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Horchata

Traditional Mexican Horchata is a cool, milky rice drink infused with warm cinnamon flavor. It's sweet, smooth, and pairs beautifully with spicy foods or can be enjoyed as a refreshing treat.
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Prep Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours
Servings: 8 ounces
Course: Dessert, Drink
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 cup uncooked white rice
  • 2 sticks cinnamon sticks
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk
  • 12 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 8 cups warm water divided
Optional ingredients
  • to taste sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla optional
  • to taste ground cinnamon for garnish, optional

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the rice in a colander under cold water.
  2. Combine the rice, cinnamon sticks, and 4 cups of water in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
Blending
  1. Remove most of the cinnamon sticks.
  2. Blend the rice in two batches with 1/2 of the rice and water until smooth, about 4 minutes.
  3. Strain the blended mixture into a pitcher using a fine strainer or cheese cloth.
  4. Repeat the blending and straining process with the remaining rice, water, and cinnamon.
Mixing
  1. Stir in the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and the additional 4 cups of water until well combined.
  2. Taste and add sugar or more water as needed.
  3. Chill the mixture before serving.
Serving
  1. Serve horchata chilled over ice in small glasses. For a standard serving, use about 6 to 8 ounces per person.
  2. Garnish with a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon for aroma and a warm look.

Notes

Store horchata in a sealed pitcher or bottle in the fridge for up to 4–5 days. Shake or stir well before serving. For freezing, use ice cube trays for portion-sized cubes.