Siete Moles Tasting in Oaxaca City: Guess the Ingredients

You taste each mole blind and guess what's inside before you're told.

A two-hour mole tasting in Oaxaca City where you sample seven traditional moles and guess their ingredients as you eat them. Each mole is served the way locals enjoy it day to day, paired with mezcal to heighten the flavors, and accompanied by the history and rituals behind Oaxacan food culture. The experience was featured in Food & Wine Magazine.

The experience

What makes this different from a standard tasting is the guessing game built into it. You sit down with ingredients laid out in front of you, not hidden away in a kitchen, and as each mole arrives, you taste it first and try to identify what you're eating before learning the answer. The seven moles range from the mildest and most subtle to the strongest and most complex, each one a different dish. Green mole, yellow mole, stewed mole, mole stain tablecloth, red mole, coloradito, and black mole each have their own story: many are reserved for special occasions like weddings, baptisms, quinceañeras and proposals, and they've earned their place in Oaxacan culinary rituals over generations.

Between tastings, mezcal comes out: a small pour to cleanse your palate and sharpen your ability to catch the flavor fusions that make each mole distinct. If mezcal isn't for you, water is always there. You start with fresh agua fresca to cool down, then move through the lineup at a pace that lets the flavors settle. The guide walks you through the history and the ritual uses of each mole, so you understand not just what you're tasting but why it matters to the people who make it.

The experience lasts about two hours and includes lunch, bottled water, and a live guide who speaks English or Spanish. The space is wheelchair accessible, and the venue can accommodate infants in strollers and service animals.

What’s included

• Seven traditional moles plus one surprise mole.
• bottled water.
• lunch.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• stories and history of Oaxacan food rituals and mole uses.

Before you book

Lasts 2h, runs Monday to Saturday at 13:00, from US$ 82 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years): free · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by LEMBRANZA MEXICO

Is this one for you?This tasting asks you to sit still and focus for two hours, moving through flavors methodically rather than quickly. The pace is what lets you catch the subtle differences between moles and understand why each one matters to Oaxacan culture.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years): free; Infant (under 5): free.

What are the seven moles I'll be tasting?

Green mole, yellow mole, stewed mole, mole stain tablecloth, red mole, coloradito, and black mole: each prepared fresh daily with ingredients sourced in Oaxaca. You'll also get one surprise mole beyond the seven.

Do I have to drink mezcal to enjoy this tasting?

Mezcal is offered between tastings to heighten your ability to taste the flavors, but it's optional. Water is always available if you prefer not to drink.

Why are these moles served in different ways?

Each mole is presented the way locals eat it day to day, so you experience how Oaxacans actually enjoy these dishes rather than a formal plating. Many are reserved for celebrations like weddings and quinceañeras, and the different presentations show how versatile each one is.

How long does the tasting take?

The experience runs about two hours, moving through the moles at a pace that gives each flavor time to settle and the guide time to share the history and rituals behind them.

Is this tasting accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the venue is set up to accommodate guests with mobility needs.