The Raw Alchemist is a 12-day raw food chef certification run by Alchemy Academy in Ubud, Bali. Taught by Shanti Allen, Lauren Lovatt and Carolina Chinea, it is limited to 10 students and comes in two levels, with intakes in April, October and November 2027.
What if your kitchen could change your life? 🌱
If you want to learn raw food properly, The Raw Alchemist is one of the best ways to do it. It is a 12-day raw food course in Bali, run by Alchemy Academy in Ubud, the spiritual heart of the island and quite possibly the raw food capital of the world right now.
The course comes in two parts. Level 1 lays the foundations and Level 2 takes you deeper, so together they give you everything you need to truly master raw cuisine. You graduate with a Raw Food Chef Certification, a manual of over 60 recipes, and a skill you'll carry with you for life.
We know this course well. Kate has worked closely with Alchemy Academy for years, and her very first trip to Bali in 2018 was at the invitation of Shanti, co-founder of Alchemy restaurant. If you're looking to upgrade your raw chef skills, we can't recommend it highly enough.
🌴 What is The Raw Alchemist raw food course in Bali?
The Raw Alchemist is a hands-on raw food chef training programme held at Alchemy Academy's culinary school in the jungle of Ubud. The school sits just minutes from Alchemy, Bali's original 100% raw and plant-based restaurant, a raw vegan mecca famous for its salad bar, juices, raw ice cream and much more 🍦
It is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to work with raw ingredients and get the most life force out of their food. Each level runs for 12 days and combines daily kitchen modules with lectures, excursions and wellbeing practices.
Learning to live a raw food lifestyle is more than a course. It's a practical skill you'll use every day, long after you've flown home.
🥗 What is raw food?
Raw food is plant-based food that is eaten uncooked, or only gently warmed. Most raw food chefs keep ingredients below roughly 42°C (around 118°F) so that the food stays as close to its natural state as possible.
Raw cuisine is far more than salads. It uses a toolkit of techniques to create texture and depth of flavour without an oven:
- Dehydration – drying food slowly at low temperatures to make crackers, breads, wraps and crunchy snacks
- Fermentation – using beneficial bacteria and yeasts to transform ingredients, as in sauerkraut, kimchi, nut cheeses and kombucha
- Sprouting and soaking – waking up nuts, seeds and grains to make them easier to use and digest
- Blending and setting – creating creamy sauces, raw chocolate and cheesecake-style desserts from nuts, fruit and natural fats
These are exactly the skills The Raw Alchemist teaches, alongside classic culinary foundations.
👩🍳 Who teaches the course?
The Raw Alchemist was created and is taught by three brilliant teachers, each bringing something different:
- Shanti Allen – founder of Alchemy Restaurant and author of The Raw Alchemist
- Lauren Lovatt – founder of Plant Academy London and author of Mind Food
- Carolina Chinea – plant-based chef and business educator, who has cooked her way around the world and brings flavours, techniques and ideas from those travels into everything she teaches
Between them, you'll learn raw food from every angle: the knowledge behind it, the artistry and the creativity. Because the course is capped at just 10 students, you get real time with all three.
✨ What makes this raw food chef certification special?
Plenty of courses teach raw recipes. Few combine expert teaching, a world-class kitchen and a full lifestyle experience in one place. Here's what sets The Raw Alchemist apart:
- Small-group learning – space is limited to 10 participants, each with their own fully equipped station in an open-concept kitchen, so you get genuine one-to-one time with your teachers.
- Immersed in the jungle – beyond the kitchen, you'll have access to a swimming pool, sauna and edible garden, all set within the lush tropical landscape of Ubud 🌿
- A world-class location – you train at a state-of-the-art culinary school just minutes from Alchemy restaurant.
- More than a certificate – you graduate with your Raw Food Chef Certification and a manual so complete it reads like a book: over 60 recipes straight from the Alchemy restaurant, plus everything you need to set up and run a raw kitchen.
- A full lifestyle experience – daily yoga and breathwork, guest lectures, personalised nutritional advice, restaurant excursions and natural beauty treatments round out your days.
🍫 What will you learn on the raw food course?
Across 12 days, you'll move through hands-on modules covering:
- Raw chocolate making
- Dehydration techniques
- Fermentation
- Flavour balancing
- Knife work and other classic culinary skills
- Getting the best out of your kitchen equipment
- Alchemy's famous raw desserts
The teachers will show you techniques and recipes that nourish your body, but also help you enjoy what you're eating and have fun experimenting in the kitchen.
The course also includes mindset work, such as goal-setting and manifestation. This is what turns culinary skill into a real career or lifestyle shift.
Level 1 focuses on building a true understanding of raw food. Level 2 continues the journey with a deeper dive into product knowledge.
Curious what a day on the course actually looks like? [View a sample schedule and daily rundown here]
Please note: the curriculum may vary depending on season, ingredient availability and teaching team. The linked schedule is a sample from a previous intake, for reference only.
🙋 Who is this raw vegan course for?
The Raw Alchemist meets you where you are. It suits:
- Home cooks who want to elevate their everyday meals
- Career-changers looking to break into health and food
- Aspiring entrepreneurs ready to build a wellness or food business
You don't need professional experience. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to learn.
📅 When are the next raw food courses in Bali?
The upcoming Alchemy Academy intakes are:
- The Raw Alchemist Level 1 – 5 to 16 April 2027
- The Raw Alchemist Level 1 – 25 October to 5 November 2027
- The Raw Alchemist Level 2 – 15 to 26 November 2027
The autumn dates are timed so you can take Level 1 and Level 2 in a single trip, with a short break in between.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need cooking experience to join?
No. The course is designed for everyone from home cooks to aspiring professionals. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to learn – the teachers cover the foundations, including knife skills and flavour balancing.
What's the difference between Level 1 and Level 2?
Level 1 builds a solid understanding of raw food and its core techniques. Level 2 goes deeper, with more focus on product knowledge. Together, they give you everything you need to master raw cuisine.
Isn't raw food just salads?
Not at all. Raw cuisine includes chocolate, fermented foods, dehydrated breads and crackers, nut cheeses and indulgent desserts. The course shows you how to create rich textures and flavours without cooking.
How big are the classes?
Each intake is limited to 10 students. Every student has their own fully equipped kitchen station, so there's plenty of one-to-one time with the teachers.
What qualification do I get at the end?
You graduate with a Raw Food Chef Certification. You also take home a comprehensive manual with over 60 recipes from Alchemy restaurant, plus guidance on setting up and running a raw kitchen.
Where is the course held?
The course takes place at Alchemy Academy's culinary school in Ubud, Bali, a few minutes from Alchemy restaurant. Students also have access to a pool, sauna and edible garden on site.
🌟 Ready to change the way you eat, cook and live?
The Raw Alchemist is a rare chance to learn raw cuisine from three of its leading teachers, in one of the world's great raw food destinations. With places limited to 10 per intake, it's worth booking early.
Discover all the upcoming Alchemy Academy courses and start planning your trip to Ubud.
Curious to learn more? Discover our podcast episode with Alchemy co-founder Shanti Allen, and check out Kate's extensive guide to all things Ubud here.
Want to bring a touch of Bali to your home? Check out our Balinese homewares including cutlery and incense.
