Stories
Inspiration on unique activities and gifts, mindfulness and more
7 Unique Cocktail Experiences in Sydney You Need to Know About
By Sarah Hinds-Friedl
Start your night out with cocktail classes in Sydney and learn how to shake, muddle, stir from experienced bartenders. Fun, educational and tastStart your night out with cocktail classes in Sydney and learn how to shake, muddle, stir from experienced bartenders. Fun, educational and tasty! ...
Why do a Barista Course in Sydney? (2025)
By ClassBento Team
Jump behind the espresso machine and make the perfect coffee with barista courses in Sydney, perfect for helping you save money and learn new baristaJump behind the espresso machine and make the perfect coffee with barista courses in Sydney, perfect for helping you save money and learn new barista skills! ...
Discover How Easy Pottery Can Be with Ceramics Classes in Sydney
By Tiffany Fung
Head to ceramics classes in Sydney and pick up pottery for yourself—it’s easier than you think! You might just discover a new hobby or adventureHead to ceramics classes in Sydney and pick up pottery for yourself—it’s easier than you think! You might just discover a new hobby or adventure in 2025. ...
Meet Crockd
By Tiffany Fung
Crockd has thrown pottery into the limelight with funky DIY clay kits and casual classes, all designed to help you get out of your head and intoCrockd has thrown pottery into the limelight with funky DIY clay kits and casual classes, all designed to help you get out of your head and into your hands. ...
Why Cocktail Classes Make the Best Date Activities in Sydney
By ClassBento Team
Not sure what to do when date night comes around? Why not try cocktail making with your date! Shake up your love life with these boozy date ideasNot sure what to do when date night comes around? Why not try cocktail making with your date! Shake up your love life with these boozy date ideas in Sydney. ...
Best 21st Party Ideas in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
ClassBento can help take your 21st birthday party ideas to the next level with our celebratory classes, workshops and activities...
A Guide to Unique Anniversary Gifts by Years Married
By Tiffany Fung
Hot take: Traditional gifts are out and modern anniversary gift experiences are in! Take a look at our unique anniversary gifts for every milestHot take: Traditional gifts are out and modern anniversary gift experiences are in! Take a look at our unique anniversary gifts for every milestone. ...
Everything You'll Learn at Sewing Courses Sydney
By Jana Lepojevic
Learn the art of sewing in Sydney! From beginners to advanced, discover how sewing courses can teach you to make clothes, embroidery and more.
Top 9 Hen's Party Ideas for Non-drinkers
By Courtenay Turner
From pottery workshops to cooking classes, discover the best classy hen’s party ideas for non-drinkers in 2025.
Nail Your 5-Year Anniversary Gift with These Modern Ideas
By Jana Lepojevic
Skip the cliché and gift something meaningful! These 5 year anniversary gift ideas include woodworking, candles, terrariums and more.
Learn How to Sew in Sydney for Beginners
By Tiffany Fung
Our sewing classes in Sydney are the perfect place to learn sewing for beginners, whether it’s dusting off your old sewing machine or picking upOur sewing classes in Sydney are the perfect place to learn sewing for beginners, whether it’s dusting off your old sewing machine or picking up a new hobby. ...
7 Jewellery Making Workshops in Sydney Where You Can DIY Earrings
By Jana Lepojevic
Learn how to DIY earrings at these fun Sydney workshops! Perfect for creative catch-ups, hens parties or handmade gifts that show off your styleLearn how to DIY earrings at these fun Sydney workshops! Perfect for creative catch-ups, hens parties or handmade gifts that show off your style. ...
Novel Experience Gifts for Couples Who Like to Try New Things
By Jana Lepojevic
Discover novel experience gifts for couples in Sydney, igniting sparks of joy and fostering deeper connections. Explore new adventures for two!
Why You Should Try Italian Cooking for Your Sydney Date Night
By ClassBento Team
Treat your partner to a romantic night out with these Italian-inspired date ideas in Sydney. There’s nothing more romantic than tossing pizza doughTreat your partner to a romantic night out with these Italian-inspired date ideas in Sydney. There’s nothing more romantic than tossing pizza dough like a pro! ...
Meet Print Paint Pot
By Courtenay Turner
Meet Zena and Elgan, the husband and wife duo behind Print Paint Pot and discover what sparked their passion for pottery.
Creative Gift Vouchers for Couples in Sydney
By Annie Symmonds
Looking for gift ideas for couples? Try a gift voucher for a creative class or experience gift and give them the chance to make precious memoriesLooking for gift ideas for couples? Try a gift voucher for a creative class or experience gift and give them the chance to make precious memories in 2025. ...
Personalised Gifts for Her in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Trying to find romantic gifts for her in Sydney? Here are some of the best experience gifts to spoil your special lady in 2023.
Your Complete Turkish Mosaic Lamp Making Guide
By Courtenay Turner
Discover the best Turkish lamp making classes in Sydney for beginners. Plus, learn about the history and significance of this age-old craft.
Best Bachelorette Party Ideas at Home in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Looking to host at least part of your hens party at home or your hens weekend accommodation? These at-home hens party ideas in Sydney are for yoLooking to host at least part of your hens party at home or your hens weekend accommodation? These at-home hens party ideas in Sydney are for you! ...
Fun Corporate Team Building Activities That Promote Employee Wellbeing
By Laine Fullerton
Spice up your team dynamics with these six engaging corporate team building activities in Melbourne. Foster collaboration and boost employee welSpice up your team dynamics with these six engaging corporate team building activities in Melbourne. Foster collaboration and boost employee wellbeing! ...
The Best Places to Try a Flower Arranging Class in Sydney
By Jana Lepojevic
Learn the art of floral design at the best places to try flower arranging courses in Sydney. Be taught by experts and get creative with vibrantLearn the art of floral design at the best places to try flower arranging courses in Sydney. Be taught by experts and get creative with vibrant blooms. ...
What Kintsugi Taught Me About Life, Love and Healing
By Laine Fullerton
Our Editorial Manager Laine tries the art of Kintsugi and discovers what it can teach you about life, love and relationships.
9 Top Hens Party Ideas to Relax the Bride-to-be in 2025
By Kellie Maloney
Wedding planning can be stressful, indulge your bride-to-be with these relaxing hens party ideas in 2025 to help her ease some worries and haveWedding planning can be stressful, indulge your bride-to-be with these relaxing hens party ideas in 2025 to help her ease some worries and have fun! ...
Thoughtful 40th Birthday Present Ideas for Women in Sydney
By Laine Fullerton
Commemorate birthday milestones in style with experience gifts! These 40th birthday gift ideas for women in Sydney have you covered for every typeCommemorate birthday milestones in style with experience gifts! These 40th birthday gift ideas for women in Sydney have you covered for every type of relationship. ...
Killer Bucks Party Ideas in Sydney to Help You Be the Best Best Man
By Sam Bowden
Just been appointed the role of Best Man at your mate's impending nuptials? With these unique bucks party ideas in Sydney you can avoid the tropes,Just been appointed the role of Best Man at your mate's impending nuptials? With these unique bucks party ideas in Sydney you can avoid the tropes, cliches, and dodgy traditions of the stag do... ...
Feed Your Romance with Culinary-Inspired Date Ideas in Sydney
By ClassBento Team
Spoil your partner with culinary-inspired date night ideas in Sydney. At aphrodisiac-filled cooking classes, you can feed your love with deliciousSpoil your partner with culinary-inspired date night ideas in Sydney. At aphrodisiac-filled cooking classes, you can feed your love with delicious cuisine! ...
Classy 30th Birthday Gift Ideas in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Looking for 30th birthday present ideas in Sydney that are a little fancier? Discover our classy gift experiences to help you celebrate your birthdayLooking for 30th birthday present ideas in Sydney that are a little fancier? Discover our classy gift experiences to help you celebrate your birthday in style. ...
7 Alternative Bucks Party Ideas in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Avoid the usual bucks tropes and cliches with these unique bucks party ideas in Sydney. Mix cocktails with cartoons and ensure the gang get up toAvoid the usual bucks tropes and cliches with these unique bucks party ideas in Sydney. Mix cocktails with cartoons and ensure the gang get up to no good, while still being on their best behaviour... ...
Learn to Make Japanese Sweets in Sydney
By ClassBento Team
A typical Japanese bakery will have wagashi. In fact, they won’t just have wagashi. Most likely, they will have many, many types of the bite-sizedA typical Japanese bakery will have wagashi. In fact, they won’t just have wagashi. Most likely, they will have many, many types of the bite-sized sweet Japanese treats. As you peruse your options, it will be difficult to pinpoint just one tantalizing option: there are small, soft green balls, dense, chocolate-like squares, intricately molded hard candies, and more, all delicious and delicate and exciting. Learn how to make them from scratch at Japanese cooking classes in Sydney. After deliberating for a long time between the wide selection, you may just have to sample more than one. Don’t worry if you don’t find your favourite treat on your first pass. Japanese sweets are available at virtually every Japanese establishment in Australia, including restaurants, department stores, food carts, and convenience stores (1). Make sure that you have an open mind and a cup of green tea with you as you begin your wagashi journey. To understand wagashi, you must first learn the ancient art of tea ceremony. You’ve probably heard of Japanese Tea Ceremony, a practice that automatically conjures up images of delicate tea sets, the precise and talented movements of a tea master, and the serene greenery of a tea garden. Historians have written a great deal about this highly structured and difficult-to-learn cultural practice, from its introduction to Japan in the 700’s to today’s tea ceremony revival in younger generations. Everyone can agree that tea ceremony holds a special place in Japan’s national identity, invoking pride in citizens and absolute awe in tourists. What you may not have heard, but will be excited to learn, is that tea ceremony has a sweet secret: Wagashi, or Japanese sweets. This facet of tea culture deals specifically with the sweet accompaniments to green tea, made up mostly of sweet bean pastes and rice flour. They come in an endless variety of colors, shapes, tastes and textures, and have become a cultural staple in their own right. Dessert-lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike are anxious to sign up for Japanese confectionery classes, in which students learn the preparation method and serving technique of the tasty morsels. Try making your own sweet treats with ClassBento's friendly and expert teachers, or dive deeper into a workshop that focuses on Japanese arts and culture. Once you’ve signed up for your beginner’s course, you may want to brush up on your Japanese tea history before your first class. Here are a few key things to remember about this special practice: • In the 14th century, tea ceremony was created by Zen Buddhists as a religious practice emphasizing the four integral notions of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility (2). Because of this, tea ceremony is a fundamentally spiritual practice and has retained sacred status for seven centuries. • The most important name associated with tea ceremony is Sen Rikyu (3), a tea master who set the standard for tea ceremony by codifying the entire process, from the technical process, to the utensils, to the setting. He is credited with developing the notions of wabi (a commitment to simple, everyday living) and sabi (an aesthetic tendency towards the old and worn.) The overall intention is to find beauty in ordinary objects. • Tea masters dedicate their entire lives to perfecting their craft, and a full tea ceremony can last up for four hours, with multiple renditions of green tea, a meal, sake tasting, and wagashi (4). Now that you have a foundational knowledge of the main show, let’s pivot to one of the key players of the ceremony: wagashi. Wagashi can be broken down into three separate categories - togashi, tenjin and nanban-gashi - each with its own taste and cultural history(5). • Togashi is the rarest form of Japanese confectionery and is made from the kneading of wheat flour or bean paste into various shapes. It is then deep-fried and has a long tradition of being served at aristocratic banquets. • Tenjin is the type most closely associated with tea ceremony as it was introduced with by the zen buddhists who popularized the custom. It is characterized by jellied and bun-like sweets, although traditional versions were more savory than sweet. • Nanban-gashi was radically different from other forms of wagashi when it was introduced by Portuguese immigrants in 1543. Unlike its savory relatives, this unique form utilized sweet ingredients and eggs, which were previously uncommon on the islands. If such distinctions are not enough, wagashi gets more complicated - and more exciting! For, the creation of Japanese sweets are not simply shaping sweetened bean paste into random shapes. Instead, each wagashi creates a balance of the senses which enhances its role as part of the Zen Buddhist’s tea ceremony(6): • Sight - each wagashi is perfectly crafted to be aesthetically pleasing and thought provoking • Taste - wagashi is a showcase of its natural ingredients, allowing the person tasting the treat to admire traditional Japanese crops such as beans and grains • Texture – the sweets come in a vast variety of textures, from soft to crispy to light to dense • Scent - a key aspect is subtlety - in fragrance, especially. Each morsel compliments the other scents of the ceremony, like the all-important green tea • Sound - wagashi invoke an auditory response as a result of its unique and significant labels. Many refer to natural elements or traditional poetic works When sifting through all of the information, you may feel a little bit overwhelmed. This is normal; tea ceremony and Japanese sweets boast of long and meaningful histories that are difficult for foreigners to understand. But wagashi can be a beautiful and accessible hobby, in which students learn about and gain an appreciation for an incredibly complex culture while also exploring the creative process of wagashi-making. As a student of wagashi, you can benefit just by learning the basics, or you can fully lean into the practice, tapping into an extensive and well-established tradition of sweet-making. Learn about the amazing health benefits of matcha here. References: (1) japan-guide.com (2) mightyleaf.com (3) britannica.com (4) shibuiswords.com (5) kikkoman.com (6) toraya-group.co.jp ...
Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Dads Who Want Nothing
By Tiffany Fung
Do you need the perfect gift for a Dad who wants for nothing? Show your thoughtfulness with an experience gift that supports his hobbies and intDo you need the perfect gift for a Dad who wants for nothing? Show your thoughtfulness with an experience gift that supports his hobbies and interests! ...
Meet Silky Shapes
By Laine Fullerton
Spin and sculpt your own ceramics with Yegana Jafarova at Silky Shapes studio. These pottery classes won’t just teach you techniques, but lifeSpin and sculpt your own ceramics with Yegana Jafarova at Silky Shapes studio. These pottery classes won’t just teach you techniques, but life lessons too! ...
Unique Anniversary Gifts in Sydney They'll Love
By Sam Bowden
Treat your partner to an experience they'll love with these anniversary gift ideas in Sydney. For romance and connection you can't go past an experienceTreat your partner to an experience they'll love with these anniversary gift ideas in Sydney. For romance and connection you can't go past an experience gift. ...
Best Party Ideas for Kids in Sydney
By Natalie Kemp
We’ve collected the best kids party ideas for 5 years old and under, no matter how big or small your budget and guest list...
What to do for Corporate Team Building Activities in Sydney (And What Not to Do!)
By Sam Bowden
Looking for your next team building activities in Sydney but don't quite know where to start? Here's a few important do's and don't's to help youLooking for your next team building activities in Sydney but don't quite know where to start? Here's a few important do's and don't's to help you find the right event for your team. ...
Make Turkish Mosaic Lamps with Art Masterclass
By Laine Fullerton
From Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to their colourful and cosy studios across Australia, meet the business using Turkish mosaic-making as a form of culturalFrom Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to their colourful and cosy studios across Australia, meet the business using Turkish mosaic-making as a form of cultural connection. ...
Learn to Draw Something You Love with These Sydney Activities
By Kellie Maloney
Explore drawing classes in Sydney and learn to create stunning portraits, pet sketches, and urban scenes. Perfect for beginners and experienced artistsExplore drawing classes in Sydney and learn to create stunning portraits, pet sketches, and urban scenes. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike. ...
Best DIY Wedding Anniversary Gifts in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Hunting down DIY wedding anniversary gifts for your partner or a couple you know? Sydney is brimming with quirky and unique anniversary gift ideHunting down DIY wedding anniversary gifts for your partner or a couple you know? Sydney is brimming with quirky and unique anniversary gift ideas! ...
Best Creative Party Ideas for Teens in Sydney
By Sam Bowden
Chasing party ideas for teens in Sydney? ClassBento's range of workshops and activities are perfect for creating unforgettable party experiencesChasing party ideas for teens in Sydney? ClassBento's range of workshops and activities are perfect for creating unforgettable party experiences! ...
Learn How to Create Your Own Mug in Sydney
By Tiffany Fung
Create your own mug at fun Sydney classes—perfect for beginners! Shape, decorate and glaze your own ceramic cup with expert guidance in a cosyCreate your own mug at fun Sydney classes—perfect for beginners! Shape, decorate and glaze your own ceramic cup with expert guidance in a cosy pottery studio. ...
8 Environmentally Friendly Workshops in Sydney and Beyond
By Sierra Elise Joseph
Get back to the basics and start your journey toward sustainable living with these eight environmentally friendly workshops in Sydney and MelbouGet back to the basics and start your journey toward sustainable living with these eight environmentally friendly workshops in Sydney and Melbourne... ...
Meet Klaypots
By Jana Lepojevic
Join Karina Goudie at Klaypots, her cosy pottery studio in Crows Nest, and find a supportive space to unwind, create with clay and connect withJoin Karina Goudie at Klaypots, her cosy pottery studio in Crows Nest, and find a supportive space to unwind, create with clay and connect with others. ...
Discover 5 Hidden Things to Do in Sydney Next Month
By Tiffany Fung
Explore hidden things to do in Sydney, from tufting colourful yarn, painting with watercolours or discovering the soothing art of stained glass.
Discover How to Take Good Photos with Your Smartphone in Sydney
By Annie Symmonds
Grab your smartphone and your walking shoes and learn how to take good photos on your smartphone at photography courses in Sydney!
Unique Gift Experiences for Him (Or Her) in Sydney
By Sarah Hinds-Friedl
Get him what he really wants with these 5 experience gifts for him in Sydney. From leather to fire and broken ceramics, these gift ideas will blowGet him what he really wants with these 5 experience gifts for him in Sydney. From leather to fire and broken ceramics, these gift ideas will blow his mind. ...
Top 4 Studios to Try Turkish Mosaic Making in Sydney
By Tiffany Fung
Discover some of the best craft studios to try Turkish mosaic making in Sydney and learn how to make your own mosaic lamps, candle holders and mDiscover some of the best craft studios to try Turkish mosaic making in Sydney and learn how to make your own mosaic lamps, candle holders and more! ...
Bring Back Dad-Time This Father's Day
By Tiffany Fung
No matter where he’s at in fatherhood, our five-minute quiz will help you bring back Dad-time. Read on to find out what experience gift is bestNo matter where he’s at in fatherhood, our five-minute quiz will help you bring back Dad-time. Read on to find out what experience gift is best for him! ...
8 Unique Ways to Spend a Hens Weekend in Sydney
By Laine Fullerton
Celebrate the bride-to-be in Sydney with a hens party staycation! Explore these eight hens party activities that are perfect for a weekend away inCelebrate the bride-to-be in Sydney with a hens party staycation! Explore these eight hens party activities that are perfect for a weekend away in Sydney. ...
Meet Glaze Galleria
By Tiffany Fung
Step inside Glaze Galleria’s cosy studio in Drummoyne and experience the mindful joys of sinking your hands into clay.
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