Horchata is a refreshing drink made from grains, nuts, or tubers such as rice, barley, almonds, or tiger nuts, combined with sugar and sweet spices. It originated in Spain and was introduced to Mexico and South America by Spanish immigrants. Horchata can be made with milk or water and is best served chilled. It is not commonly available in standard US grocery stores but can be found in Mexican and South American grocery stores and some restaurants.
Horchata, also called orxata, is a refreshing drink made by combining grains, nuts or tubers such as rice, barley almonds or tiger nuts, with sugar and sweet spices such as cinnamon. Water is added to the main ingredient until the result is a grain, plant or nut milk, which is then flavored and sweetened to make the drink. Food historians suggest that initially the drink may have been a form of almond milk transported by Arab travellers, which was thus introduced to Spain.
Spanish immigrants to the new world made it the beverage of choice in many parts of Mexico and South America. It is especially popular in El Salvador where it can also incorporate the new world taste of chocolate. The early use of tiger nuts in horchata was especially common in Valencia, Spain.
Tiger nuts refer to long, edible tubers of the cyperus esculentus plant. In Spain they are called chufa, the horchata of chufa is called horchata de chufas. This variant of horchata is not common in South America as other grain or nut sources are much more easily obtained.
In El Salvador, people can make their own horchata, but there are many commercial and powdered varieties of horchata. Salvadoran horchata often does not use rice, but does use herbs and may use pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds as the main grain or nut based flavoring. Horchata of this type is strained so that the final texture is smooth and milky.
There is debate as to whether Horchata should be made using milk instead of water. Some recipes call for the addition of milk-based milk or other milk substitutes. Others argue that the older forms of recipes probably did not include milk as it would not have kept well. Whether or not milk is used, Horchata has a milky texture and texture and is best served chilled. In many restaurants and festivals, the large clear containers of frozen horchata and other popular fruit punches and drinks are extremely tempting.
Horchata is not commonly available in standard US grocery stores, although versions can be found in Mexican and South American grocery stores. Despite its unfamiliarity in many parts of the United States, QuikTrip convenience stores in some areas of the southern United States, including Georgia and Texas, offer a frozen horchata smoothie or drink that is quite popular. You can also find horchata served in some Mexican restaurants and in restaurants featuring Salvadoran cuisine.
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