Horchata also called Agua De Horchata is a sweet, smooth, and rich Mexican drink. It is usually made with rice, almond, coconut, milk, and water and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla essence. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Horchata with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home.
I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe below to show the process visually and clearly. This Homemade Horchata is one of the best iced drinks to enjoy along with your favorite Mexican dishes, or as a treat for parties, and get-togethers. You can also serve it as a summer drink to quench your thirst.
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What is Horchata?
Horchata also called Agua De Horchata is a rich, smooth and flavor-loaded Mexican rice milk drink. The term Horchata means nothing but a creamy milky drink made with ground rice, almonds, or other nuts in Spain and Latin American countries. The term Agua De Horchata refers to rice water. And both the terms refer to the same Mexican drink that is popular in Mexico, and other Latin American countries.
This rice drink is usually made with long grain rice, cinnamon, milk, and sometimes with nuts and coconuts. This rice milk drink also got its popularity across the United States for its unique taste and flavor. And It is usually served to accompany the spicy Mexican dishes in restaurants and on other special occasions like wedding parties, get-togethers, Cinco de Mayo, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Eve.
The best part is that this rice drink is so versatile that you can switch up ingredients to try and enjoy a different flavor. For instance, you can add shredded coconuts instead of almonds, almond milk instead of whole, and evaporated milk. Even you find versions with fruits in some places.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Horchata drink is minimal and you can easily find them in most grocery stores around. So let's see what are they below.
- Rice - You could use any brand of the all-purpose rice grain that is not flavored. However, the authentic recipe calls for long-grain white rice.
- Almonds - Delivers the rich, mildly sweet, and nutty taste to your drink
- Milk - I have used both whole and evaporated milk for a richer drink
- Cinnamon Stick - 1 small piece to flavor up the drink
- Vanilla Essence - For enhancing the flavor
- Water - For diluting and blending
- Sweetener - Condensed milk, white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or stevia any that's handy to you
For the detailed ingredients list please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Horchata?
The recipe I have shared here is a classical and popular Mexican Horchata. It is one of the best and most rich drinks filled with flavors of rice, cinnamon, and almond. The richness comes from the almonds, evaporated and whole milk used here which can be easily customized to vegan or nut-free friendly drink. Please check out the tips section for more recipe tips and ideas.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this drink but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Rinse - Start by rinsing and washing the rice in cold tap water
- Soak - Add the washed rice, cinnamon stick, and almonds into a glass bowl. Pour 2 cups of water and soak everything for about 4 hours
- Add - Now add the soaked rice, cinnamon stick, and almonds into the blender jar along with the soaking water. Feel free to add ½ a cup of water for blending if needed
- Blend - Close the lid of the jar and blend until everything turns smooth on a blender
- Filter - Remove the jar from the blender and filter the rice milk using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer for a smooth rice milk
- Dilute -Now in a large pitcher or glass bowl, pour the rice milk, and dilute it with whole milk, evaporated, 1 cup of water, and vanilla essence. Give everything a good mix. Now the delicious Horchata is ready for you to taste and enjoy
- Serve - Serve this Homemade Mexican Horchata with a lot of ice cubes along with other Mexican dishes for parties, get-togethers, or as a refreshing summer drink
Tips
- Soaking - Soaking the rice, almonds, and cinnamon stick for long hours will help to soften them. Soaking helps to blend them smoothly and delivers a rich taste and flavor. By doing this you will never get a chalky drink
- Blend with soaked water - Always make sure to blend with the soaked water, as it has more flavor of cinnamon and almond infused in it
- Sweetener - Even though authentic recipes call for condensed milk, I have used white sugar for making this Mexican rice drink. And you can always feel free to use brown sugar, maple syrup, or stevia as alternatives
- Filter - Filter the blended rice cinnamon milk using a fine mesh strainer until no longer you find hard granules of rice, almonds, or cinnamon. You can also use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth to strain the liquid
- Diluting the rice milk - I have used 1 cup of whole milk, 2 cups of evaporated milk, and 1 cup of water for diluting the rice drink. But the ratio of each liquid depends on how thick or thin you need your drink to be. We usually like our Horchata to be thick so as the above-mentioned ratio. And the drink is usually served over rice which typically thins down the drink. So diluting the rice milk drink too thin will make it flavorless when served over ice
- Fruits - You can also make this rice with fruits like mango, strawberry, or apples. Just blend the chopped fruits while blending the rice and other ingredients and follow the remaining steps as usual
- Diary Free - For a vegan-friendly diary-free version feel free to substitute the whole and evaporated milk with almond milk and maple syrup instead of sugar
Calories
This Homemade Horchata that I have shared here contains 507 calories per serving and it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calorie count may change if you have extra add-ins. You could also find detailed nutritional information in the recipe card below.
Storage Suggestions
This Mexican Rice Milk stays good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a closed pitcher. Serve over rice whenever you feel like sipping a glass of this rich drink.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Horchata in a serving glass filled with a lot of ice cubes. You can also sprinkle some ground cinnamon for an appetizing look.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar recipes below and more at milk drinks recipes.
More Mexican Drinks Recipes.
More Summer Drinks Recipes.
- Arnold Palmer Drink
- Pink Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Lemonade
- Lemon Juice
- Cucumber Water
- Lemon Water
Horchata Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Horchata recipe below that I hope will help you to make a refreshing Mexican drink at home. You could also find this recipe in a story format.
Horchata
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice, long grain
- ½ cup Almonds, sliced
- 1 Cinnamon Stick, small
- 4 cups Water
- 1 cup Milk, whole
- 2 cups Evaporated Milk
- ½ cup Sugar, or adjust as needed
Instructions
To make Horchata
- Start by rinsing and washing the rice in cold tap water
- Add the washed rice, cinnamon stick, and almonds into a glass bowl. Pour 2 cups of water and soak everything for about 4 hours
- Now add the soaked rice, cinnamon stick, almonds, and sugar into the blender jar along with the soaking water. Feel free to add ½ a cup of water for blending if needed
- Close the lid of the jar and blend until everything turns smooth on a blender
- Remove the jar from the blender and filter the rice milk using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer for a smooth rice milk
- Now in a large pitcher or glass bowl, pour the rice milk, and dilute it with whole milk, evaporated, 1 cup of water, and vanilla essence. Give everything a good mix. Now the delicious Horchata is ready for you to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this Homemade Mexican Horchata with a lot of ice cubes along with other Mexican dishes for parties, get-togethers, or as a refreshing summer drink
Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Soaking - Soaking the rice, almonds, and cinnamon stick for long hours will help to soften them. Soaking helps to blend them smooth and delivers a rich taste and flavor. By doing this you will never get a chalky drink
- Blend with soaked water - Always make sure to blend with the soaked water, as it has more flavor of cinnamon and almond infused in it
- Sweetener - Even though authentic recipes call for condensed milk, I have used white sugar for making this Mexican rice drink. And you can always feel free to use brown sugar, maple syrup, or stevia as alternatives
- Filter - Filter the blended rice cinnamon milk using a fine mesh strainer until no longer you find hard granules of rice, almonds, or cinnamon
- Diluting the rice milk - I have used 1 cup of whole milk, 2 cups of evaporated milk, and 1 cup of water for diluting the rice drink. But the ratio of each liquid depends on how thick or thin you need your drink to be. We usually like our Horchata to be thick so as the above-mentioned ratio. And the drink is usually served over rice which typically thins down the drink. So diluting the rice milk drink too thin will make it flavorless when served over ice
- Fruits - You can also make this rice with fruits like mango, strawberry, or apples. Just blend the chopped fruits while blending the rice and other ingredients and follow the remaining steps as usual
- Diary Free - For a vegan-friendly diary-free version feel free to substitute the whole and evaporated milk with almond milk and maple syrup instead of sugar
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer: We’re not nutrition experts. Nutritional info is estimated and should be used as a guide. For precise details, consult a professional.
FAQ
Horchata also called Agua De Horchata is a rich, smooth and flavor-loaded Mexican rice milk drink. The term Horchata means nothing but a creamy milky drink made with ground rice, almonds, or other nuts in Spain and Latin American countries. The term Agua De Horchata refers to rice water. And both the terms refer to the same Mexican drink that is popular in Mexico, and other Latin American countries.
This rice drink is usually made with long grain rice, cinnamon, milk, and sometimes with nuts and coconuts. There are also different versions made with fruits that you might find in Mexican restaurants and taquerias.
For a vegan-friendly diary-free version feel free to substitute the whole and evaporated milk with almond milk and maple syrup instead of sugar.
This Homemade Horchata that I have shared here contains 507 calories per serving and it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calorie count may change if you have extra add-ins. You could also find detailed nutritional information in the recipe card above.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy!
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