How to Make Horchata: A Simple Recipe for Perfect Horchata

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. Horchata is often thickened with milk and always served cold. Horchata recipes sometimes include nuts, like almonds. Mexican horchata is called horchata de arroz. In Spain, Spanish horchata is called horchata de chufa and is made with chufa, or tiger nuts.

Horchata is a flavorful rice milk beverage that is sweet and creamy, with a smooth texture, and a taste that is reminiscent of rice pudding. The sweetness of horchata depends on how much sugar and vanilla are used. When nuts are added to horchata, it gives the drink a more earthy flavor.

There are different ways to make horchata depending on how people like to drink it. Here are some helpful tips to get you started making horchata for the first time. As you make it more often, you’ll learn to adjust the recipe to your desired taste.

1. 1. Use cinnamon sticks. Use full cinnamon sticks to blend and soak overnight with the rice. When blended, the cinnamon sticks—as opposed to ground cinnamon—will release more flavor into the water for a richer, authentic horchata taste.
2. 2. Let it soak for at least eight hours. For creamier, tastier horchata, allow the rice and cinnamon to soak for at least eight hours or overnight so the water has ample time to absorb the flavors.
3. 3. Make sure you use a fine mesh strainer. When you strain the rice and cinnamon after it has soaked, you want to make sure you remove all of the grains. Use a fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth when you pour the rice milk into the pitcher. Strain twice to make sure you catch it is very smooth.
4. 4. Add milk for thicker horchata. Some recipes add milk, almond milk, or sweetened condensed milk for a thicker drink.
5. 5. Serve horchata over ice. Horchata is best served cold. It needs to be kept in the refrigerator, but for the best horchata, pour it over ice when serving.
6. 6. Make it to your liking. When making homemade horchata, adjust the ingredients to achieve your desired taste. Try different sweeteners: instead of sugar, honey or maple syrup can also be used.
7. 7. Make a vegan version. A horchata recipe can easily be made to accommodate different dietary restrictions. For vegan horchata, either leave out the milk altogether or simply swap out regular milk for coconut milk or almond milk.