Horchata water: delicious hydration!

Hello my dear friends of Paulina Cocina! In this new installment I want to invite you to prepare a delicious and creamy horchata watera traditional drink from Mexico that is prepared with rice, sugar and cinnamon.

With a flavor similar to that of rice pudding, but drinkable, this super refreshing aguita has earned a place in the hearts of Mexican men and women, who enjoy a drink of delicious horchata every day to alleviate the hottest days.

What do you think if I give you all the secrets and share a recipe to make at home?

What is horchata water and how is it made?

Horchata water is a traditional Mexican drink that is prepared with rice, cinnamon and sugar.. Its sweet, creamy and refreshing flavor make it an ideal option for warm days. Very chosen to accompany spicy dishes or simply to drink on a summer afternoon.

For him horchata water rice is soaked with cinnamon in water for several hours, then strained, mixed with sugar and allowed to cool.

It is not a quick preparation, but it is worth taking the time to make it, because its flavor does not compare with that of the commercial versions. In addition, you can prepare a jar and keep it in the fridge to drink at any time.

Ingredients that cannot be missing

The traditional horchata water has rice, cinnamon, sugar and water. Also, depending on the recipe and the region, you can include other ingredients such as almonds, milk, vanilla or lemon. Keep in mind that the sugar and starch in rice make it a high carbohydrate drink, so people who have restrictions on sugar consumption should take this into account.

The best rice to prepare the horchata water is the long grain or jasmine rice both types have a mild and sweet flavor that go very well with horchata. Its smooth texture allows it to dissolve easily in the water, to obtain a creamier and more digestible horchata.

It is important to remember that the rice has to be soaked for several hours before being used to make the horchata.

Horchata water is made with raw rice. Although there are versions that can be made with cooked rice, it is not the most common for this preparation. In the version with cooked rice, it is also mixed with water, cinnamon and sugar and then blended and filtered to obtain the horchata.

Both versions are tasty, and the choice is up to the person who prepares it, but most traditional recipes use raw rice.

Origin of horchata water

There are different versions about how horchata water evolved until being the refreshing drink that we know today.

Its origins, like those of many Latin American ingredients and foods, date back to colonial times., but similar drinks existed long before in the Iberian Peninsula. It is said that originally, during medieval times, horchata was made with barley, a cereal that was already cultivated in ancient times, especially in the region of the Iberian Peninsula.

Hence its name: the word “horchata” Comes from latin “horde”which refers to a drink made from barley.

With the arrival of rice in Spain, the drink began to include this ingredient. During the colonial era, the Spanish brought horchata to Mexico, where it was adapted with local ingredients. The preparation became popular in the country and became a typical drink of Mexican cuisine.

The drink became popular in other Latin American countries, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, but also in Europe, such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. However the ingredients in each region vary. In some places milk is used instead of water, almonds instead of rice, or fruits such as watermelon or melon are added to give it a different flavor.

If you got here, you like to cook and you’re also curious… you can’t miss this post of 10 unmissable Mexican food recipes!!

What does “pure horchata water” mean?

“Pure horchata water” It is a phrase that is often used to refer to something authentic, genuine, without mixtures or adulterations.

In relation to horchata water, it means that the drink is made with traditional ingredients, without additives or artificial flavors.

What other ingredients can horchata water have?

In addition to the basic horchata ingredients such as rice, cinnamon, sugar, and water, there are some regional and personal variations of the drink that may include other ingredients such as:

• almonds: Some recipes include almonds to give a different flavor and texture.
• Leche: can be used instead of water to make a creamier horchata.
• Vainilla: can be added to give an additional and complementary flavor to the cinnamon.
• Lemon– Some people add lemon juice or lemon zest for a touch of tartness and freshness.
• Nutmeg: In some recipes, nutmeg is added to the mixture to give it a touch of spice.
• Coco: some variations include coconut milk or coconut grated for a tropical and exotic look.

Horchata water with rice recipe

• Yield: 6-8 vases
• Preparation time: 20 minutes (plus rice soaking time: minimum 4 hours)

Ingredients

• 1 cup of fine long white rice
• 8 cups of water
• 1 branch of cinnamon
• 1 cup of sugar (depending on the taste of the person who consumes it, it can be more or less)
• Ice

How to make horchata water with rice step by step

1. Rinse the rice with cold water to extract the starch and place it in a large container.
2. Add 4 cups of water and the cinnamon stick. Leave soaking for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
3. After soaking, remove the cinnamon stick and pour the rice with the water into the blender.
4. Add the other 4 cups of water and blend until the rice is completely ground and the mixture feels smooth.
5. Strain the rice mixture through a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher, squeezing with your hands to remove all the liquid.
6. Add the sugar and stir well. Taste to verify sweetness.
7. Cool a few hours before consuming. Serve with a little ice.

Tip: You can add a few drops of vanilla extract and a little ground cinnamon on top when serving. It’s delicious!