Top 5 Tamales: Food & Drink Pairings That Will Delight Your Taste Buds
Tamales, those delightfully wrapped packages of corn-based goodness, aren’t just a dish; they’re like, really, a cultural experience. Very steeped in history and tradition, these little bundles have variations that change quite a bit from region to region, offering a really very surprising variety of flavors. When you, like your grandma, get them just right, tamales become more than simply filling; they’re truly comforting. The question is that, how do you make this comforting food, maybe, almost even better? That is that by pairing it with just the perfect drink. We will, sort of, walk you through a few pairings that could, arguably, take your tamale experience to another level, with, for example, flavors that could excite your taste buds.
Chicken Tamales with a Refreshing Agua Fresca
Chicken tamales, usually filled with shredded chicken and perhaps simmered in a green or red salsa, offer a tender, savory flavor profile that really asks for a light, refreshing counterpoint. I mean, typically, you can get away with pairing these kinds of savory and spice tamales with something light and fruity. Actually, an Agua Fresca makes it feel much lighter and can make it pretty palatable. Agua Frescas are like, basically, light fruit waters that could, seemingly, balance the spices from the tamales. Horchata, with its slight sweetness and cinnamon hint, or even Jamaica, made from hibiscus flowers, offer cooling, pleasant contrast. You can, maybe, also make watermelon or cantaloupe Agua Fresca to make it taste even lighter.
Read our full review: Chicken Tamales & Agua Fresca Pairing Full Review and Details
Pork Tamales with a Bold Mexican Beer
Pork tamales, that are that frequently seasoned with robust spices such as cumin and chili powder, need a drink that stands up to their richness. Actually, what’s amazing is how beer’s different profiles balance rich foods in really surprising ways. A bold Mexican beer does this in very interesting ways. Very balanced and robust beers, such as a Negra Modelo or a flavorful amber ale, could be nice for this particular dish. The carbonation that are in that beer actually helps cut through the richness, which, typically, keeps the palate pretty cleansed, while the roasted malt flavors in those beers actually play well with the savory pork.
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Cheese Tamales with a Crisp White Wine
For a vegetarian take, cheese tamales often come with, for example, a smooth, mild flavor that may be spiced up with a dash of jalapenos. So, pairing these with a crisp white wine will often bring out really beautiful flavors that you will love. Wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio have, too, got just the amount of acidity to complement the cheese, but really make sure you cut through that richness without overwhelming it. In fact, a sparkling wine would probably be able to deliver the same refreshing counterpoint if that were more to your taste. You, maybe, already know that acidic, refreshing wines and spicy cheese go well, sort of like the above combinations, and that’s because the components play very, very well together, very much.
Read our full review: Cheese Tamales & White Wine Pairing Full Review and Details
Sweet Corn Tamales with Mexican Hot Chocolate
Moving towards the sweeter side of things, sweet corn tamales usually offer a really, really nice delicate sweetness, which I’m telling you, has to pair with a perfect beverage. And actually, Mexican hot chocolate will be perfect, especially with that delightful kick that usually makes its appearance. This spicy sweetness pairs really well with the subtle taste that’s coming through in sweet corn. You can even put a little cinnamon or chili in your cocoa; I mean, that complements those rich and spicy chocolate notes, while the drink’s warmth gives the tamale a pleasant contrast.
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Black Bean Tamales with a Smoky Mezcal
So, that for those who really prefer vegetarian food that really doesn’t fall short of a hearty, full flavor, black bean tamales will often work like a charm and are known for a robust, earthy taste. So, I will often recommend you pair these savory flavor bombs with a drink that complements that smokiness. Very, very nice mezcal complements earthiness from a black bean tamale, like those very unique, layered flavor elements. That being said, it seems that some people would find that they enjoy mezcal by sipping it, not necessarily having to down it really fast, which in turn enables, arguably, the mingling between tastes from mezcal and tamale as, maybe, one really enhances the other in its specific and intricate complexity.
Read our full review: Black Bean Tamales & Smoky Mezcal Pairing Full Review and Details
