Horchata de Chufa (Valencian Tiger Nut Drink)
Local name: Orxata de xufa
In short: A creamy, lightly sweet Valencian drink made by soaking, blending and straining tiger nuts, served ice cold with a hint of cinnamon or lemon. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 14 h
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 190 kcal
Horchata de chufa is the cold, milky drink of Valencia, made from chufas, small sweet tubers known in English as tiger nuts. They are soaked, ground with water, strained and sweetened, and the result tastes of almonds and vanilla without containing any nuts. Valencians drink it from tall glasses in summer, often with a soft sweet pastry called fartons for dipping. It is naturally dairy-free.
Instructions
- Rinse the tiger nuts and pick out any stones or shriveled ones. Cover them with plenty of cold water and soak for 12 hours or overnight, until plump.
- Drain and rinse the tiger nuts, then blend with 1 liter (4 cups) of the cold water in a strong blender for 2 minutes, until a milky paste forms.
- Strain through a nut-milk bag or clean cloth into a bowl, squeezing hard. Return the pulp to the blender with the remaining 500 ml (2 cups) water, blend for 30 seconds and strain again into the same bowl.
- Stir the sugar, lemon peel and cinnamon into the milk until the sugar dissolves. Chill for at least 2 hours.
- Stir well before pouring, since the starch settles, and serve very cold over ice.
Tips
- Squeeze hard through a nut-milk bag. Any grit left in the milk settles at the bottom of the glass, so strain twice for a smoother drink.
- Tiger nuts are sold dried in health stores, Spanish groceries and online. Drink the horchata within 3 days, because it sours quickly.
Questions and answers
Are tiger nuts actually nuts?
No. They are small tubers from a sedge plant, not tree nuts. Anyone with a nut allergy should still check with a doctor before trying them.
How long does horchata de chufa keep?
Up to 3 days in the fridge, covered. It ferments and turns sour quickly, so make small batches and stir before pouring.
Is Valencian horchata the same as Mexican horchata?
No. Valencian horchata is made from tiger nuts and is nutty and sweet. Mexican horchata is made from rice, cinnamon and often vanilla.
How long does it take to make Horchata de Chufa (Valencian Tiger Nut Drink)?
About 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Horchata de Chufa (Valencian Tiger Nut Drink)?
About 190 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 190 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 22 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
