Pairing Tucumanas correctly — a note on chicha de maíz

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Tucumanas. I ordered it with chicha de maíz and the hearty and filling elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. chuño freeze-dried potato in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Bolivia preserves some of the most ancient Andean food traditions including chuño freeze-drying which dates to pre-Inca times. The a market lunch counter is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Tucumanas with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.