How To Make The Fresh and Sweet Mexican Rice-Based Drink Called Horchata

Mexico is recognized for having proudly developed one of the most authentic, vibrant and rich cultures in the world. Their costumes, traditions, festivities, and beliefs are well known almost everywhere.

There is no place in the world where no one would know what a taco is, and who hasn’t ever heard a mariachi song at least once?. The undeniable truth is that Mexico is a magical country everyone wants to visit on vacation.

When watching a TV show or a movie about Mexico, one of the ever-present themes is food, and you may wonder why Mexicans are so proud of their cuisine. People in that country are more than happy to express their culture through food because they are incredibly good at it.

Mexican cuisine: a tasty legacy

Mexican cuisine is full of flavors, colors, aromas, and textures. There are countless dishes and recipes Mexicans have been making since centuries ago and they continue to share with next generations as part of their national identity.

Among the many things that make Mexican gastronomy so special, the ingredients they use to make their food stand out. They focus on the simplicity of ingredients and enhance their flavor with spices. These are a few of the most iconic ingredients of Mexican cuisine:

• Chile for moles, marinades, and sauces.
• Corn for tortillas, tacos, quesadillas, and so on.
• Kidney beans for enfrijoladas.
• Avocado for the well-known guacamole.
• And rice, obviously.

Thanks to its versatility, rice has almost become a must in the Mexican diet. After arriving in the country with the Spanish settlers, locals adopted it and gave it their touch to make it what it is today: a fundamental part of their traditional cuisine. An example of this are some preparations you can see here: https://mahatmarice.com/recipes/traditional-mexican-rice/.

Using a lot of original ingredients from their lands and mixing them with rice, Mexicans have been able to create a wide range of rice-based dishes and drinks, all equally delicious.

How To Make Mexican Horchata

When it comes to traditional drinks, Mexico has a long list, they even have a category of the “refreshing” ones in which you can find Horchata, a rice-based drink that has become very popular in many countries of Central America for decades.

Mexican horchata is actually a derivation of the Valencian horchata that had to be slightly modified due to the lack of tiger nuts in Mexico. It is a very nutritious, refreshing drink that almost all Mexicans usually have to accompany some spicy dishes.

Here you will learn how to make horchata with a couple of recipes that include all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions to prepare it. Try them at home and make a toast with your family and friends.

Traditional Mexican Rice Horchata

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of white rice.
• 1 cup of milk.
• 4 cups of water.
• 1 cinnamon stick.
• ½ cup of sugar.
• Ground cinnamon to sprinkle.
• 1 tbsp. of liquid vanilla.

Preparation:

1. In a bowl put the cinnamon stick and the rice. Soak in water and let it stand for 2 hours.
2. After the soaking time, grind the content of the bowl.
3. Pass the smoothie through a fine-mesh strainer.
4. Press the rice paste to extract as much liquid as possible.
5. Add the liquid vanilla and the sugar to the bowl. Stir with a spoon, then add the milk and mix again.
6. When ready, take it to the refrigerator and let it cool for several hours.
7. When it is time to serve, add a bit of cinnamon powder on top.

Coconut Rice Horchata

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rice.
• 6 cups of water.
• 1 cup of sugar.
• 1 cup of coconut milk.
• 1 cup of condensed milk.
• 1 cup of evaporated milk.
• 1 cup of milk.
• 2 cups of almonds.
• 2 tsp. of ground cinnamon.
• 1 cinnamon stick.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, heat two cups of water over high heat until it begins to boil.
2. Finely grind the almonds.
3. Wash the rice and place it in a heat-resistant container with a cinnamon stick and boiling water. Allow it to soak overnight.
4. In a blender, combine the rice and water, sugar, milk, condensed milk, coconut milk, and evaporated milk. Blend for about two minutes. Strain the mixture.
5. Blend again the mixture. Strain and transfer it to a big pitcher. Pour in the remaining water. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
6. Finish with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon.