Indulge your senses in a culinary journey in London’s ancient apothecary garden and make your very own saffron-infused Hot Cross Buns this Easter!

Unearth the secrets of a historical recipe as you knead, bake, and savour the golden essence of saffron in every bite. Let the aromas of tradition and the ambiance of our timeless garden elevate your baking experience.

Hailed as “a herb of the Sun” by Nicholas Culpeper in 1653. This golden marvel has adorned our history: the darling of the medieval kitchen, the savour of the apothecary chest and since ancient times used to dye fabrics gold. Intriguingly, unlike most spices, saffron defies the odds, thriving in the English soil and as such saffron has been used in many recipes including hot cross buns!

In Cornwall, they are sometimes known as revel buns, taking centre stage during joyous feasts and Easter celebrations, being particularly popular on Good Friday and marked with a cross – believed by some to ward off evil spirits! In this workshop you will have the chance to make them yourself, either to ward off said evil spirits or better perhaps with a cup of tea in the spring air of London’s oldest botanical garden.

Teacher Bio Sam Bilton:

This class is led by food historian, writer and presenter Sam Bilton. Sam has been intrigued by spices most of her life. Her first book on the history of gingerbread won a World Gourmand Cookbook award in 2021. Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron is Sam’s second book and her third The Philosophy of Chocolate will be published in October 2023. Sam presents the Comfortably Hungry podcast and is a frequent contributor to national magazines, food festivals, television and radio.

For further information visit sambilton.com or follow Sam on Instagram @mrssbilton.

Booking Information:

• Tickets are £35 per person and include entry to the Garden, four ‘historically made’ saffron hot-cross buns, a talk on saffron and refreshments.
• Please note that there are no discounts for Friends of the Garden.
• All of the items on this menu are vegetarian but contain dairy and gluten. Unfortunately, on this occasion we cannot cater for any specific dietary requirements or allergies.