Mexican Horchata
Mexican Horchata is a refreshing, creamy rice-based drink flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, perfect for cooling down on a warm day or complementing spicy meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cups water, divided
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice cubes for serving
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
- In a blender, combine the rinsed rice, cinnamon sticks, and 2 cups of water; blend until rice is roughly ground, about 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the remaining 2 cups water, and let it soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.
- Strain the rice mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher, discarding solids.
- Add milk, sugar, and vanilla extract to the strained liquid; stir until sugar dissolves completely.
- Chill the horchata in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve over ice cubes and garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, substitute the whole milk with almond milk or coconut milk. Adjust sweetness to taste by adding more or less sugar.