Jun 09 2026

Horchata Recipe

Time5h
Serves6

Traditional Mexican rice drink.

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Ingredients

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Base Ingredients

Garnish (optional)

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Rinse the Rice

    Place the long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents the horchata from being too thick.

  2. 2

    Soak the Rice

    Transfer the rinsed rice to a bowl and add the cinnamon stick and 2 cups of water. Let it soak for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to enhance the flavor.

Blending and Straining

  1. 3

    Blend the Mixture

    After soaking, remove the cinnamon stick and add the rice and soaking water (with the rice) to a blender. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.

  2. 4

    Strain the Horchata

    Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, discarding the solids. This will result in a smooth horchata base.

Finalizing the Drink

  1. 5

    Add Sweeteners and Milk

    To the strained liquid, add the sugar, vanilla extract, milk (or almond milk), and a pinch of salt. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.

  2. 6

    Chill and Serve

    Refrigerate the horchata for at least 1 hour to chill. Serve over ice, and if desired, sprinkle with ground cinnamon for garnish.

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