Pairing Fish Ambul Thiyal correctly — a note on king coconut water

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Fish Ambul Thiyal. I ordered it with king coconut water and the warming with cinnamon elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. Ceylon cinnamon in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Maldive fish is a uniquely Sri Lankan ingredient with no close equivalent elsewhere. The a hill country tea estate restaurant is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Fish Ambul Thiyal with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.