Horchata Mexican Drink Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Mexican horchata made of? ›

Horchata is a sweet Mexican drink made from rice. Horchata is made by blending white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight. After the rice and cinnamon are discarded, the remaining liquid is then flavored with vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

Spanish horchata, also spelt Orxata, is made from water, sugar and tiger nuts which produces a more thicker rice pudding texture and flavour. Mexican horchata is made from water, sugar, almonds and rice and produces a lighter nuttier milk drink.

Horchata is also full of vitamins and other nutrients the body craves. It is a source of vitamins C and E, and is also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. Most recipes are dairy and gluten-free, ensuring horchata is easy on the stomach.

The rice needs to be soaked for at least 2 hours at room temperature, and up to overnight in the refrigerator. The horchata can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Stir well before serving.

The drink originated in North Africa, and it is estimated that during the 11th century, it began to spread throughout Hispania (now Spain and Portugal). There are 13th-century records of a horchata-like beverage made near Valencia, where it remains a common drink.

On a molecular level, horchata-making is about grinding, soaking and blending rice, almonds, seeds, chufas, etc. to encourage their fat, starch and/or protein molecules to migrate into the water you're blending them with, and to float there as a thickened, milky-creamy mixture known as a suspension.

If you don't know, horchata (or agua de horchata) is a drink made from rice, a sweet drink part of the commonly named aguas frescas or fresh waters, along with vanilla and cinnamon.

As it is dairy-free and made with naturally-sweet ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla, and rice; this tasty beverage is actually a fair source of several minerals too.

The horchata in Puerto Rico is called horchata de ajonjolí and it uses neither morro seeds nor rice.

It's a food low in sodium, which means it's great for people with high blood pressure. It's an energetic and nutritious drink, completely plant-based. Consum's Horchata 1L is a product with designation of origin (D.O.)

Is horchata good for blood pressure? ›

Boost the cinnamon in your horchata - a Mexican drink traditionally made with rice - with fresh turmeric that has been shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

*This recipe contains 130 calories and 13 grams of sugar per serving, compared to the full-sugar version that has 150 calories and 21 grams of sugar per serving.

Place the rice on a fine-mesh sieve and rinse until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and add the cinnamon with 1 quart (4 cups) of cold water. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

Why is my horchata chalky? Since horchata is made of rice, it is naturally a little chalky. If that bothers you, remove the rice grains before blending, using only the water that resulted from soaking the rice overnight.

The rice adds a starchy or chalky quality, and perhaps to compensate, most taquerias use a very heavy hand with the sugar. But the rice flavor is also part of horchata's charm, and this version inspired by GCM vendors reduces the sweetness—a bit.

However, Jennifer Feltham, one of the owners of Sonoratown in downtown L.A., said, “Real horchata isn't supposed to have dairy. But it's easier, cheaper and involves less labor to use cow milk because you get that creamy texture without all the work of soaking, blending, then straining out the rice.”

The smooth, creamy cinnamon taste of Mexico's cold milky beverage can now be found in a variety of food products. Typically made from rice, grains or nut milks, horchata is a favorite beverage in Mexican restaurants. In addition to cinnamon, vanilla is a common ingredient.

For centuries, it has been known to have all kinds of health benefits, containing vitamin C and E and being rich in the minerals phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron. It stops any nasty stomach upsets, and everyone can drink it, as it's free from lactose, casein, and gluten and contains almost no sodium.

What is horchata? Horchata is a Mexican sweet rice drink that is very popular not only in Mexico but also in the US! Most people know of the dairy version with evaporated and condensed milk, but horchata can also be made dairy-free. Mexican horchata is typically made with rice, water, cinnamon, milk, and sugar.