Discover the Best Food & Drink Tasting Team Building Activities
Nothing brings people together more than food and drink. For millennia, humans have shared meals to impress each other, create business connections, and to get to know each other more. Food and drink is something that everyone enjoys and has in common. All of these reasons make food and drink tasting an excellent option for a team-building activity.
Bringing your team together while sharing food and drink will give them something to discuss other than work and a shared experience to bond over. This can be especially useful for cross-functional, remote, or recently-established teams. Sharing food is a great icebreaker and can cut through some of the awkwardness of people who don’t know each other well.
Some examples of food and drink tasting might include wine workshops, whiskey tastings, or building a charcuterie board. You might also do some food making or baking: bagels, sushi, cookies, or homemade pizza. There are also drink-making events, such as mixology where your team learns to make cocktails or mixing up the perfect margarita and pairing it with fresh, tangy guacamole. The point isn’t the activity itself: it’s the camaraderie that coming together over food and drink creates.
Benefits of Food & Drink Tasting Team Building Activities
Food and drink tasting team building activities invite your team to taste food and drinks together. This could be a wine and cheese workshop, a mixology class, or a cooking activity where your team makes the food. You can decide whether you want your team to get their hands dirty cooking or if you’d like to focus on the social experience that comes from a food and drink tasting.
Food and drink tastings aren’t just about trying out new kinds of deliciousness, they can also be educational. For example, you might learn about tasting techniques or varietals in a wine tasting workshop. Or, you might learn about fish selection through a sushi-making workshop. The informative aspect gives everyone something to talk about both at and after the event. It will also provide everyone with an ongoing knowledge of food and drink topics.
Research shows that team-building activities increase problem-solving, communication, leadership skills and team innovation. Your team will not only get to know each other better in a non-work setting, but they’ll also develop valuable professional skills that will increase your company’s productivity and bottom line. Research on effective teams shows that teams perform better based on how well they know each other.
One of the biggest reasons that teams fail is burnout. According to Gallup research, around “51% of employees feel burned out.” This can be a disaster for a manager since a team’s happiness with their job is directly linked to their job performance. Stress and lack of work-life balance can lead to employees “burning out” and disengaging from their job and team. Food and drink tastings are an excellent way to fight employee burnout. They’ll be de-stressing and relaxing from work and letting down the boundaries around their teammates.
Top executives cite “teamwork” as the most important quality that an employee can have. Like all soft skills, working as a team player is a skill that can be developed. Creating space for your team to bond is a great first step in that direction. Getting to know each other outside the work setting is a great way to build the genuine bonds that lead to real camaraderie.
CourseHorse is a website that lists in-person and virtual team-building exercises, corporate training, and more. Some of the team-building activity categories offered by CourseHorse include food and drink tastings, arts and crafts, wellness and fitness, and competitive games, such as trivia and escape rooms. Many of their team-building activities are available virtually, which means your team can join in on the fun no matter where they live.
Top Food & Drink Tasting Team Building Activities
Virtual Wine & Cheese Workshop
Your team will be given a chance to taste two delicious wines (red and white) and two delicious cheeses in Virtual Wine & Cheese Workshop. The wine and cheese are selected by a professional wine and cheese expert who then walks your team through a tasting. You’ll be able to ask questions and participate live, with no prior knowledge required. Participants will be mailed all necessary materials, including a French Sauvignon Blanc, and Argentinian Malbec, French goat cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese.
Virtual Private Mixology Workshop
In Virtual Private Mixology Workshop, a professional Mixologist will teach your team how to make three delicious cocktails: an old-fashioned, a ginger lime margarita, and a mint julep. They’ll also learn about the history of mixology, how to use common bar tools, and key skills for making great, balanced cocktails both during and after the workshop. This workshop is a great choice for pairing with a virtual happy hour or remote team mixer. All materials will be shipped to participants before the event, including a jigger, Hawthorne strainer, garnishes, artisanal syrups and bitters and a gift card for spirits and fresh fruit.
Virtual Private Wine Tasting Workshop (Materials Included)
This Virtual Private Wine Tasting Workshop is geared toward beginners with no familiarity with wine required. A wine expert will guide your team through learning about varietals, techniques for tasting, understanding wine regions, and wine appreciation. Your team will be tasting three bottles of wine, which will be shipped to participants before the event: a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Spanish Rosé, and a Californian Pinot Noir.
Virtual Coffee Tasting (Materials Included)
Everyone drinks coffee, but most people don’t know that much about it. Your team will learn how to evaluate different types of coffee in Virtual Coffee Tasting. Participants will be introduced to cupping, a popular technique for evaluating the quality of coffee. Each participant will be mailed two bags of specialty coffee before the event. Everyone will leave with a better understanding of coffee and what makes an excellent cup of coffee. They’ll be able to use these techniques every time that they go shopping for beans and enjoy a better cup of coffee every morning.
Virtual Tequila Tasting (with Materials)
No prior experience or knowledge is required for this Virtual Tequila Tasting. A tequila expert will guide your group for one hour through a tasting of three different tequilas: a Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo. Additionally, your team will learn about the history of tequila while celebrating the national spirit of Mexico. Everyone will leave this workshop with a stronger understanding of Mexican culture and a more educated palette for their next Margarita Monday.
Virtual Chocolate Tasting (Materials Included)
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Chocoholics and everyone else will enjoy this gourmet chocolate tasting experience. Your team will taste and learn about chocolate in this Virtual Chocolate Tasting. A chocolate expert will share about the history of chocolate while guiding your team through tasting three different specialty bars from around the globe. All materials will be shipped to participants, including the three bars of specialty chocolate and crackers for palate cleansing.
Virtual American Whiskey Tasting (Materials Included)
Your team will learn how to taste and judge whiskey like a professional in Virtual American Whiskey Tasting. In addition to tasting five premium whiskeys and bourbons, your team will learn the history of whiskey and tasting techniques. Everyone will leave more knowledgeable about whiskey and whiskey tasting. All materials will be shipped to participants, including five bottles of premium American whiskey and bourbon.
Virtual Rosé Yes Way! (Materials Included)
Rosé all day! This fruity, summery wine has been on trend for years because rosé makes everything better. Your team will bond and laugh during this Virtual Rosé Yes Way! workshop. A professional wine instructor will educate your team’s palate while tasting a series of different rosés and learning about the wine-making process. Everyone will leave with greater knowledge of rosé and a better understanding of how to evaluate them. All participants will be shipped three bottles of rosé before the event.
Virtual Bubble Tea Making Workshop
In this interactive, one-hour Virtual Bubble Tea Making Workshop, your team will learn everything about bubble tea! Your team will be guided by a professional instructor in making three different types of homemade bubble tea. They’ll learn how to cook tapioca pearls perfectly from home. There will also be a deep dive into boba history, including its origins in Taiwan. This cultural celebration works great for team-building activities or diversity events. All materials will be shipped to participants, including tea bags, matcha powder, taro mix, creamer, tapioca pearls, and a stainless-steel straw and brush. Participants will need access to a stove, water, ice, as well as some kitchen tools, such as pots, glasses, and measuring cups.
Virtual Artisanal Cheese Tasting
A professional cheesemonger will teach your team how to appreciate artisanal cheeses in this Virtual Artisanal Cheese Tasting. In addition to learning how to taste cheese, your group will learn the fundamentals of storing, pairing, and serving great cheeses. A shipment of three kinds of artisanal cheeses will be sent to each participant, including a young goat gouda, a creamy St. Stephens, and a clothbound Jasper Hill cheddar.
Virtual Belgian Beer Tasting (Materials Included)
Your team will enjoy the complex flavors of Belgian craft beer brewing in this Virtual Belgian Beer Tasting. A professional beer expert will teach your team about the history of Belgian brewing and techniques for tasting them. Everyone will leave understanding how to distinguish between six types of brews. They’ll also learn conversational points for their next trip to the brewery. All materials will be shipped to participants, including six 11-ounce bottles of family-brewed Belgian beer.
Virtual Premium Bourbon Tasting (Materials Included)
Is there anything more sophisticated than a great bourbon? Everyone loves a glass to destress after a long week at work. Virtual Premium Bourbon Tasting is perfect for the bourbon lovers and the bourbon newbies on your team. A professional bourbon expert will guide your team through understanding the tasting notes of several premium bourbons. Everyone will leave with a better understanding of bourbon and a more sophisticated palate. A tasting kit with premium bourbon samples will be shipped to each participant before the event.
Virtual Premium Wine Workshop (Materials Included)
If you have a more sophisticated palate, the Virtual Premium Wine Workshop uses more expensive bottles of wine for a tasty, sophisticated team-building activity. No prior knowledge of wine is required as a professional wine expert teaches your team about varietals, wine appreciation, and tasting techniques. Your team will taste together and have the opportunity to ask a wine expert questions about the wines. All wines will be shipped to participants, including a French Sauvignon Blanc, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Virtual Sparkling Cocktails Workshop
The Virtual Sparkling Cocktails Workshop is a fun and tasty event in which participants learn how to make cocktails using sparkling wine. An experienced Mixologist will teach your team how sparkling wine is made, how to select glassware, the importance of garnishes and presentation, and how to use bar equipment. They’ll also be mixing up handmade sparkling cocktails to enjoy together during the workshop. This event is a great choice for a virtual happy hour and all participants will receive recipes and ingredient lists upon reservation.
Virtual Make-Your-Own Mocktails (Materials Included)
If your team has non-drinking members, Virtual Make-Your-Own-Mocktails is an inclusive happy hour or team-building event. A professional Mixologist will talk your team through making three delicious non-alcoholic mocktails: blackberry bramble fizz, the zero-proof margarita, and a creamsicle gimlet. All ingredients are shipped to participants, including an artisanal alcohol substitute, artisanal syrup, club soda and cranberry juice, a Hawthorne strainer, a cocktail pick, a jigger, and a gift card for fresh produce and garnishes.
In-Person Food and Drink Team Building Activities
For NYC-based teams, CourseHorse has several exciting in-person food and drink team-building activities. You can schedule an awesome in-person event, happening at some of the city’s coolest locations, from Greenwich Village to DUMBO.
Your team will be enjoying a night out in the city along with delicious food and drink. This can lead to a more relaxed environment for everyone to bond. Since the food and drink tasting will have an instructor, it will lead to a more comfortable social environment for everybody.
Most in-person team-building activities will include all materials as part of the fee. Your team won’t have to visit the art store or pick up supplies: everything will be provided for your team at the event. Food and beverage are also frequently provided or available at a small additional cost. The details of what is provided vary by event.
NYC In-Person: Beer & Cheese Class
Forget peanut butter and jelly: nothing goes better together than beer and cheese. Break away from the usual with NYC In-Person: Beer & Cheese Class. Your team will be guided through a flight of three beer and cheese pairings by a professional cheesemonger and a beer expert. Everyone will receive tasting notes to enjoy three courses of beer and cheese pairings. Your team will be able to ask questions and sample more beer at the end of the event. Participants also receive a 10% discount for any purchases made at the store during the event.
NYC In-Person: Wine 101
Your team will taste and learn about wine in NYC In-Person: Wine 101. A Certified Sommelier will teach your team everything they need to know about wine, including wine storage, food pairings, wine production, wine regions and varietals, and how climate affects wine taste. Everyone will leave with a robust knowledge of wines and how to pair them with the perfect cheeses for maximum taste. Cheese boards with a selection of artisanal cheeses will be served during the class, along with six different types of wine.
NYC In-Person: Mixology Lab
In-person teams in NYC will have a blast while getting to know each other with NYC In-Person Mixology Lab. Your team will be greeted with light hors d’oeuvres, and then a professional Mixologist will teach the basics of making excellent cocktails. Your team will make three cocktails and taste them together. Cocktails will change by season but may include Bourbon Mule, French 82, Ginger Lemongrass Margarita, Beverly Hills Paloma, Classic Havana Mojito, or a Smoked Old Fashioned.
NYC In-Person: Hydroponic Farm
Your team will sip glasses of prosecco while touring Manhattan’s only indoor hydroponic farm in NYC In-Person: Hydroponic Farm. Your team will be led on a sensory journey through a production farm in Tribeca of culinary plants grown hydroponically using LED lights and other hydroponic production techniques. During the one-hour tour, your team will taste a variety of fresh herbs, microgreens, and edible flowers used at Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants.
NYC In-Person: Classic and Creative Cocktails
This two-hour NYC In-Person: Classic and Creative Cocktails class is both fun and informative. Your team will be guided through understanding the fundamentals of creating classic cocktails and then adding a bit of creativity. Some of the classic cocktails and new mixes your team will try include martinis, cosmopolitans, margaritas, Manhattans, Key West Sunset, and the Lavender Lemontini. Everyone will receive an e-book guide to a well-stocked bar to take home with them.
Make & Take Chocolate Truffle Class & Guided Tasting
Take your team to a fun, exciting evening at Make & Take Chocolate Truffle Class & Guided Tasting. Your team will be greeted with a glass of sparkling rose before putting on their aprons to learn how to make a chocolate ganache, a foundation for fancy French pastries. Everyone will hand roll chocolate truffles to take home and enjoy after the event. They’ll even have enough to share with family members when they get home.
NYC In-Person: Craft Cocktail Making Class
This NYC In-Person: Craft Cocktail Making Class will provide a fun environment to your team while they learn the fundamentals of making classic cocktails. A professional Mixologist will teach your team to make three classic cocktails, such as Old Fashioned, Tom Collins, Negroni, and margaritas. Everyone will leave with a better understanding of how to make mouth-watering, balanced cocktails at home. For some extra fun and engagement: there will also be a quiz game and prizes at the end led by a high-energy host.
Other Food-Related Team Building Activities
As mentioned before, you can also choose to have your employees get their hands dirty by signing them up for a cooking or baking class. This could include anything from cookies to pizza to sushi to hosting a traditional British tea party. Because everyone is actively cooking or baking, this could lead to a more fully-engaged event.
While food and drink tastings are an excellent choice for team bonding, you might want your team to be more actively involved in the class. The events described below have the same social aspect of food tasting, but your team will also be making their own food.
Virtual Sushi Making Workshop (Materials Included)
Your team will have fun while learning to make delicious, fresh sushi from home in Virtual Sushi Making Workshop. They’ll learn key sushi-making techniques, such as preparing sushi rice, fish selection, making crunch rolls, and basic sushi knife techniques. A sushi kit will be mailed to all participants, including reusable chopsticks, a bamboo sushi rolling mat, sushi rice, soy sauce, pickled ginger, and a gift card for fish. The sushi kit ensures that everyone can continue making their own sushi at home after the event.
Virtual Afternoon Tea Party (Materials Included)
Your team will go pinkies up for this sophisticated Virtual Afternoon Tea Party. Your team will enjoy a traditional British high tea, including tea, freshly-baked scones, and scrumptious cucumber finger sandwiches. All ingredients are shipped to participants, including flour, sugar, Earl Gray tea, and a gift card for perishables such as cream cheese and produce. A gluten-free option is available on request.
Virtual Charcuterie Board Party
Your team will make a charcuterie board worthy of The Gram in this Virtual Charcuterie Board Party. Your team will learn the fundamentals of creating a beautiful and impressive charcuterie board. They’ll also be guided through creating charcuterie board favorites, such as salami roses, homemade mustard, and pickles. All participants will be provided with an ingredient list before the event.