely I will take her class again.
  • 5/5 from Chikako Nakase, attended Sep 2024: It was such a great experience. I wanted to learn how to make white bean paste most and this class was perfect. Sumi sensei is professional and her explanation was so detailed. I made three lovely wagashi and had one of them there with matcha that Sumi sensei made. The venue is also very nice and I like it. I highly recommend this class!
  • 5/5 from Helene Laubscher, attended Sep 2024: Great experience. We learnt a lot about the Japanese culture. The highlight for me was the tea ceremony.
  • 5/5 from Andrew Howard, attended Sep 2024: Great class. We all enjoyed the hosts sharing of Japanese culture. 2nd time and maybe again.
  • 5/5 from Peta Walton, attended Feb 2023: Sumi is a wonderful, informative and patient teacher who made us feel very welcome. Would strongly recommend taking this class as you get to make so much and then enjoy relaxing afterwards!
  • 5/5 from Chinatsu Ayai, attended Nov 2022: We had a great time not only make beautiful Japanese sweets but also chatting with beautiful nature view. The teacher is so nice and kind. I highly recommend this class to enjoy the Japanese sweets and culture.
  • 5/5 from Yoshiko Maezima, attended Oct 2022: Thank you so much for your wonderful teaching of the traditional Japanese Sweets Class. The tea ceremony was also very interesting. I enjoyed the class very much and highly recommend this class to anyone
  • 5/5 from Ann Toy, attended Oct 2022: This was a most enjoyable experience despite of my lack of artistic skill. Sumi was a patient teacher, well organised with materials and printed handouts. It was a fun and interesting workshop and has inspired us to learn more about Japanese cuisine and tea ceremony culture.
  • 5/5 from Sebastian Kemp, attended Oct 2022: It was an outstanding class. The host was wonderful, instructions were clear, she was patient and so happy to share about her Japanese heritage. The location was wonderful, so peaceful. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.
  • 4/5 from Helen Tang, attended Oct 2022: We really enjoyed learning to make these super cute sweets! And it was great learning about Japanese tea ceremony as well. It was a lovely afternoon.
Your teacher

Sumi Saikawa
Sumi Saikawa
(Sumi's Kitchen In Sydney)

5.0 (226)
female Women-owned

I was born in a Zen temple in Kobe Japan, which was an amazing environment to grow up in as a little kid. I was always in the kitchen to help make shojin ryori with mum (Temple cooking) for as long as I can remember for the temple. This was where my curiosity and fascination of food came from especially its part to play in culture and role it plays to keep the body and mind healthy.
From there, I graduated from university and worked as a dietitian in Japan for many years before meeting my husband and coming to Australia. My husband and I immigrated to Australia over 27 years ago now where we have made ourselves a family with 2 (not so young anymore) children. Now, I run lots of health oriented - cooking classes including "shojin ryori" for people living in Australia and Japan from all stages of life from the elderly to children.
My meal style: I try to give to initiative to prepare the foods even in a busy life. I appreciate the foods and I try to make food which will make me be happy.
Sydney Activities
•
Food & Drink
•
Cooking
•
Baking & Desserts
•
Japanese Cooking
•
Japanese Culture
•
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