Which Food Pairings Go Well With Tepache?

Let’s face it: Food pairing is tough! It can be difficult to guess what foods and beverages will excite your taste buds.

Sure, when we talk about food pairings, we’re usually discussing why red wine goes with dark chocolate or Champagne is a perfect pairing for caviar, but it doesn’t end there. Balancing different flavor profiles is certainly a skill, and although we might not be able to tell you everything about wine pairing, we know tepache!

Check out this article for all the different snacks and liquors you can pair with tepache to host the perfect summer barbeque or park picnic.

What Is Tepache?

Before we get into food pairing, let’s answer the important question: what exactly is tepache?

We’re so glad you asked. Tepache is a fermented Mexican beverage made from the rinds and cores of pineapples. To add flavor, tepache is sweetened with piloncillo or sugar and spiced with cinnamon, jalapeño, turmeric, chili, and tamarind. Tepache is also often flavored with other tropical fruits.

We put a wide variety of fruits in our tepache to make our innovative tepache flavors which include:

• Watermelon Jalapeño
• Grapefruit Lime
• Cactus Prickly Pear
• Chamoy
• Ginger Manzana
• Orange Turmeric
• Mango Chili
• Tamarind Citrus
• Pineapple Spice

The History of Tepache

The origins of tepache date back to pre-Columbian Mexico, where it was first used in religious ceremonies by either the Inca or the Mayan people. Although the Spanish standardized several foods and beverages when they conquered Mexico, tepache escaped this standardization. For that reason, hundreds of different tepache recipes were passed down and exist to this day.

Today, you can find tepache sold in plastic baggies for travelers and locals to enjoy. Given that it is often sold on the street, tepache is an essential part of Mexican street food culture. Tepache allows people to slow down, relax, and celebrate.

Does Tepache Have Benefits?

The best part about tepache? It’s incredibly healthy. You might have heard the hype about fermented beverages because of kombucha and kefir. Tepache brings those benefits without the funky, acidic flavor that you might associate with fermentation. With natural prebiotic and probiotic properties, tepache can give both your digestive and immune systems a boost.

You can also get several vitamins and nutrients from each glass of tepache. Tepache naturally contains vitamin C, A, B, and magnesium. Also, because tepache is sweetened by the fruits used to add flavor, it makes a great alternative to soda and other artificially sweetened beverages.

Pairing Tepache With Meals and Snacks

Now that you know more about what tepache is and why we love it, let’s look at all the meals and snacks you can pair with tepache for the perfect meal. In this section, we’ll discuss different spicy foods, fruits, and meats that make the perfect food pairing for a refreshing glass (or can) of tepache.

Pair Tepache With Spicy Foods

If you want to balance the fire of a spicy snack, the bubbly, citrus flavor of tepache just might be the perfect match. This follows the same idea as white wine — light, sweet fruit flavors pair well with spicy foods, meaning sweet wines like riesling are a good option. But of course, we prefer tepache.

We have a few thoughts on how you can pair your favorite spicy foods with De La Calle tepache.

• Tacos Al Pastor: Some of our favorite street food to buy in Mexico City are tacos al pastor with a spicy salsa verde on top. If you’re a fan of tacos and pork, we highly recommend you wash some tacos al pastor down with a cold glass of Grapefruit Lime Tepache.
• Drunken Noodles: Don’t think that just because tepache is a staple of Mexican street food, you can only enjoy it with Mexican foods! Next time you order Drunken Noodles or make them at home, pair this classic Thai dish with Pineapple Spice Tepache for a sweet addition.
• Buffalo Wings: There’s no food better than buffalo wings for watching a football or soccer game with friends. If you serve buffalo wings at your next viewing party, try pairing them with Orange Turmeric Tepache to keep your guests’ taste buds entertained.
• Enchiladas: One of the tastiest dishes in Mexican cuisine is enchiladas. If you find yourself with a pan of enchiladas rojas, try pairing this classic Mexican dish with Cactus Prickly Pear Tepache.

Enjoy Tepache With Fresh Pineapple

Another simple, delicious way to enjoy tepache is to pair it with fresh pineapple. If you’re looking to give your pineapple an exciting twist, you can try topping it with Tajín, one of our favorite spices.

We suggest slicing up a pineapple, grabbing some brie or goat cheese, tossing some Mango Chili tepache in a cooler, and heading to your local park for the perfect summertime picnic.

If you enjoy your tepache alongside fruity pineapple, make sure you save the rinds and core! By saving the parts of the pineapple you usually discard, you almost have everything you need to brew tepache at home.

Simply place the pineapple rinds and core in 2 quarts of water along with your favorite spices and fruits. Cover the contents lightly and let that baby ferment! After 24 hours, you’ll have to remove the white foam that will form on top of your brew. Allow it to ferment for another 24 or 36 hours, strain, and enjoy!

Serve Tepache at Your Summer BBQ

Next time you have your friends and family over for a summer BBQ, have some tepache on hand to keep your guests cool and refreshed. You might also want to have classic options like cabernet and chardonnay, but we think you’ll be surprised by just how many people will go for the tepache.

Our favorite tepache to pair with a grilled Pineapple Chicken kebab, an option inspired by a mix of Asian dishes. With a marinade made from brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, vinegar, and sesame oil, this delicious dish provides the perfect combination of sweetness and acidity that adds up to a rich flavor profile.

Sip Tepache With Some Citrus Fruits

If you’re looking for a light afternoon snack, try sipping tepache while enjoying some citrus fruit. We love to pair our slightly savory Chamoy Tepache with blood oranges, clementines, and pomelos for a delicious flavor experience.

Don’t be afraid to spruce up your fruit plate with different cheeses and nuts. We recommend trying to match the ingredients on your plate and the tepache you pair it with to the season. In summer, we’d go for a refreshing Watermelon Jalapeño Tepache. Once it starts to cool down a little in fall, we recommend a Ginger Manzana Tepache. In winter, we’d suggest our Mango Chili Tepache to warm you up, and in spring, we love our Grapefruit Lime Tepache.

Why You Should Make Your Cocktails With Tepache?

Are you looking for exciting new ways to spice up your cocktails? If so, you should absolutely consider making your cocktails with tepache, the staple beverage of summertime celebrations.

This section will look at how you can make margaritas and daiquiris with tepache to give them a bubbly, tropical flavor boost.

Tepache Margaritas: Simple, Summery, Delicious

It’s hard to beat a margarita on a hot summer day when you’re looking for a delicious cocktail. And because we love margaritas, we thought we’d make them even tastier with our De La Calle tepache.

To make a simple, tasty tepache cocktail, you’ll need:

• Blanco tequila
• Orange liquor
• Juice from three limes
• Tepache of your choosing
• Agave nectar
• A pineapple wedge for garnish

To make your margarita, combine the tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, tepache, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain the cocktail into a glass. To make it even more special, you can salt the rim with Tajín and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Tepache Daiquiris: A Mexican Twist on a Beachside Treat

Another tasty cocktail that goes great with a tepache twist is a Pineapple Daiquiri. This refreshing frozen cocktail is made with rum and is the perfect addition to any dinner party.

To make a Tepache Daiquiri, you’ll need:

• Frozen pineapple
• Light rum
• Simple syrup
• Fresh lime juice
• Tepache
• Pineapple wedges for garnish
• Lime slices for garnish

You simply need to add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Once everything is blended, pour the daiquiri into glasses and garnish with fruit.

Summing Up

Tepache is a Mexican beverage made from fermented pineapple. Usually, tepache is sold on the streets, making it a part of Mexico’s rich street food culture. Tepache is thought to have originated with the Inca or Mayan people, and because it was never standardized by the Spanish conquerors, several variations of the tepache recipe exist today.

The best part about tepache? It is as nutritious as it is delicious. With both prebiotic and probiotic properties, tepache might give your gut a boost and help protect against harmful bacteria and viruses. It is also packed with important vitamins and minerals.

If you’re trying tepache for the first time, you might be wondering what it pairs well with and how you could set up a tasting that’s almost like a wine tasting. We suggest pairing tepache with spicy foods, both traditional to Mexican cuisine and from other parts of the world, and fresh pineapple for a sweet dessert.

You could even create a charcuterie board if you really want to, complete with blue cheese and white chocolate for the ultimate mix. Tepache is also the perfect accompaniment to summertime barbeques and citrus fruit. So set aside your sauvignon blanc and your pinot noir and get ready to try something new.

Another one of our favorite ways to enjoy tepache is in cocktails. Give classic cocktails like the margarita and daiquiri an upgrade by adding a tepache twist. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to come up with your own delicious tepache recipes! You don’t have to be a sommelier to find the perfect pairings for tepache.

Sources:

Curcumin: A Review of Its' Effects on Human Health | PMC

5 Benefits of Eating Spicy Food | Cleveland Clinic

Magnesium and Human Health: Perspectives and Research Directions | PMC