A creamy, sweet, and incredibly refreshing traditional Mexican drink made from rice, cinnamon, and vanilla, perfect for a warm day.
Horchata: A Refreshing Global Drink
A creamy, sweet, and incredibly refreshing traditional Mexican drink made from rice, cinnamon, and vanilla, perfect for a warm day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
- 1 cinnamon stick 3-inch
- 4 cups water for soaking
- 2 cups water fresh
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar adjust to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch ground cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the long-grain white rice thoroughly. In a large bowl, combine the rinsed rice, the 3-inch cinnamon stick, and 4 cups of water. Cover and let it soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Transfer the soaked rice, cinnamon stick, and soaking water into a high-speed blender. Blend on high until the mixture is as smooth as possible, about 2-3 minutes. The liquid will be milky white.
- Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large pitcher or bowl. Press down on the solids with a spoon or spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the remaining rice and cinnamon pulp.
- Add the 2 cups of fresh water, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract to the strained liquid. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to chill thoroughly. Serve the Mexican Horchata over ice, optionally garnished with a pinch of ground cinnamon.
Notes
For an extra creamy texture, you can use a portion of milk (dairy or non-dairy) instead of some water. Adjust sugar to your preference. Some variations include a touch of condensed milk for richness. Serve well chilled over plenty of ice.
