A Cheat Sheet to Christmas Food + Drink Pairings, Fruit Juice Edition

(SPOT.ph) Refreshments shouldn't be an afterthought whenever you're planning a feast with your family and friends, be it for the holiday season or during the other eight months of the year. Sure, food's the centerpiece that'll literally fill you up. But add a well-thought out drink selection and you've got yourself a party, making the Noche Buena or Media Noche spread that you took the time to cook, prepare, and curate all the more memorable.

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A cheat sheet to Christmas food staples + fruity juice pairing:

Cheese Board + Del Monte Four Seasons

The holidays are the time when we splurge on something a little more expensive—say, a cheese board with an assortment of fromage like Brie, Gruyere, or aged Gouda. A drink that pairs well with these cheeses is the fruity Del Monte Four Seasons: it's guava-forward (if you've ever had guava jam with cheese, then you'd know what we're talking about!) but also brightened with mango and orange.

Bibingka + Del Monte Mango

Bibingka—the buttery, sweet-savory rice cake downed by Filipinos after Simbang Gabi—is flavor-versatile enough that you can go beyond the usual hot drinks often paired with it. A refreshing alternative to the traditional tsokolate eh is Del Monte's Mango Juice which has the distinct sweetness of yellow mangoes—a taste we know all too well, being unofficially known for having the sweetest mangoes in the world.

Lumpiang Shanghai + Del Monte Melon Cucumber

One of the first dishes to be completely wiped out on any spread? Lumpiang Shanghai, for sure. For something this savory and meaty, you can go with a light and refreshing beverage—like Del Monte's Melon Cucumber juice.

Paella + Del Monte White Grape

Titas of Manila would know that paella, be it Valenciana or Negra, is often paired with wine or wine cocktails. Got an aspiring mixologist in the family or your circle of friends? Pro tip: Del Monte White Grape is a great addition to most wine-based cocktails such as sangria and spritzer. 

Bonus: We love mixing this with soju too! Follow a 1:1 ratio for the juice and soju, then adjust to your taste preference as needed. 

Lechon + Del Monte 100% Pineapple Juice ACE

The best lechon is kind that has crunchy, golden skin and juicy meat that's fork-tender enough that it's effortless to chew. But to max your consumption, you'll need something to cut through all that oiliness. You can't go wrong with pineapple juice as a thirst-quencher and palate cleanser. 

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