Pairing Sopa de Maní correctly — a note on cola morada

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Sopa de Maní. I ordered it with cola morada and the subtly spiced elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. ají amarillo 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 traditional Andean home is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Sopa de Maní with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.