Home/Blog/Horchata: An Authentic Mexican Rice Drink

Horchata: An Authentic Mexican Rice Drink

By Holly Darnell, RD

April 26, 2024

Horchata is a rice-based drink from a Spanish tradition. Everywhere it’s been introduced, it’s become popular because it tastes delicious and perfectly marries several classic ingredients together: rice, almonds, sugar (we go with coconut sugar) and cinnamon. We also add a secret cinnamon-flavored ingredient that increases this drink’s protein power and fat loss potential.

Once you taste it, you’ll realize that the horchata is meant to be. The difference with our version? No dairy, less sugar, much more protein!

What Is Horchata?

While most people consider the horchata (pronounced with a silent h, or-CHAH-tah) a Mexican drink now, it actually originated in North Africa and eventually made its way to the south of Spain. In particular, the Valencia region is where it became the drink du jour.

Spanish horchata was and continues to be made with tiger nuts (chufa) alongside water, sugar and cinnamon. When it made its way to the shores of Mexico, the horchata recipe had to shift because tiger nuts were nowhere to be found. Instead, the natives of Mexico used nuts like almonds, grains like rice, and even seeds to make up their horchata batch. These days milk is often also used.

Whether its Spanish or Mexican, the base ingredients are soaked in water in order to hydrate and soften them. Next these ingredients are blended with water or milk, and finally strained.

What does horchata taste like? Similar to milk, including almond milk, it’s both creamy and smooth yet with a sweet cinnamon taste.

Best Horchata Ingredients

• Rice: White rice, such as medium-grain variety, works well for this recipe. It assists both the flavor and smooth texture.

• Almonds: Dry, roasted almonds that either whole or chopped are used for the flavor, healthy fats and protein.

• Coconut sugar: A slightly healthier version of regular sugar and with trace minerals, coconut sugar also imparts more of a natural sweetness that helps with horchata.

• Cinnamon sticks: While you can also use dried cinnamon, the sticks work better to provide flavor without any chalkiness. Ceylon is the best type to use.

• Multi Collagen Advanced Lean: A collagen powder from 10 food-based sources, this powder is a healthy weight management* supplement designed to help you burn calories and boost your metabolism. It features a proprietary fat loss blend that includes organic ashwagandha root extract and organic ceylon cinnamon.

*In addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle, including regular exercise.

How to Make Horchata

In a large bowl, add white rice, coconut sugar, almonds, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract and sea salt. You can chop the almonds but it’s not critical. Add in filtered water.

Stir everything together and cover the bowl. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight.

Add this horchata mixture (including the cinnamon sticks) to a high-speed blender. Blend on high for two to three minutes.

Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the nut and rice pulp.

Serve the drink over ice.

For any leftover, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to one week.

Recipe developed by Holly Darnell, RD. Holly is a registered dietitian nutritionist who unlocked self-love at the intersection of exceptional food and practical solutions for healthy living. She’s passionate about helping others make simple, positive lifestyle changes on their individual path to healing.