Homemade Horchata
When I was living in China, the kitchen was never without rice. Long grain, short grain, jasmine, or brown, a sack or bulk bin bag would slouch in the corner, just waiting to be cooked. I would steam it, fry it, or boil it to a pulp for congee. And one day, out of severe homesickness, I decided to make horchata.
A Chinese friend was over and watched me pull a plastic carton from the fridge, which I had filled the day before with pulvertized rice grains and water to soak overnight.
"What is that?" she asked. I explained that Mexicans make a really nice icy drink out of rice water.
"But that's just like waste water from washing rice," she said."We dump that stuff down the drain."
"Um, true," I paused. "But when you add tons of sugar and vanilla and cinnamon, it's a great drink to go with your tacos."
"I'll stick with margaritas."
I couldn't convince her to try it, which makes sense. The Chinese think anything raw is for barbarians and marvel at how Westerners down large bowls of salad, so why would they go for milky water from soaking raw rice? Come to think of it, none of the Mexican restaurants in Shanghai (all operated by Chinese-Americans) served horchata either. The only time I encountered the drink in China was at a Mexican-run Mexican restaurant in Beijing, and its clientele was predominantly Mexican embassy workers.
Which was good that the drink was as easy to make as a Crock-Pot meal. I made so much half the fridge was full of IKEA bottles and jars of cinnamony horchata.
The only things missing, sadly, were the tacos to go with them.
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Homemade Horchata
1 cup uncooked rice, rinsed
2 quarts hot water (just under boiling temp)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a blender, pulverize the rice grains to get the mixture as smooth as possible. In a big bowl, stir together the water, rice, and sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon and let sit in the fridge overnight.
The next day, strain through cheese cloth. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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More drinks to try:
- Kashmiri Chai
- Ginger Milk Tea
- Homemade Almond Milk with Bananas and Honey
- Thai Lemongrass and Ginger Iced Tea
- Mulled Wine
- Korean Cinnamon and Ginger Chilled Tea
- Plum and Ginger Soda
I love, love, love horchata!
I love, love, love horchata! I never knew it was so easy to make. Thanks for sharing the recipe, D!
Yum!
Thank you for posting this recipe. I always get horchata at restaurants and sometimes at the market. I will be making this soon.
Also, I wanted to say that I love your blog. Everything is always delicious!
What?
Where is this Mexican-run Mexican restaurant in Beijing that is patronized by actual Mexicans? Please tell me it's still in business!!!!!!!!
Carlos - It's called El
Carlos - It's called El Fogoncito and is located in Wanda Plaza. It's not spectacular by Mexican or California standards, but it's popular with the embassy crowd for being the closest thing. I was introduced to it by a Mexican friend.
Thanks!
I'm a bit home sick as well, I always had Horchata from super burrito in Portland. I miss it *tear*
Question! Where do I get cheese cloth in China? I'm in Tianjin.
Carl - Cheese cloth was
Carl - Cheese cloth was impossible to find in stores, so the cloth I used came from a tofu lady in the wet market (she didn't mind giving away some extra unused cloth.) Th vendors use it to strain pressed tofu.
True horchata
I'd never realized that most of the horchata I had tried at Mexican restaurants came from a powdered mix. When I finally tried some at a restaurant that truly made its own, it was a revelation. I had never been a big fan of horchata until then. But trying the real deal made from scratch made me a believer. So creamy and refreshing, it's addicting.
Carolyn - Touché. You can
Carolyn - Touché. You can just taste the powdery granules that didn't dissolve.
Mexican Restaurant in Hangzhou
There's a Mexican restaurant in Hangzhou called Pancho's that is authentic. Run by a Mexican for the oddly large Mexican student population at Zhejiang university, Pancho's serves DELICIOUS food. And horchata. It's a little expensive for what you get, but when you get a Mexican food craving, you HAVE to go to Pancho's.
Chufa from Horchata
This recipe came out perfect for me. also there is one recipe to obtain Chufa, I can't give you much information on obtaining Chufa. but It can be bought in Spain at little candy shops that sell nuts (frutos secos). I've even found it at Corte Inglés in bags. Chufa is grown in the Valencia area exclusively for Horchata.I'm told that chufa is grown in the Southern United States and can be purchased through Farmer Co-Ops as seed. It is grown as a feed crop for cattle.
easy, great horchata
Sorry to hear about the horchata woes. My bf life in china for over a year and went through western withdrawals a lot. He has lots of bowze for company though.
Easy, great horchata recipe:
1 quart almond milk
1 quart rice milk-vanilla or original
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
warm everything until just boiled. let cool off heat. refrigerate until cold and serve over ice!
In the states you can find almond and rice milk at most stores, I go to Trader Joes for a good deal but my bf said if you look at major grocery stores in China you'll find those as well.
thanks!
I always wanted to learn how to make horchata. I always get to have them whenever I dine in some fancy restaurant. thanks for sharing!
Mexican version?
I did not know Mexicans had their version of the drink!
In Spain we do it with tigernuts, water and sugar, although I guess the taste must be pretty different :-)
The name, though, is not Castilian (or Spanish), but Valencian (or Catalan). And the drink probably Arabic.
I will have to try this Mexican version next time I do some mole!
Cheers.
What do you do with the
What do you do with the leftover rice? It seems like such a waste to throw it away.
Love IT!
I really LOVE horchata, it's my favorite drink for the summer!! In the east coast from Spain is very popular and they drink it all the time
Hi, There ? pls sent me Hot Chocolate Horchata ????
I need to know how to make hot chocolate horchata and please sent me soon
Orxata
Hi, you probably didn't see much of it because Horchata is originally Valencian : Orxata. Everytime I go to the city, they are selling it everywhere, even in the streets. Only they like to do it with tigernuts (chufa). But originally, it was made with barley. In fact, it's like our sweet Cantonese barley drink.
The French make Riz au lait. Rice in milk.
thanks for the recipe!
My husband loves horchata and I have been wanting to make it for him. Thanks for the recipe, I am sure I will be back for more recipes!
Horchata with Jasmine & Other rices?
Is it usually made with white rice? Or can Jasmine and other rices be used?
I saw an episode of Cooking For Real on Food Network where the host was making a peach horchata that looked interesting.
I don't like rice milk, but I was thinking I'd try making Horchata. :) Prefer almond milk.
I had tried at Mexican
I had tried at Mexican restaurants came from a powdered mix. When I finally tried some at a restaurant that truly made its own, it was a revelation. I had never been a big fan of horchata until then. But trying the real deal made from scratch made me a believer.
What is the name of the
What is the name of the Mexican restaurant in Beijing that serves horchata? We recently moved here and would love to find some good mexican!
It's called El Fogoncito, at
It's called El Fogoncito, at 93 Wanda Plaza on Jianguo Lu.
What type of rice should be
What type of rice should be used here? I stock only short grain brown, but would buy some white if needed for this dish.
Cheers,
Heather
All that sugar added is why
All that sugar added is why the drink tastes good. I'm wary of uncooked rice grains used to make this recipe.
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