Horchata (Mexican Rice and Cinnamon Drink)
Local name: Agua de horchata
In short: Long-grain rice soaked with cinnamon, blended and strained into a creamy, lightly sweet agua fresca served over ice. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 140 kcal
Horchata is the milky white rice drink sold from big glass jars at Mexican taquerías, markets and street stalls. Rice and a stick of cinnamon soak overnight, then get blended and strained, which gives a drink that is creamy without any dairy, lightly sweet and scented with cinnamon. It cools down spicy food well. Serve it very cold over plenty of ice, and stir before each pour, since the fine rice sediment settles quickly.
Instructions
- Rinse the rice quickly in a sieve. Put it in a bowl with the broken cinnamon stick and the hot water. Cover and soak at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.
- Pour the rice, cinnamon and soaking water into a blender. Blend on high for 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is as smooth as you can get it.
- Line a fine sieve with a clean cloth and set it over a large pitcher. Strain the mixture, pressing the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
- Stir in the cold water, sugar and vanilla, if using, until the sugar dissolves. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
- Chill for at least 2 hours. Stir well, pour over ice and sprinkle each glass with a little ground cinnamon.
Tips
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the dry rice in a skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes before soaking. Let it cool first.
- For a creamier version, replace 250 ml (1 cup) of the cold water with almond milk, or add a handful of blanched almonds to the blender.
Questions and answers
How long does homemade horchata keep?
Up to 3 days in the fridge in a covered pitcher. Stir it well before every serving, because the fine rice particles settle at the bottom.
Is horchata dairy-free?
Traditional Mexican horchata is made only from rice, water, cinnamon and sugar, so it is dairy-free. Some cooks add milk for a richer drink, so check if you are buying it.
Is Mexican horchata the same as Spanish horchata?
No. Spanish horchata is made from tiger nuts, a small tuber, and has a different, earthier flavor. Mexican horchata uses rice and cinnamon.
How long does it take to make Horchata (Mexican Rice and Cinnamon Drink)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Horchata (Mexican Rice and Cinnamon Drink)?
About 140 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 140 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
